FORTIS Open Call #2

About

FORTIS Open Call #2 offers EU-funded lump-sum grants and a 10-month support programme for consortia integrating, deploying or transferring Human-Robot Interaction technologies within the FORTIS ecosystem or into new civilian sectors.

Benefits

• 💰Topic OC#2.1 funding
  Up to €250,000 per project for at least 8 projects, subject to budget availability.
• 💰Topic OC#2.2 funding
  Up to €170,000 per project for at least 6 projects, subject to budget availability.
• 💶Funding rate for non-profits
  Up to 100% of total costs for non-profit organisations.
• 💶Funding rate for for-profits
  Up to 70% of total costs for SMEs and profit organisations, including mid-caps.
• 📅10-month programme
  Selected projects enter a 10-month FORTIS Programme #2 divided into 3 sprints.
• 💸Lump-sum payments
  Grant funding is disbursed in three instalments of 30%, 30% and 40% after positive assessment of sprint deliverables; the final 40% is subject to final project completion and EC approval.
• 🧑‍🏫 Technical mentoring
  Beneficiaries are paired with dedicated FORTIS technical mentors for integration expertise and technical problem solving.
• 🧾Administrative and financial support
  F6S guides beneficiaries through contracting, onboarding, mentor introductions and sprint reviews.
• 🚀Exploitation support
  F6S and technical mentors assist with identifying exploitable assets and developing a tailored exploitation plan where applicable.
• 🤝FORTIS network access
  Selected projects can test and refine solutions with FORTIS partners and interact with key industry players within the FORTIS innovation network.
• 🗺️ Scalability roadmap
  Assistance is offered in creating a roadmap for scalability and market adoption beyond the project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: proposals must be submitted by a multidisciplinary consortium; single entities are not eligible.
• Mandatory: Topic OC#2.1 requires 3 eligible entities from at least 2 different eligible countries; Topic OC#2.2 requires 2 eligible entities and allows single-country consortia.
• Mandatory: every consortium must include at least 1 SME.
• Mandatory: eligible applicants are startups, SMEs, mid-caps, universities and research organisations/RTOs; Topic OC#2.2 also permits end-users operating directly in the target application sectors.
• Mandatory: SMEs, startups and mid-caps must have core business or primary R&D activities in Human-Robot Interaction and provide evidence such as prototypes, commercial solutions or technical roadmaps; universities/RTOs must have a documented track record or active research division in the relevant sectors.
• Mandatory: applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, EU Overseas Countries and Territories linked to EU Member States, or Horizon Europe associated countries with a legally effective association agreement at the time of the FORTIS Grant Agreement signature in November 2023; entities established in the United Kingdom and Switzerland are not eligible.
• Mandatory: all consortium entities must have a verifiable VAT.
• Mandatory: non-industry partners cannot exceed 30% of the total project budget.
• Mandatory: projects must enter at TRL 4–5 and aim to achieve TRL 7.
• Mandatory: an entity may act as consortium coordinator or lead applicant in a maximum of one submitted proposal.
• Mandatory: natural persons and entities associated with FORTIS consortium partners are not eligible.

Participation Commitments

• Applications must be submitted online via F6S at https:
• www.f6s.com/fortis-open-call-2/apply
• Proposals must be written in English, use the FORTIS proposal template and follow the Guide for Applicants and Technical Specifications.
• All mandatory questions must be answered and all requested documents uploaded; incomplete proposals will be disqualified.
• Applicants must agree to the proposal terms and conditions.
• Selected beneficiaries must sign a sub-grant agreement with the FORTIS consortium and complete KYC and contracting documentation, including proof of legal existence and tax activity, VAT, Declaration of Honour, Consortium Declaration of Honour, SME declaration where applicable and bank account information.
• Selected beneficiaries must submit progress reports and deliverables at the end of each sprint and attend online review meetings.
• Programme start date is 11 January 2027; Sprint 1 runs 11 January 2027 to 10 April 2027, Sprint 2 runs 11 April 2027 to 10 July 2027 and Sprint 3 runs 11 July 2027 to 10 November 2027.
• Each proposal must deliver at least one poster or one article detailing the work and must promote EU funding visibility.
• Beneficiaries must maintain confidentiality of project data during implementation and for 5 years after project completion.

Target Region

Applicant legal entities must be established in EU Member States, including their outermost regions, EU Overseas Countries and Territories linked to EU Member States, or Horizon Europe associated countries that had a legally effective association agreement at the time of the FORTIS Grant Agreement signature in November 2023; entities established in the United Kingdom and Switzerland are not eligible.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail & Consumer, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other