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FORTIS Open Call #2 provides an opportunity for technology developers to bring new capabilities into the FORTIS human-robot interaction ecosystem and demonstrate them in real-world industrial environments.
Topic 2.1, Pushing Towards the Deployment of FORTIS, is specifically focused on moving technologies from development towards deployment. Selected projects will integrate third-party technologies with FORTIS and demonstrate how the resulting solutions can improve human-robot collaboration within existing FORTIS pilot environments.
The programme is therefore particularly relevant to SMEs and technology developers that already have a validated robotics, AI or human-robot interaction technology and are looking for an opportunity to integrate, test and demonstrate it in realistic operating conditions.
Key Dates and Funding
Opens: 1 September 2026
Closes: 4 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Funding: Up to €250,000 per project
Project Duration: 10 months
What Is Topic 2.1 Looking For?
The central objective is to extend the capabilities of FORTIS by integrating complementary technologies and demonstrating them within its existing industrial environments.
Projects should contribute towards moving FORTIS technologies from development to real-world deployment while demonstrating increased adoption potential, scalability and measurable impact.
This means the call is not aimed at early-stage concepts. Applicants need an existing technology that can be integrated with the FORTIS ecosystem and advanced through practical testing and demonstration.
What Technologies Can Be Supported?
The call is relevant to technologies that can strengthen human-robot interaction and collaboration. This can include areas such as:
The technology should provide a meaningful extension to the existing FORTIS ecosystem rather than simply operating independently from it.
Technology Readiness Level
Projects are expected to begin at approximately TRL 4-5 and progress towards TRL 7.
Applicants should therefore already have technology that has progressed beyond basic research and early proof-of-concept development.
The project should focus on integration, testing, validation and demonstration, building evidence that the solution can operate effectively in realistic environments.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants can include:
A Topic 2.1 consortium must contain three eligible organisations, including at least one SME.
The consortium must also include organisations from at least two different eligible countries.
Non-industry partners can participate, but they cannot account for more than 30% of the total project budget.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be established in countries eligible under the FORTIS Open Call requirements, including relevant EU Member States, eligible Overseas Countries and Territories and eligible Horizon Europe associated countries, subject to the specific conditions established by the programme.
The call guidance specifically indicates that UK and Swiss organisations are not eligible under the associated-country provision applicable to this call.
What Should Projects Demonstrate?
Strong projects should go beyond simply presenting an innovative technology. Applicants should demonstrate how their technology can be integrated into FORTIS and deliver measurable improvements in real operating environments.
The project should have clearly defined use cases, technical objectives, integration activities and measurable KPIs.
Applicants should also demonstrate how the project can contribute towards increased adoption, scalability and future deployment of the technology.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Moving robotics technologies from controlled development environments into real operational settings remains a significant challenge. Technologies need to demonstrate not only technical performance but also integration capability, usability, safety and value for end users.
FORTIS Topic 2.1 provides technology developers with an opportunity to validate these capabilities within an established European human-robot interaction ecosystem.
For SMEs approaching deployment, this can generate valuable technical evidence, strengthen commercial credibility and provide a pathway towards wider industrial adoption.
How Inventya Can Help
A strong Topic 2.1 proposal needs to show more than an innovative robotics technology. Applicants must demonstrate how their solution will integrate with FORTIS, what measurable improvements it will deliver and how the project will support future deployment and commercialisation.
Inventya can support applicants through:
Inventya’s experience in European innovation funding, collaborative R&D and technology commercialisation can help applicants build a proposal that connects technical excellence with a credible route towards real-world deployment.
