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Robotics and human-robot collaboration have applications far beyond traditional industrial manufacturing. FORTIS Topic 2.2 is designed to demonstrate exactly that by supporting organisations that can transfer existing FORTIS technologies into new sectors and real-world environments.
Rather than developing an entirely separate technology for FORTIS, applicants under this topic are expected to identify a relevant use case and demonstrate how existing FORTIS solutions can be integrated and adapted to address it.
The objective is to prove the transferability, scalability and value of FORTIS technologies across different sectors, creating evidence that could support wider European adoption.
Key Dates and Funding
Opens: 1 September 2026
Closes: 4 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Funding: Up to €170,000 per project
Project Duration: 10 months
What Is Topic 2.2 Looking For?
Topic 2.2 focuses on technology transfer and cross-sector adoption.
Applicants should identify a clear operational challenge within a new sector and demonstrate how FORTIS technologies could address that challenge.
Potential application areas include:
The use case should provide a meaningful environment in which human-robot interaction can deliver measurable benefits.
Using FORTIS Technologies
Projects under Topic 2.2 must integrate at least two FORTIS ROS packages.
Applicants therefore need to demonstrate that they understand which FORTIS technologies are relevant to their use case and how they will be combined and adapted within the proposed environment.
The project should establish clear use cases, lifecycle definitions and KPIs so that the effectiveness of the technology transfer can be measured.
Technology Readiness Level
Projects are expected to begin at TRL 4-5 and aim to reach TRL 7.
The focus is therefore not on fundamental research. Projects should demonstrate that the underlying technologies are sufficiently mature to be integrated, adapted and tested in realistic operational environments.
By completion, applicants should be able to demonstrate the solution at a level that provides meaningful evidence for subsequent deployment and commercialisation.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants can include:
Each Topic 2.2 consortium must consist of two eligible organisations, including at least one SME.
Importantly, Topic 2.2 allows single-country consortia, meaning both participating organisations can be established in the same eligible country.
Non-industry organisations can participate, but their share of the overall project budget cannot exceed 30%.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be established in countries eligible under the FORTIS programme, including relevant EU Member States, eligible Overseas Countries and Territories and eligible Horizon Europe associated countries, subject to the call's specific eligibility provisions.
According to the call requirements, UK and Swiss organisations are not eligible under the associated-country provision applicable to this open call.
What Should Projects Demonstrate?
Successful projects should demonstrate more than the technical ability to integrate FORTIS technologies.
Applicants should establish a clear sector-specific problem, explain why human-robot interaction provides an appropriate solution and show how the selected FORTIS technologies will address that problem.
Projects should also define measurable KPIs covering areas such as technical performance, usability, human-robot collaboration, safety, efficiency and operational value where relevant to the proposed use case.
The resulting demonstration should provide evidence for the potential replication and adoption of the solution beyond the initial project environment.
Why This Opportunity Matters
One of the barriers to wider robotics adoption is demonstrating that technologies developed for one environment can deliver value in completely different operational settings.
Topic 2.2 provides organisations with an opportunity to test the transferability of advanced human-robot interaction technologies without having to develop the underlying platform from scratch.
For SMEs and sector specialists, the programme can provide a route to explore new applications, validate commercial opportunities and demonstrate how human-centred robotics can address practical challenges in markets that have not traditionally adopted these technologies.
How Inventya Can Help
A competitive Topic 2.2 application needs to connect three elements clearly: a genuine sector challenge, the right FORTIS technologies and a credible pathway towards adoption after the project. Inventya can help applicants turn the proposed use case into a focused and commercially relevant funding application.
Our support can include:
Inventya can help applicants demonstrate not only that FORTIS technology can work in a new sector, but why the proposed application creates genuine commercial and operational value, strengthening the case for continued adoption after the funded project.
