Open Call Analysis: FORTIS Boosting Human-Robot Interaction

Tech changemakers, ready to shape the future of human-robot interaction? FORTIS Open Call 1 offers up to €2M to support 8 cutting-edge projects led by SMEs & research teams. Bring your HRI solutions to life! Apply by June 4.

About FORTIS Open Call

The FORTIS programme is an EU-funded initiative under Horizon Europe aiming to enhance human-robot collaboration. It promotes a human-centric approach by developing intelligent robotic systems that understand and respond to human behaviours. The Open Call #1 supports a 10-month implementation programme from September 2025 to June 2026, structured in three sprints. Selected consortia will integrate their technologies into FORTIS toolkits.

Why Apply to FORTIS Open Call?

Financial support up to €250,000 per project.
Access to technical and mentoring support from top experts in robotics and AI.
Participation in a structured, sprint-based acceleration programme.
Opportunities for co-publication and exploitation support.
Contribution to state-of-the-art research in human-robot interaction

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include consortia of at least two entities from different eligible countries.

Eligible organisations are:

Research and technology organizations (RTOs) and universities working on advancing the state-of-the-art technologies to assist in the understanding, coordination and adaptation of robots, and understanding and developing human behaviour analysis techniques.
Mid-caps, small and medium companies (SMEs) and startups developing solutions for human and robot interaction.

The consortium must include at least one SME. The non-industry partners involved cannot exceed 30% of total project budget, and projects should be aligned with TRL 5-6.

Eligible participants must be from EU Member States, H2020/HEU Associated Countries, or the Overseas Countries and Territories linked to the Member States. Applications will not be accepted from entities with conflicts of interest related to the FORTIS consortium members.

How to Apply to FORTIS Open Call

Applications must be submitted via the F6S platform: https://www.f6s.com/fortis-project-opencall-1/apply.

Required documents include the administrative application form (via F6S submission platform) and the technical proposal (see Annex 2 FORTIS Proposal Template), Declaration of Honour for each consortium partner, Evidence of legal registration and SME status, and VAT registration proof.

Submissions must be complete following the provided guidelines. For the full guidelines documentation please check: https://fortis-project.eu/descargas/2190/?tmstv=1743663927

Proposal Requirements for FORTIS Open Call

Projects should focus on one of the following topics and/or subtopics:

Topic 1: Activity Recognition
- 1 Human Activity Recognition Using Non-wearable
- 2 Human Activity Recognition Using Wearable Sensors
Topic 2: Long-term memory
- 1 Memory Consolidation and Forgetting Mechanisms
- 2 Lifelong and Continual Learning for Personalized Adaptation
Topic 3: Enhancing Robotic Intelligibility Through Directional Audio and Visual Effects
- 1 Spatialized and Adaptive Audio for Robot Communication
- 2 Visual Cues for Enhanced Intelligibility
Topic 4: Multimodality semantic segmentation/perception

More details about the specifications of the topics can be found within Annex 1 FORTIS Technical Specifications

The proposal should be prepared following the FORTIS Proposal Template.

Evaluation and Selection Process for FORTIS Open Call

Proposals are evaluated in three stages: eligibility screening, external remote evaluation, and interviews.

Criteria include:

Excellence & Innovation (40%)
Impact (20%)
Implementation (40%)

Projects scoring under 3 in any criterion are rejected. Top-ranked proposals proceed to interviews. Final selection is based on interview performance.

Additional Support Beyond Funding

Selected projects receive mentoring, technical support, business and exploitation guidance, and co-publication opportunities:

Access to technical mentorship, regulatory compliance guidance, and deployment support.
Opportunity to test and refine solutions in collaboration with the FORTIS partners.
Interaction with key industry players and exposure within the FORTIS innovation network.
Assistance in creating a roadmap for scalability and market adoption beyond the project.

Important Dates

Application period: 1^st April 2025 – 4^th June 2025
Evaluation & Selection: June-July 2025
Contracting: July-August 2025
Project implementation: September 2025 – June 2026

Final Thoughts on FORTIS Open Call

FORTIS OC#1 offers an excellent opportunity for SMEs and research organisations to develop impactful HRI solutions with the support of EU funding and expert guidance. Applicants are encouraged to prepare early and contact to clarify any doubts.

More Information

FORTIS is a collaborative EU project fostering safe, effective, and human-centric robotics. The consortium includes top European institutions and companies.

For more information:

About the FORTIS project
About the Open Call #1:
- Check the FORTIS open call website for full documentation and details
- For application
- Webinar video
- For any questions regarding the FORTIS Open Call #1, please contact: opencall@fortis-project.eu