ROB4GREEN Open Call 1 – AI and robotics external pilots for greener processes that enhance circular Re-X processes such as dismantling, remanufacturing and recycling
This open call funds consortia to develop and demonstrate AI- and robotics-based external pilots that improve circular Re-X processes, such as dismantling, remanufacturing and recycling, progressing from TRL 4 to TRL 7 and validating in real industrial environments using 1–2 ROB4GREEN technology blocks.
About ROB4GREEN
ROB4GREEN is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project aiming to bridge the gap between labour-intensive Re-X processing and automated circularity through easy-to-use, collaborative and AI-driven robotic systems.
Open Call 1 (OC1) is the first funding round for external pilots, with a total budget of €2,400,000 and an expected selection of 8 projects, broadly aiming for a balanced distribution across four challenges (two projects per challenge as a baseline).
Core technical expectations include:
1. Start at minimum TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by the end.
2. Demonstrate in a relevant environment and validate with end users (e.g., workers/operators/engineers).
3. Integrate and validate 1 or 2 ROB4GREEN technology blocks (tools).
4. Provide evidence of product–market fit and a go-to-market strategy by the end of the project.
Why Apply to ROB4GREEN?
Selected consortia receive a number of dividends:
- Up to €300,000 lump-sum funding per project (100% of eligible project costs as a lump sum).
- Mentoring support (Innovation Mentor, SSH Mentor, and (where relevant) Industry Mentor), plus structured evaluation meetings across project sprints.
- Access to ROB4GREEN tools and support for integration and deployment in real Re-X scenarios.
- Testing and demonstration opportunities in real industrial Re-X settings, plus visibility via ROB4GREEN dissemination channels and partner network.
- A programme structure that rewards delivery: payments are tied to successful progress and completion rather than cost reporting.
- Success Stories from previous ROB4GREEN calls
ROB4GREEN Open Call 1 is the first call launched under the project. As such, there are no previous success stories yet. However, this represents a unique opportunity to become one of the pioneering projects and position your organisation among the first success stories of the ROB4GREEN initiative.
Who Can Apply?
Consortium composition (mandatory structure)
Applications must be submitted by a consortium of 2 or 3 independent legal entities, typically:
- Mandatory: 1 SME/Start-up acting as technology integrator/provider/developer and pilot leader
- Mandatory: 1 industrial end user acting as technology adopter and validator of developments
- Optional: 1 additional organisation (SME, mid-cap or research organisation such as RTO/academia)
Key notes
1. The leading organisation and end-user must be distinct entities.
2. The “optional” third partner is only allowed if the required SME + end-user structure is already present.
Geographic elegibility
All entities must be established in:
- EU Member States, including outermost regions;
- Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to a Member State; or
- Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with Switzerland explicitly excluded for this call.
Entity eligibility and compliance requirements
All applicants must, among other conditions:
- Not be members or associated partners of the ROB4GREEN consortium.
- Have a valid VAT and PIC number.
- Demonstrate financial stability and not be bankrupt, under liquidation, or an “enterprise in difficulty”.
- For SMEs/start-ups: be established at least 12 months before submission.
- Avoid conflicts of interest, including any formal links to ROB4GREEN consortium partners; a Declaration of Honour is required.
Important regulations: Participation rules
Make sure you avoid crucial errors in the process:
- Only one proposal per legal entity / individual team member is allowed; multiple submissions lead to disqualification or only the first submission being considered.
- No subcontracting is eligible under this call.
- Proposals must respect the maximum budget; exceeding it makes the proposal ineligible.
- Proposals must avoid double funding of the same activity.
- There is a cap of €200,000 per legal entity across ROB4GREEN open calls.
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted electronically via the F6S platform; submissions by any other means are ineligible.
Key application rules:
- Submit in English; other languages are not evaluated, and English is required throughout the programme for deliverables and reports.
- Upload documents in PDF format without printing restrictions.
- Follow page limits and templates; content beyond page limits may be excluded from review.
- Ensure the application is complete (all mandatory questions answered, all requested documents uploaded), otherwise it can be disqualified.
- Editing is not possible after submission; resubmission may be requested before the deadline (with timing conditions).
- Mandatory annexes for submission include (as listed in the Guide):
Annex 3 (F6S application form),
Annex 4 (Proposal Template),
Annex 5 (Declaration of Honour),
Annex 6 (SME Declaration).
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 08/04/2026 – 17:00 CET (Brussels time)
Evaluation and technical checks: 09/04/2026 to 15/05/2026
Remote interviews: Interviews are part of Phase 3 and are conducted for the top-ranked proposals after remote evaluation (Interviews are expected to last ~30–45 minutes, with a ~15-minute applicant presentation.
Results communication: from 16/05/2026 to 31/05/2026.
Acceleration / programme execution: 01/06/2026 – 01/03/2027 (10 months).
Proposal Requirements for ROB4GREEN
A compliant proposal must:
1. Address one of the four ROB4GREEN OC1 challenges and align with OC1 objectives.
2. Select and justify 1 or 2 ROB4GREEN tools to be integrated and validated.
3. Start at TRL 4 and aim to reach TRL 7, including demonstration and validation in a real/industrial context.
4. Include end-user validation and user satisfaction elements where applicable.
5. Provide a go-to-market strategy and measurable expected impact (economic and societal).
6. Respect submission rules: English language, PDF formatting, completeness, templates/page limits, and budget cap.
Ethics & privacy requirements: Applicants must complete a self-assessment ethics questionnaire in the Proposal Template; failures to address ethical issues or privacy aspects may lead to rejection.
Evaluation and Selection Process for ROB4GREEN Open Call 1
The evaluation is structured into 4 phases:
Phase 1 – Eligibility check: A semi-automatic eligibility verification checks, among other things: eligible countries, correct consortium composition, alignment to challenge/objectives, English language, documentation completeness and budget compliance. Non-eligible proposals receive a letter of rejection with justification (without additional feedback on evaluation criteria).
Phase 2 – Remote proposal evaluation: Each proposal is reviewed by at least two external experts (independent, impartial, confidentiality and conflict-of-interest rules apply).
Proposals are scored on four criteria (0–10 scale each):
– Concept and Innovation
– Technology implementation approach
– Impact
– Applicant entity/team
Thresholds: minimum 6/10 per criterion, and 25/40 overall.
Ranking includes tie-break rules (e.g., better scope fit, higher impact, lower funding request, and then number of female researchers, with extra evaluator if needed).
Phase 3 – Online interview: Top-ranked proposals (top 16, as per the Guide) are invited. Interviews are conducted by the external experts plus internal ROB4GREEN evaluators; if applicants do not commit to what was in the submitted proposal, the proposal can be disqualified.
Phase 4 – Final ranking and selection: A final ranked list is produced, and 8 proposals are selected for funding (baseline: 2 per challenge, if applicable).
Appeals
Applicants may submit an appeal if they believe a procedural error occurred during the eligibility check or evaluation process. Appeals cannot be based on disagreement with scores or evaluators’ opinions, as the proposal will not be re-evaluated on its merits.
The appeal must be submitted in writing within the deadline indicated in the rejection notification and must clearly explain the alleged procedural mistake.
The ROB4GREEN consortium will review the case solely to verify whether the evaluation procedure was correctly applied. If a procedural error is confirmed, corrective measures may be taken; otherwise, the original decision remains final.
Additional Support Beyond Funding
Beyond the grant, each selected project is supported by a dedicated mentoring set-up:
- Innovation Mentor (IME) as main contact point and innovation/technical guidance
- SSH Mentor (SSM) for market fit, user-centricity, and societal/regulatory considerations
- Industry Mentor (IND) when relevant
- Plus an Internal Evaluator Board (IEB) for objective progress evaluation.
- Projects follow three sprint phases (1. Requirements, 2. Development & Deployment, 3. Validation), with reviews at each sprint end.
Final Thoughts
ROB4GREEN Open Call 1 is a strong option for consortia that already have a realistic industrial Re-X scenario and can deliver a robust pilot from TRL 4 to TRL 7 within 10 months, while integrating 1–2 ROB4GREEN tools and demonstrating measurable impact. It is essential to follow the submission rules (single proposal per entity, English-only, PDF formatting, template and page limits, and budget cap), and to plan for programme reviews and deliverables because funding is tied to achieved results.
More Information
F6S Call Page (Official Application Platform)
Direct Application Link (F6S Submission System)
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