On-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and new construction
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies and researchers developing on-site robotic and automated construction techniques to improve renovation speed, accuracy, resource efficiency and emissions.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, startup, research org, university.
- Amount
- €6.8M per projectTotal budget €20,250,000
- Deadline
- 15 Sept 2027 02:00 CESTin 326 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 5 May 2027
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• Improved resource efficiency compared to current practices;
• Improved accuracy (designed vs. as-built) of on-site renovation and construction works, compared to current best practices;
• Significant reduction in time spent by building professionals on site;
• Reduced GHG emissions at the construction site.
Scope:
The rate of deep renovation of buildings can be accelerated by modernising the construction sector and embracing the latest developments in robotics and automated systems. There is need for further development of techniques using innovative on-site robotic and other automated systems that make renovation and construction works more sustainable, less disruptive, faster as well as more accurate, cost effective and resource efficient, while delivering, at least, the same building elements’ energy performance compared to current best practices. Proposals are expected to address all of the following:
• Demonstrate innovative on-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and the construction of new buildings. At least one of the proposed techniques should involve 3D printing;
• Develop techniques that are specifically for building-site applications (e.g. solutions focusing on prefabrication in workshops/factories away from the building site are out oof the scope), flexible to adapt to various building typologies and, where possible, to materials and components already on the market;
• Ensure that the proposed techniques appropriately take into account aspects of on-site workers’ safety and human-robot collaboration;
• Demonstrate the proposed techniques in at least three demonstrations to investigate their applicability for a variety of building typologies and climatic conditions, duly justified to represent a relevant part of the European building stock. Proposals must address the energy renovation of existing buildings but may also address new constructions.
Selected proposals could consider the involvement of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) whose contribution could consist of scientific advice and technical analysis of solutions and technologies, support to the transfer of research output to standards, and access to the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment research infrastructure for full-scale testing of buildings.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Startup, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Construction robotics
- On-site automation
- Building renovation
- Resource-efficient construction
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Consortium requiredBeneficiaries; affiliated entities do not count toward minimum
- Yes
Unless the topic provides otherwise, at least three independent legal-entity beneficiaries from three different countries: one from a Member State and two others each from different Member States or Associated Countries.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme classifies this exact topic as an Innovation Action.
- Other condition
- General Annex B excludes legal entities established in China from Innovation Actions. The specific Work Programme condition additionally excludes entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China only where that topic states the critical-technology restriction.
- Other condition
- Horizon Europe projects must focus exclusively on civil applications.
- Other condition
- If the project uses satellite-based Earth-observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data or services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other data and services may also be used.
- Other condition
- Where a Type 2 detailed budget is required, estimates may include subcontracting, purchases, and other cost categories per beneficiary/affiliated entity and work package. Subcontracting must cover action tasks and meet the MGA eligibility and best-value/no-conflict conditions; purchases follow the beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices and best value for money or lowest price, with no conflict of interest. These are estimated-cost rules, not separate LS reimbursement promises.
- Other condition
- Expected outcomes include improved resource efficiency; better designed-versus-as-built accuracy; substantially less time building professionals spend on site; and lower construction-site GHG emissions.
- Other condition
- The call overview indicates around 3 project(s) expected to be funded under this topic. This is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed award count or consortium-size rule.
- Other condition
- The topic says selected proposals could consider JRC involvement for scientific/technical advice, standards transfer, or access to the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment; this is optional.
- Other condition
- The JRC may participate in a selected consortium either as a beneficiary with zero funding or as an associated partner. It will not participate in proposal preparation or submission; this is an optional participation route, not an unconditional funding entitlement.
- Other condition
- The specific topic conditions state that eligible costs take the form of a lump sum under the Horizon Europe lump-sum decision. This is not direct reimbursement of each actual payroll or invoice.
- Other condition
- The call Work Programme specifies lump-sum funding but does not identify its subtype. For project-based Type 2 lump sums, the Commission’s guidance calls for realistic estimates by cost category, beneficiary/affiliated entity, and work package, using costs eligible under the programme’s actual-cost rules, in line with normal practices, reasonable and necessary for the activities. Confirm the subtype in the call’s submission system before treating that Type 2 estimate table as call-specific.
- Other condition
- Public universities (higher education establishments) established in China and administered by or under the supervision of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are ineligible to participate in any action under all parts of this Work Programme.
- Other condition
- The granting authority may, for up to four years after the action ends, object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results under the specific Annex 5 provision.
- Other condition
- Proposals are expected to demonstrate innovative on-site robotic/automated techniques for renovation and new construction, with at least one technique involving 3D printing; the techniques must be designed for building-site applications (off-site factory/workshop prefabrication-focused solutions are outside scope), adaptable to different building typologies and, where possible, market-available materials/components.
- Other condition
- The proposal must demonstrate the techniques in at least three demonstrations across building typologies and climatic conditions, justified as representative of a relevant part of the European building stock. Existing-building energy renovation is required; new construction may also be addressed.
- Other condition
- Proposals are expected to address on-site worker safety and human–robot collaboration.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme expects activity to reach TRL 6–8 by project end. This is an expected range, not a guarantee or a separately imposed funding entitlement.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme allows the responsible Director-General to open the call up to one month before or after its planned opening and to delay its deadline by up to two months. These are call-programme flexibilities, not a claim that a change occurred.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme schedules this call to open 2027-05-05 and sets the deadline as 2027-09-15 at 17:00 Brussels local time.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximum
- 8 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimum
- 6 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €20,250,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost limitEligible direct costs in MGA categories A–D, with stated exclusions
- 25 percent of eligible direct costs
The HE MGA flat-rate calculation excludes volunteer costs, subcontracting, financial support to third parties, and exempted specific cost categories. For these topics the grant is a lump sum; this is an underlying estimate/eligibility rule, not a separately reimbursed 25% payment. Operating-grant restrictions may also make indirect costs ineligible under the lump-sum guide.
- Funding intensity, maximumNon-profit legal entity beneficiaries only
- 100 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G permits a rate up to 100% for non-profit Innovation Action beneficiaries. The rate is not an award guarantee and for lump sums is applied through the amount-setting methodology.
- Funding intensity, maximumBeneficiary category under this action type
- 70 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G maximum for this Horizon Europe action type; not an award guarantee. For lump-sum grants, the rate is applied through the amount-setting methodology rather than shown separately in the grant agreement.
- Expected contribution per projectCommission estimated EU contribution for this topic
- €6,750,000
The overview identifies this as an amount around which outcomes could be addressed; different proposal amounts are not precluded. This is not a fixed minimum, maximum, or award guarantee.
- Topic allocationTopic-specific indicative allocation in the 2027 Work Programme call table
- €20,250,000
The Work Programme labels the amount indicative; call footnote says the budget is subject to Union budget appropriations. It is a topic allocation, not a per-beneficiary grant amount.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.2/A.3 requires assignment to the action, employee-like working conditions, and (unless agreed otherwise) the result belonging to the beneficiary; the calculated rate must correspond to actual costs and not be significantly different from similar employee tasks.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. Under the HE MGA, employee costs may qualify when the person works for the beneficiary under an employment contract/equivalent appointing act and is assigned to the action; eligible remuneration components and calculation follow Article 6.2 A.1.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.4 permits such action work to be declared as personnel costs only where the person is an SME owner or natural-person beneficiary not receiving a salary and the amount is calculated as the applicable unit cost under Annex 2a.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 5 May 2027
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-05 · BATTERIES and ENERGY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.