This topic will support innovation proposals, expected to exploit the latest robotics advances and demonstrate at TRL6-7 use-case scenarios considering end-user needs and expectations, in highly realistic operating environments, how they can directly contribute to the chosen application, supported by quantitative and qualitative industry or service related KPIs.
The involvement of the user industry and the workers, possibly also the social partners, would be key to drive the proposals, not only to identify the needs and the application scenarios, but to be involved in the testing of the solutions and providing feedback to adapt the solutions to optimise the working conditions and performances. They will closely collaborate with the technology providers and integrators. The proposals should also take into consideration trustworthy AI principles including respect of human dignity and agency.

The proposals should be primarily application driven, with a concrete problem-solving approach, exploiting the most suitable robotics technologies at hand. The focus should be on real-world scenarios which can benefit in short term from the technology and demonstrate substantial impact on the chosen application, also taking into account the maturity of the technologies which can solve the problems at hand. Each proposal will focus on one of the following use-cases:

• Demonstrating substantial added value of robotics in major application sectors with high socio-economic and/or environmental potential impact, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of processes or services.
• Demonstrating how robotics can improve human working conditions and satisfaction in taking over dangerous, dull, dirty or strenuous tasks, keeping workers away from unsafe and unhealthy jobs.

Proposals are requested to dedicate at least 20% of their requested amount for FSTP to support SMEs or Start-ups in the development or enhancement of demonstrators, with a maximum of € 200,000 per third party, and 70% of the costs (100% for start-ups). The consortium will provide technical support with expertise in engineering integration, testing and validation to support the selected SMEs and start-ups acting as technology providers to demonstrate the added value of their solutions to address the challenges of the use-cases.