HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-05

On-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and new construction

Status
forthcoming
Programme
Horizon Europe (HORIZON)
Action type
HORIZON Innovation Actions
Opens
5 May 2027
Deadline
15 Sep 2027
Fetched
15 Jul 2026, 07:18 UTC
Plain-language summary

Develop and demonstrate innovative on-site robotic and automated techniques, including 3D printing, for sustainable building renovation and new construction.

This call seeks projects that create robotic and automated methods for renovating and constructing buildings on-site. Techniques should improve resource efficiency, accuracy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Demonstrations must cover various building types and climates, focusing on energy renovation and possibly new construction.

Likely relevant for

  • Construction technology developers
  • Robotics and automation companies
  • Building renovation specialists
  • 3D printing technology providers
  • Sustainability and energy efficiency researchers

Project signals

Demonstrations across multiple building typologies and climatesTRL 6-8 technology readiness levelFocus on reducing GHG emissions and improving accuracy

What it funds

  • Development of innovative on-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and new construction
  • At least one technique must involve 3D printing
  • Techniques must be adaptable to various building typologies and materials on the market
  • Focus on on-site applications, excluding off-site prefabrication
  • Consideration of worker safety and human-robot collaboration
  • Demonstrations in at least three different building typologies and climatic conditions

Expected outcomes

  • Improved resource efficiency compared to current practices
  • Improved accuracy between designed and as-built construction
  • Significant reduction in time spent by building professionals on site
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions at construction sites

Who can apply / participate

  • Legal entities established in eligible EU Member States and Associated Countries
  • Single-stage submission model
  • Joint Research Centre may participate as zero-funded beneficiary or associated partner
  • Legal entities established in China are not eligible for participation under this destination
  • Participants must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility rules as per General Annexes
  • Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data required if satellite-based earth observation is used
  • Specific consortium size and composition requirements

Must check before shortlisting

  • Eligibility of participant countries
  • Compliance with lump sum funding model
  • Involvement of Joint Research Centre (optional)

Money

Total budget for this call action is approximately €20.25 million for 2027, with expected grants of around €6.75 million each for up to 3 projects.

  • Total budget for 2027 — 20250000EUR
    Allocated for up to 3 grants
  • Minimum and maximum contribution per grant — 6750000EUR
    Lump sum funding model

Application notes

  • Single-stage submission model with proposal page limits and layout as per Horizon Europe General Annexes.
  • Proposal must comply with admissibility conditions including page limits and layout
  • Eligible countries as per Annex B of Horizon Europe Work Programme
  • Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data if applicable
  • Joint Research Centre participation optional with zero funding
  • Financial and operational capacity requirements as per Annex C
  • Evaluation criteria and process as per Annex D and F
  • Grant agreement and lump sum funding rules apply
  • Prepare proposal following the specific application form in the Submission System
  • Ensure compliance with eligibility and admissibility criteria
  • Submit proposal by the deadline (15 September 2027)
  • Follow evaluation and award procedures as described in the Work Programme and Online Manual
  • Legal entities established in China are not eligible under this destination
  • Joint Research Centre does not participate in proposal preparation
  • Lump sum funding requires careful budget justification

Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 22 Jun 2026, 15:39 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.

Related calls

These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.

Official source text

Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.

Topic 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. null Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.

Destination

This Destination targets the energy demand side, notably a more efficient use of energy in buildings and industry. It contributes to the activities of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and its implementation working groups. This Destination contributes directly to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations ‘ Green transition ’, ‘ Digital transition ’ and ‘ A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe ’. In line with the Strategic Plan, the overall expected impact of this Destination is to contribute to the ‘Using energy in buildings and industry in an efficient, affordable and sustainable way’ . The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are: Highly energy-efficient and climate neutral European building stock The energy performance of the European building stock is improved at an accelerated pace, contributing to the EU's energy security, while the buildings and the built environment have reduced climate and environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The energy renovation and construction of buildings are cost-efficient, affordable and less disruptive. The buildings are increasingly interacting with the users, energy system and their environment while operating in an integrated, resilient, secure, smart and flexible manner. The buildings and the built environment are more climate resilient, accessible, inclusive and delivers multiple benefits which improve the quality of life, health and well-being for all users. Industry The energy efficiency of EU energy intensive industries is improved, their consumption of fossil fuel and their GHG and other pollutants emissions are drastically reduced, notably through cost-effective electrification, use of renewable energy, heat recovery, thereby preserving / enhancing their global competitiveness. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes.

Conditions and documents

General conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding as a beneficiary with zero funding, or as an associated partner. The JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal - see General Annex B.

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].

described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions

described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

Support information

Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding. IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers. Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.

Raw budget overview
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