Apply AI: Challenge-Driven AI Innovation Booster in Apply AI prioritised sectors (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)
Funding initiative to accelerate AI-driven innovation in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and autonomous driving through multi-stage competitions. Targets consortia led by industry partners to define challenges, support SMEs, and scale high-impact AI solutions in priority sectors.
Details
Agency
EU Commission
Status
Open
Language
English
Funding Type
Grant
Funding Amount
Up to 44.0M €
Deadline
2027-03-18
Open Date
2026-11-17
Overview
Funding initiative to accelerate AI-driven innovation in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and autonomous driving through multi-stage competitions. Targets consortia led by industry partners to define challenges, support SMEs, and scale high-impact AI solutions in priority sectors.Who Can Apply
Consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, or associated countries (Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom). Must include user-industry partners from one of the three targeted sectors (healthcare, advanced manufacturing, or autonomous driving). Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may participate only with approved guarantees.Funding Details
- Total budget: €44,000,000 (distributed across selected consortia).
- Financial support to third parties (FSTP):
- Co-funding: Not explicitly required, but consortia must demonstrate industry support and exploitation pathways.
What Is Funded
- Healthcare: AI for diagnostics, treatment planning, robotic surgery, or predictive patient care.
- Advanced manufacturing: AI for production optimization, quality control, predictive maintenance, or product design.
- Autonomous driving: AI for vehicle safety, navigation, or traffic management.
- Activities: Multi-stage competitions to develop AI solutions, including technical and business support for SMEs, data access, and exploitation planning. Consortia must organize challenges, define evaluation criteria, and ensure visibility.
Technology / Maturity Requirements
- TRL range: 4–6 (validation in lab to relevant environment).
Key Dates
- Open date: 2026-11-16.
- Deadline: 2027-03-17.
Application Process (High-Level)
- Single-stage submission: Proposals evaluated based on defined criteria.
- Portal: Funding & Tenders Portal.
- Evaluation: Portfolio approach to ensure coverage of all three sectors (healthcare, manufacturing, autonomous driving).
Post-Award Obligations
- Collaboration: Selected projects must formalize a collaboration agreement to share best practices and coordinate dissemination.
- Reporting: Progress monitoring via qualitative/quantitative KPIs, benchmarking, and exploitation plans.
- Dissemination: Results must be shared via the AI-on-demand platform and other relevant EU digital platforms.
Geographic Scope & Language
- Eligible countries: EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and associated countries (Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom).
- Language: English.
Notes
- Sector focus: Each proposal must address one of the three sectors (healthcare, advanced manufacturing, or autonomous driving).
- Industry involvement: User-industry partners must demonstrate commitment to adopting solutions.
- Exclusions: Entities controlled by non-eligible countries or high-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment may be restricted unless approved guarantees are provided.
- Sponsorship encouraged: Consortia are urged to seek external sponsorship to enhance challenge visibility and attract top SMEs.