Factory X 

From prototype to market leader

Up to €900,000 for European consortia turning frontier AI and robotics into products that scale.

Bring your venture, your corporate and your AI Factory. Build it together.

Europe doesn't lack brilliant AI and robotics research. It lacks the path from lab to market. Factory X is that path: a co-funded call for consortia that take advanced technology (TRL 6-8) into real industrial use, with clear market access and credible scale-up potential.

About the call

Factory X is the flagship funding programme of the EIT AI & Robotics Community. It backs multi-partner projects that bridge research excellence, market needs and commercialisation in AI and robotics.

We are looking for consortia at TRL 6-8 with a clear route to market and credible scale-up potential.

Projects run from 1 March to 30 November 2027.

Who's it for?

What we fund:

• Deep AI & Robotics Tech: breakthrough, science-driven innovation across health, mobility, manufacturing, computing and digital infrastructure.
• Strategic Tech: AI applied to the sectors of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), from cybersecurity and sovereign data infrastructure to dual-use systems, clean tech and biotech.

Technologies in scope (non-exhaustive): foundation models and generative AI, agentic systems, advanced machine learning, trustworthy and secure AI, knowledge-based and hybrid AI, computer vision, language and speech, robotics and autonomous systems, intelligent robotic control, edge AI and infrastructure, robotics simulation and digital engineering.

Funding at a glance

Total call budget: €1,800,000
Funding per project: €500,000 to €900,000
Projects funded: Up to 2
Co-funding: At least 30% of total project costs from your own resources
Payment: 60% at project start, 40% after the final report is approved

About your consortium

Consortia must consist of 2 to 4 independent organisations, each established in a different eligible country (EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries):

• One venture, incorporated no more than 5 years ago, with at least 2 FTEs, majority ownership of the product IP and a solution at TRL 6-8.
• At least one corporate partner.
• At least one established AI Factory.
• Coverage of at least two sides of the knowledge triangle: education, innovation and business creation.

In return, the venture offers 28DIGITAL either equity of 3.5% to 10% or a revenue-sharing agreement. Top-performing start-ups may also qualify for Fast Track support from the Community.

Cross-border collaboration with Horizon Europe associated partners, participation from RIS countries and gender-balanced teams are encouraged and scored positively.

How to apply?

• Register your organisation in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to get your nine-digit PIC number. Already registered? Check your PIC here.
• Register every partner as a 28DIGITAL partner and request access for the person who will submit.
• Log in to the submission platform, open Call for Proposals > Open Calls and find Factory X 2026-2027.
• Submit your proposal in English, with a pitch video of up to 90 seconds, before the deadline.
  

Submit early: the platform can slow down in the final hours, and late submissions are not accepted.

Key dates

• Call opens: ...
• Information session: 28 October 2026
• Submission deadline: 15 December 2026, 17:00 CET
• Shortlisted teams invited to due diligence interviews: January 2027
• Projects start: 1 March 2027
  

FAQ

Do we need to be a 28DIGITAL partner already?
No. Non-partners can apply, but must start their partnership application before submitting and complete it before the project starts if selected.

Can we subcontract or pass funding to third parties?
Subcontracting must be defined in the proposal and follow value-for-money rules. Financial support to third parties is not allowed in this call.

Which costs are covered?
Personnel, subcontracting, purchase and other direct costs, plus a flat 25% for indirect costs. We recommend at least 0.2 FTE per partner.

How are proposals scored?
On Horizon Europe criteria: excellence, impact and implementation. A minimum overall score of 70 out of 100 is needed to be funded.

Where do I ask questions?
Email ai@eitcommunity.eu. A running FAQ is published on the official programme page during the submission period.