26/02/2026

The call introduces a new pilot scheme with staged funding and closer integration of user and demand perspectives inspired by the ARPA-style approach but adapted to the Horizon Europe legal and operational framework. This EIC Work Programme (2026) provides the provisions for the implementation of Stage 1 support for this pilot. It also sets out indicative provisions for Stage 2 which is anticipated to be funded under the 2027 EIC Work Programme and is subject to the adoption of this Work Programme. The challenges are: Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied Intelligence for the Next Frontier of AI-Powered Robotics Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Practice

HORIZON EUROPE – European Research Council The European Research Council supports frontier research, cross disciplinary proposals and pioneering ideas in new and emerging fields which introduce unconventional and innovative approaches. The ERC's mission is to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields of research, on the basis of scientific excellence.

https://erc.europa.eu/tags/horizon-europe