Horizon Europe RAISE “AI in Science” — autonomous AI-driven laboratories (HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01)
Horizon Europe RAISE pilot call, open from 13 October 2026, for already automated laboratories that add AI to plan, run and analyse experiments on their own. The total budget is €30.5 million (€9 million per project for materials). Submission is in a single stage, by 2 February 2027.
- Who can apply
- Consortia made up of laboratories with an already advanced level of automation and digitalisation, alongside…
- Total budget
- 30.5 million
- Funding amount
- 9 million
- Submission period
- 13 Oct 2026 – 2 Feb 2027
Checked against official sources on · funder: European Commission · official source
The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.
Who can apply
Consortia made up of laboratories with an already advanced level of automation and digitalisation, alongside AI specialists. Proposals must show close interdisciplinary collaboration between computer scientists or AI specialists and scientists from the relevant field. Eligible countries and participation conditions follow the general annexes of the Horizon Europe work programme (Annexes A and B). Romania is a Member State, so Romanian universities, research institutes and companies can take part. The food topic suits organisations working on alternative proteins, food ingredients or food biotechnology.
What it covers
- Developing the "intelligence layer" that allows existing laboratory instruments to plan, run and analyse experiments semi-autonomously or autonomously, without completely refitting the laboratory
- Autonomous, semi-autonomous and adaptive AI systems (including agentic AI), connected to laboratory instruments and robots
- Assistive, interactive and safe robotic systems, managed by AI
- Scalable automation and networked AI systems, for joint experiments across several laboratories
- Real-time data processing and analysis, with immediate feedback
- Interoperability standards and protocols between instruments, robots and AI systems
- Intuitive human–machine interfaces and AI-based predictive maintenance
- AI modules that reduce energy, reagent and material consumption
Apply in the current call window
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Until when can a proposal be submitted to the RAISE "AI in Science" call HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01?
The call opened on 13 October 2026, and the submission deadline is 2 February 2027. Submission is in a single stage, through the European Commission's Funding & Tenders portal, for all three topics (01-01, 01-02 and 01-04).
How much does the European Commission fund per project in the RAISE call for autonomous laboratories?
The materials science topic (HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01-01) has €26.5 million and funds 3 projects of €9 million each. The food topic (01-02) has €3 million for one project, and the coordination and support action for a Data Lab linked to EOSC and RAISE (01-04) has €1 million for one project. The total budget is €30.5 million.
Can laboratory equipment be bought with the RAISE grant?
Only as a complementary item. The call gives priority to software development, but allows the justified purchase of complementary equipment needed for the research objectives. A proposal centred on buying equipment does not fit the call: the aim is to add an AI layer to an already automated laboratory.
Which laboratories suit the RAISE "Automated Scientific Discovery" call?
Laboratories that already have an advanced level of automation and digitalisation and want to develop the intelligence layer through which instruments plan, run and analyse experiments on their own, in a closed loop and with human oversight. Topic 01-01 covers any area of materials science. Topic 01-02 covers food, for example alternative proteins and fats, precision fermentation and food ingredients.
Can organisations from Romania take part in the RAISE call?
Yes. Romania is an EU Member State, and country eligibility follows Annex B of the general annexes of the Horizon Europe work programme. Romanian universities, research institutes and companies can join consortia. Proposals must show close interdisciplinary collaboration between AI specialists and scientists from the relevant field.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
Apply in the current call window — Horizon Europe RAISE “AI in Science” — autonomous AI-driven laboratories (HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01)
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
Other programmes
CEF Transport 2026 — infrastructure projects on the trans-European TEN-T network
The seven CEF Transport 2026 calls (CINEA) had €1.1 billion for TEN-T: railways, inland waterways, ports, external borders, road digitalisation, alternative fuels and military mobility. Submission closed on 6 October 2026 at 17:00 CEST.
Call window openEIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 — grants for deep-tech research (Horizon Europe)
The European Innovation Council funds high-risk deep-tech research: €0.5–4 million per project, 100% as a lump sum. Themes: energy harvesting, healthy ageing and cognitive AI (DeepRAP). Budget: €96 million; deadline 28 October 2026, 17:00 (Brussels).
Call window openEIC Accelerator 2026 — grant and investment for deep-tech start-ups and SMEs
EIC Accelerator funds deep-tech start-ups and SMEs with a grant of under €2.5 million (up to 70% of costs) and an investment of €1–10 million. The 2026 budget is €634 million. The last deadline in 2026 for the full proposal is 4 November 2026.