29.04.2026
The European Interest Group (EIG) CONCERT-Japan programme call titled „AI-Powered Robotics for Real-World Applications“ was launched on 28th of April 2026 and the deadline to submit the proposals is 22th of July 2026.
This call aims to support collaborative research between teams in Japan and Europe, addressing key scientific and technological challenges in the development of AI-powered robotics. The focus is on adaptive, autonomous, and intelligent systems capable of operating in dynamic, unstructured, and human-centred real-world environments. Ultimately, the call seeks to deliver tangible solutions to pressing societal challenges.
The EIG CONCERT-Japan programme call works in the same way as former Horizon 2020 ERA-NETS and current Horizon Europe partnerships – each participating country funds its own researchers. In addition to Estonia and Japan, the following countries are currently expected to participate: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Türkiye. This list is preliminary and may change before the call opens. Successful projects are expected to start in the first half of 2027.
Each project consortium must consist of at least 3 eligible beneficiaries (project partners), including at least 1 from Japan and at least 2 from two different European countries participating in the Joint Call.
Estonian host institution must be a positively evaluated R&D institution that is a legal entity registered in Estonia. List of evaluated institutions is provided in the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS).
Estonian participants are financed by ETAG in the amount of 150,000 euros (standard project partner) or 300,000 euros (coordinator) – even if there is more than one Estonian partner in one project. I case of multible Estonian partners, all have to meet the national PI eligibility criteriums given in the call text.
Call deadline: 22th of July 2026 at 11:00 (EET)
Proposals have to be submitted by using the online tool.
How to find a partner in Japan?
- to identify suitable project partners in Japan or other participating countries, applicants can use the Partner Search Tool available here. This tool supports both consortia seeking additional partners and researchers looking to join a consortium.
- we recommend contacting the international cooperation office at your institution to check for existing collaboration agreements with Japanese research organisations and to request support in establishing contacts with Japanese researchers.
- ETAG can also assist in finding suitable partners in Japan. ETAG has prior contacts with the international offices of the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Hosei University. We can send inquiries to these institutions to see if they would be willing to assist in establishing a contact.
- ETAG may also contact other Japanese research organisations; however, without a prior contact, the Japanese institution might not respond. For more information, please contact ETAG’s contact person: Katrin Saar (katrin.saar@etag.ee)
Contact at ETAG
Katrin Saar
Senior Adviser (EU Missions, NordForsk); Cooperation with Taiwan and JSPS; ERA-NET CHANSE
