HIGHLIGHTS 2009
Advanced Robotics R&D in the EU Framework Programme
EU country report to IARP ICF, Beijing 29-30 October 2009
Introduction
Advanced robotics research, particularly underpinning future service robotics has gained importance in
the European Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) research agenda. Since 2006
advanced robotics research has seen a major increase as part of ICT research within the 6th and 7th EU
Framework Programmes for research and technological development (FP6 and FP7). In 1999 – 2002 (5th
Framework Programme, FP5) 89 M€ were allocated to 51 research projects. In 2003 – 2006 (FP6) the
funding had grown to 141 M€ (41 projects) and during the three first years of FP7 to 224 M€ (57
projects). A further 80 M€ has been earmarked to advanced robotics research for 2009 - 2010.
Moreover, the NMP1 Programme augmented its funding to manufacturing robotics research from 35 M€
in FP5 to 80 M€ in FP6.
Expanding robotics research under FP6
In 2004 the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) activity of the EU ICT Programme launched an
initiative addressing the incorporation of information technology into embodied artefacts ("robots"). The
research initiative, addressed the three long term objectives, (i) cognitive companions, (ii) human
augmentation, (iii) robot ecologies. In total eight projects addressing a wide range of interdisciplinary
research challenges in robotics were selected from this and other FET initiatives. The total EC funding
was 34 M€. In the following period, ICT's Cognitive Systems, Interaction and Robotics launched some
25 further projects (91 M€).
In 2005 – 2006 the European robotics industry came together and formed a European Robotics
Technology Platform EUROP2 to provide a strategic focus for research and development programmes,
both in the public sector and in the industry. To this end it published its first Strategic Research Agenda
in May 2006, based on the vision that the robot systems of the next decades will thus be human
assistants, helping people do what they want to do in a natural and intuitive manner. The topics of this
agenda were mirrored in a specific ICT call for proposals "Advanced Robotics", from which 20 research
projects with an EC funding of 41 M€ were selected.
Consolidating advanced robotics research in FP7
In 2007 – 2013 robotics research is consolidated as part of the ongoing 7th Framework Programme.
The main bulk of advanced robotics research within
the ICT Programme takes place under the Challenge 2
entitled "Cognitive systems and Robotics".3 The
research topics cover:
 Robot-robot interaction and swarms
 Human-robot interaction
 Service robotics
 Humanoid robotics
 Roving and navigation (2D & 3D)
 Manipulation and grasping
 Robot benchmarking
ALMOST HUMAN The Robot Cub project, funded
as part of the European Commission's Cognitive
Systems and Robotics programme, is now shipping
iCub, a humanoid robot about the size of a 3 year
old child. ICub walks, crawls and thanks to a range
of sensors and an onboard computer running
artificial intelligence algorithms, even learns in a
very human way. By the end of 2009 there will be 20
iCubs in labs around the world helping researchers
to study human cognition. Source Nature, 27 August
2009.
During the two first years of FP7 26 robotics projects for 112 M€ have been awarded. From the most
recent call for proposals 19 new projects are being contracted for a total value of 73 M€. A further 80 M€
is earmarked for this area in 2010.
1
Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes
and devices (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/nmp.htm)
2
http://www.robotics-platform.eu/cms/index.php
3 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/cognition/fp7overview_en.html
Under the Challenge 7 "ICT for Independent Living, Inclusion and Governance" a set of four projects on
"Service robotics for ageing well" are being contracted for a total value of 12,5 M€. The objectives are:
 integration of R&D advances in robotics research and system design to service robots seamlessly
integrated in intelligent home environments
 operational verification of integrated and adaptable modular robotic solutions that support daily living
and care activities, and ensure safe operation in a home environment.
Acting as the pathfinder for the robotics research in the ICT Programme, FET launched a research
initiative "Embodied Intelligence".
The aim of this research is to address the way in
which mind, body, and world mutually interact and
influence one another to favour the emergence of
intelligent behaviour and the adaptive success of
agents in their environment. Three specific topics
were promoted:
 Mind-body co-development and co-evolution
 Morphology and behaviour
 Design for emergence.
The OCTOPUS project4 aims at investigating the
principles that give rise to the sensory-motor
capabilities of the octopus and incorporating them in
new design approaches for building soft-bodied,
hyper-redundant and dextrous artefacts. A robotic
artefact will be built that can locomote in water,
explore narrow spaces, grasp objects and manipulate
them. The project has a total funding of 7,6 M€,
shared between seven partners during four years.
In total six projects were launched for a funding of 20 M€. In addition, two further robotics-related
projects were launched from FET, bringing the total funding of foundational robotics research to 27 M€.
Outlook
At the European level research into advanced robotics has been considerably expanded since
2006 under the FP6 and FP7. At present the ICT research orientations for 2011-12 are under
discussion, and decisions will be taken during the first half of 2010.
Looking further into the future, the high-level advisory group of the ICT Programme (ISTAG)
has recently recommended for FET to launch large-scale flagship initiatives in selected areas,
including robotic companions. Such large-scale initiatives would have ambitious objectives;
they would require long-term (over 10 years) support, and combine existing and new resources
beyond the EU Framework Programme for creating critical mass.
On the industrial front, EUROP updated its Strategic Research Agenda in October 2009 to highlight the
pivotal role of robotics in facing the socio-economic challenges of the recently enlarged EU and a
robotics testing and validation action aimed primarily at flexible production processes was launched in
2009 under the theme of Factories of the Future.
Authors
Wolfgang Boch
Pekka Karp
Franco Mastroddi
European Commission, Directorate General Information Society and Media
Brussels/Luxemburg, October 2009
4
http://www.octopusproject.eu/