Open innovation: Addressing Grand challenges in AI (AI Data and Robotics Partnership) (CSA)

How to apply

Applicants are invited to register, create a user profile, and complete the full application form, prepare the required supporting documents and submit them via the F6S platform and accessible through AI-BOOST website. All proposals must be fully completed and submitted via F6S platform before the deadline. Main steps required:

1) Registration via F6S platform

2) Dully complete the application form (all mandatory fields must be completed)

3) Submit the application form before the deadline (25 August 2026, CEST 17.00h).

Evaluation process

The evaluation process will be carried out in successive stages, ensuring a fair, transparent and structured selection of the best solutions. Each phase has specific requirements, deliverables and evaluation criteria, as outlined below:

1. Phase I – SPARK Phase: Initial eligibility assessment and internal/external evaluation of concept notes, focusing on the novelty of the proposed approach, alignment with the challenge objectives, technical feasibility, and potential to deliver an innovative solution.
2. Phase II – ADVANCE Phase: Continuous development, validation and demonstration of the proposed solution over a five-month period. Participants will undergo a Mid-Term Checkpoint to verify progress and active participation. The final evaluation will be based on the Final Report, the performance achieved through the final algorithm submission, the Final Pitch Presentation and Live Demonstration, and audience voting. The assessment will consider technical excellence, innovation, scalability, sector relevance, responsible AI principles, sustainability, and the practical applicability of the solution to the challenge objectives and target use case.

An AI Challenge Competition (teams from academia and/or industry) will launch 2 specific attractive Generative AI challenges to drive significant research progress in autonomous robotics and agentic AI for engineering design and simulation, starting at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-3 and achieve TRL 4-5.

> Challenge 1: GenAI-Based Natural Language Mission Generator for Autonomous Robots in Agriculture _ Intellimech

> Challenge 2: Agentic AI for Automated CAD Generation and Autonomous Simulation _ SIAD Group

The competition consists of the following phases:

1. Spark Phase: Submission and evaluation of a Concept Note. Five winners will be selected for each challenge and awarded a prize of EUR 28,500 each.
2. Advance phase: Development, model validation and demonstration of AI solutions. The five winners of the SPARK Phase will enter a five-month development programme involving algorithm development, validation activities, conceptual and technical monitoring, and a final live demonstration. One winner will be selected for each challenge and awarded a final prize of EUR 100,000.

The AI-BOOST competition is expected to generate 10 breakthrough AI solutions, contributing to substantial scientific and technological progress in the targeted AI domains. Among these, four solutions (one per challenge) will be recognised as the most promising for industrial adoption and real-world deployment.

The two-phase competition structure incorporates dedicated monitoring and support mechanisms to ensure continuous progress throughout the development process, while fostering close collaboration between participants, Challenge Owners, industry stakeholders and AI-BOOST.