Open Calls
S3C invites innovative minds to participate in two exciting open calls. Whether you aim to push the boundaries of innovation through Open Call 2.1: Cobotic Base Cell (CBC) Design, or enhance and adapt existing CBCs with Open Call 2.1.1: CBC Adaptation, this is your opportunity to lead the next wave of collaborative robotics.
These open calls foster innovation through industry-research collaboration, tackling real-world challenges with impactful, scalable solutions. Whether you’re a startup, industry professional, technology provider, or researcher, your expertise can help shape the future of cobotics.
Open Call 2.1: Cobotic Base Cell (CBC) Design
The objective of CBC Design Open Call 2.1 is to advance the applied state-of-the-art cobotics technology in the industry. To achieve this, the call specifies the requirements given below. Each CBC shall
- address a specific manufacturing process, sector and/or branch to solve a challenge in the industry,
- be original and innovative favoring different processes and sectors than the already existing S3C CBCs,
- enable flexible re-programming and adaptation to different tasks within the defined application with minimal intervention,
- achieve at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and Human Robot Collaboration Level (HRCL) 3 (see Appendix of the guidelines for an explanation of TRLs and HRCLs),
- promote a technology transfer from research to solve industrial manufacturing problems,
- promote collaboration of research and industry partners to innovate together,
- address sustainable development goals (SDG) (see here for an overview).
CBC Design Open Call 2.1 provides financial support to build three large CBCs and three compact CBCs. The funding details are as follows:
- A maximum of 200k CHF per large CBC and 115k CHF per compact CBC are allocated per CBC project.
- The funding will be distributed in two stages:
- 60% upfront upon acceptance of the proposal.
- 40% upon successful commissioning of the adapted CBC, verified by S3C and the consortium leader through the CBC Checklist.
- The consortium leader is responsible for distributing the funds according to the agreed budget plan outlined in the proposal.
- A minimum in-kind contribution of 25-45% is expected from consortium members to demonstrate commitment and ensure cost-effective solutions.
- The S3C partners must apply for the CBC calls in a consortium of at least three S3C partners.
- The consortium should include at least one research institution, one robot integrator and one technology provider.
- The proposal should include at least 2 Letter of Intents (LOIs) from industrial end-users, who will be invited to review the use-case during the live demonstration at the commissioning phase.
- The demonstrations of the use-cases should be less than 5 minutes, preferably around 2-3 minutes.
- The projects have a duration of maximum 6 months.
| Activity | Call 2.1 – Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Submission for Expression of Interest (EoI) and full proposals opens. | 01 December 2024 |
| Submission closes for EoIs. | 15 January 2025 |
| Submission closes for full proposals. | 01 March 2025 |
| Notification of preliminary decisions with feedback from the S3C executive board. Resubmission period opens. | 04 April 2025 |
| Final submission incorporating feedback from the S3C executive board closes. | 21 April 2025 |
| Final funding decision by the S3C executive board is given. | 01 May 2025 |
| Project start date | 15 May 2025 |
| Latest CBC commissioning date. | 15 November 2025 |
Expression of Interest (EoI) (optional-recommended):
- Partners may optionally submit a one-page Expression of Interest (EoI) during the period 01 December 2024 – 15 January 2025.
- The S3C team will contact all the EoI submissions to provide feedback and help.
- Please find the template document to fill in for the expression of interest: S3C-Open-Call-2.1-Expression-of-Interest-CBC-Design.docx
This initiative aims to support partners in three ways:
- If a partner is interested in participating in the call and has a technology offer but lacks a consortium or a finalized proposal idea.
- If a partner has a proposal idea but has not yet formed a consortium.
- If a partner has a consortium and a proposal idea and seeks preliminary feedback.
Proposal:
- The proposal should be written in the template given by CBC-Design-Proposal-Template.docx, converted to pdf, and renamed XX_CBC_Design_Proposal.pdf where XX is the consortium leader partner institute.
- The content and guidelines of the proposal are given in S3C-Open-Call-2.1-Guidelines-CBC-Design.pdf.
- The minimum font size should be 10, and the font type is Arial. There is no need to put a table of contents, or table of figures nor table of tables.
- The proposal should be maximum of 20 pages without the Appendix.
Download Links:
S3C-Open-Call-2.1-Guidelines-CBC-Design.pdf
Consortium and eligibility
Can a consortium include more than three partners?
Yes, while the minimum requirement is three partners (one research partner, one robot integrator, and one technology provider), consortiums can include additional partners if it strengthens the proposal and improves collaboration.
Are non-Swiss companies eligible to participate in the call?
Yes, non-Swiss companies can participate in the call. However, they must collaborate with at least three S3C partners and should align their proposal with the objectives outlined for the Swiss economy and technology transfer
Are external companies and institutes (non S3C partners) eligible for the call?
Yes, external companies and institutes are welcome to participate in the call. There are two ways. 1. During the proposal phase, you can commit to becoming an S3C partner if the proposal is accepted, or 2. You should find a consortium of at least three S3C partners including one research partner, one robot integrator partner, and one technology provider partner.
Can an S3C partner be part of multiple consortiums?
Yes, S3C partners can participate in multiple consortiums, but they must ensure that they have the capacity and resources to contribute fully to each project. The roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined in each proposal to avoid conflicts or resource constraints..
Will there be any support from the S3C team during the project?
Yes, S3C will provide periodic reviews and technical support through the S3C core team. Consortiums will also have a midterm review meeting to ensure the project is on track and to address any challenges, including technical troubleshooting or integration issues. Consortium can also request meetings with the S3C team as soon as they encounter a delay, a problem or have a request for feedback.
Proposal and submission process
How will the feedback process work after the preliminary submission?
Once you submit your proposal, the S3C executive board will provide feedback based on the evaluation criteria. You will have a resubmission window to refine and improve your proposal based on this feedback before the final submission.
What is the process for final submission feedback and revisions?
After the preliminary decision and feedback from the S3C executive board (scheduled for April 4, 2025), applicants will have until April 21, 2025, to incorporate the feedback into their proposals. Final revisions should address all key areas raised during the preliminary evaluation.
Can we submit multiple proposals as a consortium?
Are there specific sustainability criteria that our CBC must meet?
Yes, proposals should align with sustainable development goals (SDGs). While there are no rigid criteria, the CBC should demonstrate how it contributes to sustainability, such as reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, or improving overall efficiency. Providing clear metrics or strategies for sustainability will strengthen your proposal.
Are there any restrictions on the types of industries or sectors for which the CBC can be developed?
There are no strict restrictions, but proposals should aim to address different processes or sectors from the existing S3C Cells (as listed in the S3C Catalogue). The goal is to bring innovation and diversity into the CBCs across different industries and processes.
Implementation phase
What happens if our project is delayed?
The timeline is structured to ensure that the projects are completed within the allocated time. While some flexibility might be allowed for unforeseen circumstances, significant delays that affect the commissioning date could jeopardize the project’s final payment. All extensions must be justified and discussed with the S3C team during the project review phases.Delays should be outlined in your risk plan, with mitigation strategies in place.
Commissioning phase
Can the use-case be different from LOI provider's use-case?
Yes, LOI providers and use-case providers can be different. However, please note that the commissioning of the CBC is completed with one of the LOI providers present during the demonstration of the cell at the commissioning phase. If the use-case is similar to/same as the LOI providers’ use-case, we can get better feedback from the LOI providers on the cell.
Do we need to provide a working prototype by the CBC commissioning deadline?
Yes, by the commissioning deadline (15th of November), the CBC must be delivered in a fully functional state, with all components operating as per the proposal. The final commissioning also includes demonstrating the use-case with a LOI provider present.
How flexible is the timeline, and can we request extensions if needed?
Will there be opportunities to publish or promote the CBC developments after project completion?
Yes, S3C encourages the promotion and publication of successful CBC projects. In addition to submitting promotion materials such as demonstration videos and photos, successful projects may be featured in S3C events, publications, and industry conferences.
Contact person for this call is Hakan Girgin.
For all questions, concerns and document submissions, please send an email to hakan.girgin@s3c.swiss
Open Call 2.1.1: Cobotic Base Cell (CBC) Adaptation
The objective of CBC Adaptation Open Call 2.1.1 is to enhance existing cobotic base cells (CBCs) by advancing their adaptability, scalability, and usability in diverse industrial environments. To achieve this, the call specifies the following requirements. Each adapted CBC shall
- address a specific manufacturing process, sector, and/or branch to enhance the modularity, flexibility and/or efficiency of an existing CBC,
- be original and innovative favoring different processes and sectors than the already existing S3C CBCs,
- enable flexible re-programming and adaptation to different tasks within the defined application with minimal intervention,
- achieve at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and Human Robot Collaboration Level (HRCL) 2 (see Appendix of the guidelines for an explanation of TRLs and HRCLs),
- promote technology transfer from research to solve industrial manufacturing problems,
- promote collaboration of research and industry partners to innovate together,
- address sustainable development goals (SDG) (see here for an overview).
The CBC Adaptation Call provides financial support to enhance existing CBCs by two large adaptations and five small adaptations. The funding details are as follows:
- A maximum of 50k CHF per large adaptation and 20k CHF per small adaptation are allocated per CBC project.
- The funding will be distributed in two stages:
- 60% upfront upon acceptance of the proposal.
- 40% upon successful commissioning of the adapted CBC, verified by S3C and the consortium leader through the CBC Checklist.
- The consortium leader is responsible for distributing the funds according to the agreed budget plan outlined in the proposal.
- A minimum in-kind contribution of 25-45% is expected from consortium members to demonstrate commitment and ensure cost-effective solutions.
- Any S3C partner can apply for the adaptation call either individually or as part of a consortium.
- The proposal should include at least 1 Letter of Intent (LOI) from industrial end-users, who will be invited to review the use-case during the live demonstration at the commissioning phase.
- The demonstrations of the use-cases should be less than 5 minutes, preferably around 2-3 minutes.
- The projects have a duration of maximum 4 months.
| Activity | Call 2.1 – Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Submission for Expression of Interest (EoI) and full proposals opens. | 01 December 2024 |
| Submission closes for EoIs. | 15 January 2025 |
| Submission closes for full proposals. | 01 March 2025 |
| Notification of preliminary decisions with feedback from the S3C executive board. Resubmission period opens. | 04 April 2025 |
| Final submission incorporating feedback from the S3C executive board closes. | 21 April 2025 |
| Final funding decision by the S3C executive board is given. | 01 May 2025 |
| Project start date | 15 May 2025 |
| Latest CBC commissioning date. | 15 September 2025 |
Expression of Interest (EoI) (optional-recommended):
- Partners may optionally submit a one-page Expression of Interest (EoI) during the period 01 December 2024 – 15 January 2025.
- The S3C team will contact all the EoI submissions to provide feedback and help.
- Please find the template document to fill in for the expression of interest: S3C-Open-Call-2.1.1-Expression-of-Interest-CBC-Adaptation.docx
This initiative aims to support partners in three ways:
- If a partner is interested in participating in the call and has a technology offer but lacks a consortium or a finalized proposal idea.
- If a partner has a proposal idea but has not yet formed a consortium.
- If a partner has a consortium and a proposal idea and seeks preliminary feedback.
Proposal:
- The proposal should be written in the template given by CBC-Adaptation-Proposal-Template.docx, converted to pdf, and renamed XX_CBC_Design_Proposal.pdf where XX is the consortium leader partner institute.
- The content and guidelines of the proposal are given in S3C-Open-Call-2.1.1-Guidelines-CBC-Adaptation.pdf.
- The minimum font size should be 10, and the font type is Arial. There is no need to put a table of contents, or table of figures nor table of tables.
- The proposal should be maximum of 10 pages without the Appendix.
Download Links:
S3C-Open-Call-2.1.1-Guidelines-CBC-Adaptation.pdf
S3C-Open-Call-2.1.1-Expression-of-Interest-CBC-Adaptation.docx
Consortium and eligibility
Can a consortium include more than three partners?
Yes, while the minimum requirement is three partners (one research partner, one robot integrator, and one technology provider), consortiums can include additional partners if it strengthens the proposal and improves collaboration.
Are non-Swiss companies eligible to participate in the call?
Yes, non-Swiss companies can participate in the call. However, they must collaborate with at least three S3C partners and should align their proposal with the objectives outlined for the Swiss economy and technology transfer
Are external companies and institutes (non S3C partners) eligible for the call?
Yes, external companies and institutes are welcome to participate in the call. There are two ways. 1. During the proposal phase, you can commit to becoming an S3C partner if the proposal is accepted, or 2. You should find a consortium of at least three S3C partners including one research partner, one robot integrator partner, and one technology provider partner.
Can an S3C partner be part of multiple consortiums?
Yes, S3C partners can participate in multiple consortiums, but they must ensure that they have the capacity and resources to contribute fully to each project. The roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined in each proposal to avoid conflicts or resource constraints..
Will there be any support from the S3C team during the project?
Yes, S3C will provide periodic reviews and technical support through the S3C core team. Consortiums will also have a midterm review meeting to ensure the project is on track and to address any challenges, including technical troubleshooting or integration issues. Consortium can also request meetings with the S3C team as soon as they encounter a delay, a problem or have a request for feedback.
Proposal and submission process
How will the feedback process work after the preliminary submission?
Once you submit your proposal, the S3C executive board will provide feedback based on the evaluation criteria. You will have a resubmission window to refine and improve your proposal based on this feedback before the final submission.
What is the process for final submission feedback and revisions?
After the preliminary decision and feedback from the S3C executive board (scheduled for April 4, 2025), applicants will have until April 21, 2025, to incorporate the feedback into their proposals. Final revisions should address all key areas raised during the preliminary evaluation.
Can we submit multiple proposals as a consortium?
Are there specific sustainability criteria that our CBC must meet?
Yes, proposals should align with sustainable development goals (SDGs). While there are no rigid criteria, the CBC should demonstrate how it contributes to sustainability, such as reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, or improving overall efficiency. Providing clear metrics or strategies for sustainability will strengthen your proposal.
Are there any restrictions on the types of industries or sectors for which the CBC can be developed?
There are no strict restrictions, but proposals should aim to address different processes or sectors from the existing S3C Cells (as listed in the S3C Catalogue). The goal is to bring innovation and diversity into the CBCs across different industries and processes.
Implementation phase
What happens if our project is delayed?
The timeline is structured to ensure that the projects are completed within the allocated time. While some flexibility might be allowed for unforeseen circumstances, significant delays that affect the commissioning date could jeopardize the project’s final payment. All extensions must be justified and discussed with the S3C team during the project review phases.Delays should be outlined in your risk plan, with mitigation strategies in place.
Commissioning phase
Can the use-case be different from LOI provider's use-case?
Yes, LOI providers and use-case providers can be different. However, please note that the commissioning of the CBC is completed with one of the LOI providers present during the demonstration of the cell at the commissioning phase. If the use-case is similar to/same as the LOI providers’ use-case, we can get better feedback from the LOI providers on the cell.
Do we need to provide a working prototype by the CBC commissioning deadline?
Yes, by the commissioning deadline (15th of November), the CBC must be delivered in a fully functional state, with all components operating as per the proposal. The final commissioning also includes demonstrating the use-case with a LOI provider present.
How flexible is the timeline, and can we request extensions if needed?
Will there be opportunities to publish or promote the CBC developments after project completion?
Yes, S3C encourages the promotion and publication of successful CBC projects. In addition to submitting promotion materials such as demonstration videos and photos, successful projects may be featured in S3C events, publications, and industry conferences.
Contact person for this call is Daniel Schlecht.
For all questions, concerns and document submissions, please send an email to daniel.schlecht@s3c.swiss