HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-05 Soft Robotic

We are preparing a proposal for the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-05, focused on the development and demonstration of novel soft robotic systems using advanced materials, non-rigid design methods, and adaptive control techniques.
Our team at Sabancı University (Istanbul, Türkiye) brings strong expertise in:

• Soft robotics design and prototyping

• Thermally actuated and stiffness-programmable systems

• AI-driven control and modeling of soft robotic components

We are seeking:

• Demonstrator Partners / Platform Owners

to co-develop and validate soft robotic applications in real-world environments. Sectors of interest include:

• Healthcare (e.g., rehabilitation robotics, assistive devices)

• Manufacturing (e.g., collaborative or adaptive robotics)

• Logistics/Transportation (e.g., soft grippers, mobile robots)

• Inspection and Maintenance (e.g., soft-bodied robots for confined spaces)

• Functional Materials Experts

to support the replacement of PLA-based elements in our current prototypes. Ideal profiles include:

• Research institutions or companies working on smart polymers, EAPs, SMPs, LCEs, or soft composites

• Groups with simulation and mechanical characterization capabilities for new material integration

We offer a strong technical foundation, including published research on programmable-stiffness soft actuators, and are ready to co-develop impactful demonstrators and advance the European soft robotics ecosystem.