Styria seeks EU backing to test humanoid robots

Styria could become a test region for humanoid robots, with an international consortium preparing an application for an 18 million euro EU grant, ORF reported. The robots would be tested in industrial settings. A funding decision is expected next summer.

The EU’s Horizon Europe research programme is offering the funding for a project intended to operate across Europe. The call opens in November, and the application is due in spring 2027. The project could start in 2028 at the earliest.

AT-Styria managing director Helmut Röck said the region’s research base, including Graz University of Technology and Joanneum Research, could strengthen its bid. He said the initiative could make Styria the core of a broader Central European effort.

Humanoid robots could take on physically demanding and repetitive work, particularly in manufacturing. Applications would also be tested in logistics and maintenance. More than 44,000 people currently work in Styrian automation technology, and as many as 10,000 additional jobs could be created by 2030, according to the report.

Ulrike Haslauer, president of the Austrian Society for Measurement, Automation and Robotics, questioned whether 18 million euros would be enough for an EU project, saying every cent counts at this stage. She added that the available funding would nevertheless be taken up.