Project description
Connecting technology infrastructures for smarter maintenance
Digital technologies such as AI, data analytics, and robotics are transforming the inspection and maintenance of critical infrastructure. However, fragmented access to testing and validation facilities is slowing market uptake. The EU-funded OPTIMI project aims to strengthen Europe’s technology infrastructure landscape for digital inspection and maintenance solutions. It will map existing services, identify user needs, and improve access models and coordination mechanisms. The project will create a user-friendly online catalogue of relevant TIs, support sustainable business models, and provide a roadmap for future investments. By making validation facilities more accessible, OPTIMI will help SMEs, start-ups, and infrastructure operators accelerate the adoption of trustworthy AI, data, and robotics solutions.
Objective
OPTIMI tackles a pressing European challenge: the fragmented landscape of Technology Infrastructures (TIs) for digital technologies, with emphasis on AI, data and robotics in inspection and maintenance (I&M) of critical infrastructure. Digital technologies for I&M are a high-impact, cross-sector use case to keep assets such as energy, transport and water systems safe, available and affordable. European SMEs and start-ups have been leading in I&M solutions, but are losing ground to global competition due to unclear validation pathways, uneven access to TIs, and low visibility of TI services, slowing deployment of proven solutions.
OPTIMI proposes a coordinated European pilot to make I&M-relevant TIs visible, accessible and aligned with user needs. The project will: 1) map and characterize existing TIs and services, 2) capture user needs and barriers across SMEs, asset owners and TI providers, 3) design and test improved service and sustainable business models for TIs and a pan-European TI network, 4) develop a strategic roadmap for TI investments and offerings, and 5) launch a user-friendly online catalogue as a one-stop-shop for I&M TIs. Through co-creation workshops and stakeholder-driven design, OPTIMI will deliver a validated catalogue, actionable recommendations and a sustainable coordination mechanism that reduces time and cost for testing and validation, accelerating market uptake.
OPTIMI directly addresses the 2025 Work Programme (Cluster 4) by improving TI availability and visibility, fostering cross-sector synergies, and supporting human-centric, trustworthy AI and robotics adoption. It will contribute to a European approach to TIs, ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness in critical infrastructure maintenance.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7034 Trondheim
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.