Italy and Germany to Launch Joint Research Call in Robotics and Quantum Technologies in 2027

New bilateral funding initiative will focus on early-career scientists, opening opportunities for Italian-German research partnerships. The announcement is a key outcome of a broader Research and Technology Roadmap signed at Villa Vigoni.

October 22, 2026 | Villa Vigoni, Lake Como, Italy

Italy and Germany have announced a joint research funding call for 2027, focusing on robotics and quantum technologies, with particular attention to early-career scientists.

The initiative represents the first concrete outcome of a new bilateral Roadmap for Research and Technology Cooperation, signed on October 22 by Italian Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini and German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär.

The forthcoming call aims to stimulate collaborative research projects between the two countries, encourage the creation of new scientific teams and networks, and strengthen participation in European research initiatives.

2027 Joint Research Call: What Researchers Should Know

• Launch: Planned for 2027.
• Research areas: Robotics and quantum technologies.
• Target group: Researchers in Italy and Germany, with particular emphasis on early-career scientists.
• Objective: Foster bilateral research collaborations, support new scientific networks, and strengthen participation in European research programs.
• Funding and applications: Budget, eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines have not yet been announced.

For scientists interested in establishing or expanding research partnerships between Italy and Germany, the initiative provides a timely opportunity to identify potential collaborators and begin developing joint project concepts ahead of the official call.

A Broader Strategic Partnership in Research and Technology

The new roadmap builds on the commitments made at the Italian-German intergovernmental summit on January 23, 2026, and establishes a shared agenda for strengthening Europe's scientific leadership and technological competitiveness.

Beyond the 2027 funding initiative, the agreement identifies several strategic priorities, including semiconductors, microelectronics, robotics, green hydrogen, and university partnerships.

Both countries intend to expand cooperation through the European Chips Joint Undertaking, reinforce participation in Horizon Europe and Eureka, and examine further joint research initiatives in green hydrogen technologies beginning in 2028.

Strengthening Europe's Major Research Infrastructures

The roadmap also addresses cooperation on major international scientific facilities, including CERN, FAIR, European XFEL, the European Spallation Source, CTAO, LEGEND-1000, and the Einstein Telescope.

A joint ministerial working group will coordinate bilateral activities, examine sustainable funding mechanisms, and promote the shared use of research infrastructures, scientific expertise, and data.

Specific objectives include Italy's consideration of participation in FAIR, coordinated efforts concerning CERN's High-Luminosity upgrade, and further development of the Einstein Telescope toward the maturity required for future decisions.

A Milestone at Villa Vigoni

The agreement was signed during celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Villa Vigoni, the German-Italian Center for European Dialogue, and the 75th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Italy and Germany.

The ministerial program also included a visit to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Ispra, where a separate Letter of Intent was signed, and a Vigoni Lecture in Milan devoted to scientific cooperation, innovation, and Europe's future.

A New Opportunity for the SIGN Community

For SIGN e.V., the Network of Italian Scientists in Germany, the 2027 joint research call is particularly significant. It directly addresses SIGN's mission to connect researchers across national and institutional boundaries, promote bilateral scientific partnerships, and support the next generation of scientists.

With members active across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines and institutions, SIGN provides a network through which researchers can identify complementary expertise, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.

The forthcoming call is especially relevant to early-career researchers seeking to build scientific partnerships between Italian and German universities and research institutions.

SIGN encourages interested members and research groups to begin exploring potential partnerships and to follow the forthcoming official announcements regarding the 2027 funding call.

The roadmap itself is not legally binding, and the specific funding arrangements remain to be defined. Nevertheless, the planned joint call provides a concrete opportunity to turn the renewed political commitment to Italian-German scientific cooperation into collaborative research projects.

For the Italian scientific community in Germany, 2027 could mark the beginning of a new generation of bilateral research partnerships.