Imagine you need a robot on your factory floor, but your workers are right there too — and traditional industrial robots are either dangerous or absurdly expensive when humans are nearby. FourByThree built modular robot systems you can reconfigure like building blocks, designed from the ground up to work side-by-side with people without safety cages. The robots can sense their environment, react to workers nearby, and are simple enough that factory operators — not just engineers — can program them. Think of it as going from a one-size-fits-all industrial arm to a customizable, aware, and affordable co-worker made of steel.
Most manufacturers need robots that can work alongside humans, but current collaborative robots are either too expensive, lack flexibility for different tasks, or require costly system integrators for every new application. Standard industrial robots are fast and precise but dangerous to use near people without safety cages, which limits where and how they can be deployed on factory floors.
The project built working prototype robots using a modular design — reconfigurable robotic units with built-in safety features, environmental perception, and worker-friendly programming interfaces. Across 16 deliverables, the consortium produced multiple prototype releases including intermediate versions for testing and validation in manufacturing scenarios.
If you are an automotive parts manufacturer dealing with tasks too complex to fully automate but too repetitive for manual labor alone — this project developed modular collaborative robots that can be configured for your specific assembly line. The robots were built with 9 industry partners across 6 countries and include safety features that allow workers and robots to share the same workspace without barriers.
If you are a contract electronics manufacturer dealing with high product variability and short production runs that make traditional robot investments hard to justify — this project developed reconfigurable robotic modules that can be adapted to new tasks quickly. Factory workers can program the robots directly, reducing dependence on expensive system integrators for every product change.
If you are a metal fabrication shop where workers handle finishing, inspection, or assembly alongside machines — this project developed robots with built-in perception and force control that can safely collaborate in shared workspaces. The system was designed to be modular, so you invest only in the configurations you actually need rather than buying a complete expensive system.
The project explicitly aimed to address the high cost of existing collaborative robots on the market. While specific per-unit pricing is not published in project data, the modular design means manufacturers can invest in only the components they need rather than purchasing a complete system. The EUR 6,305,517 EU investment across 17 partners went toward developing multiple prototype configurations.
The robots were developed as an Innovation Action with 9 industry partners, indicating a focus on real manufacturing deployment rather than lab research. Prototype robots were built and tested across different manufacturing scenarios. The modular architecture specifically supports scaling — you add modules as production demands grow.
The consortium of 17 partners across 6 countries jointly developed the technology, with FUNDACION TEKNIKER (Spain) as coordinator. IP is likely shared among consortium members. The project outlined a Business Model and Business Plan for commercialization. Contact the coordinator through SciTransfer to discuss licensing or partnership options.
The system was specifically designed for easy integration. A key design goal was that factory workers — not just robotics engineers — can program and reconfigure the robots. The modular approach means the robots can adapt to existing manufacturing processes rather than requiring you to redesign your workflow around the robot.
Safety is one of the four core pillars of the project alongside modularity, usability, and efficiency. The robots include force control for collisions and perception capabilities to detect nearby humans. As an EU-funded Innovation Action, the technology was developed with European safety standards in mind.
The project ran from December 2014 to November 2017 and produced working robot prototypes. Since the project is now closed, deployment would depend on which consortium partners are commercializing specific modules. Based on available project data, initial assessment and configuration discussions could begin immediately through the technology providers in the consortium.
The FourByThree consortium is unusually strong for business relevance: 9 out of 17 partners are industry players, giving a 53% industry ratio — well above typical EU research projects. The consortium spans 6 countries (Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, UK), covering major European manufacturing markets. With 3 SMEs in the mix alongside 6 research organizations and 2 universities, the project balanced scientific depth with commercial drive. FUNDACION TEKNIKER, a Spanish applied research center, coordinated the effort. This composition suggests the technology was developed with real factory floors in mind, not just academic publications.
FUNDACION TEKNIKER is the coordinator based in Spain. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the right technical contact within the consortium.
Want to explore whether FourByThree's modular collaborative robot technology fits your manufacturing setup? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation with the consortium's technical leads — contact us for a tailored briefing.
