Imagine you run a small factory and want a robot helper, but traditional industrial robots cost a fortune, need a cage around them, and can only do one job. VOJEXT built collaborative robots — cobots — that are affordable, can work safely next to people, and can be quickly switched between different tasks. They tested these across 5 real industries from plastics to construction, proving that even a 20-person workshop can use smart robotics without breaking the bank.
Small and mid-size manufacturers cannot afford traditional industrial robots, which are expensive, require safety cages, and can only perform one fixed task. When production needs change — different products, smaller batches, new materials — these rigid systems become a liability. Construction companies face an even bigger gap, as most robotic solutions simply were not designed for building sites or craft workshops.
The project built affordable, mobile collaborative robots with customised grippers (D2.1, D2.2), demonstrated in real production and construction scenarios across two iterations (D7.3, D7.4). These cobots are designed to be multipurpose and easy to repurpose, tested across 5 sectors: plastics/textiles, electronics, automotive, construction, and creative architecture.
If you are a plastics or textiles manufacturer still relying on manual handling and assembly — this project developed affordable, mobile cobots with customised grippers that were piloted in real plastics and textile production scenarios. The robots can be repurposed across different tasks without expensive reprogramming, tested with 9 SMEs across 5 sectors.
If you are a construction company struggling to automate on-site tasks because most robots are designed for factory floors — VOJEXT demonstrated mobile, dexterous robotic systems specifically adapted for construction and creative architecture for urban regeneration. These systems were validated in real scenarios through 5 experimental pilots.
If you are an electronics or automotive parts supplier needing to switch production lines frequently — VOJEXT created agile, multipurpose cobots that handle different components without manual retooling. The project demonstrated customised robotic hands and grippers designed for varied assembly tasks across both electronics and automotive pilots.
The project specifically aimed to develop 'affordable' and 'market-oriented' robotic systems for SMEs, including small crafters. Exact pricing is not published in the project data, but the design goal was accessibility for companies that cannot afford traditional industrial robotics. Contact the consortium for current pricing of the demonstrated systems.
VOJEXT started with 5 experimental pilots and scaled to 15 experimental pilots integrating 20 more SMEs through open calls. The systems were designed as 'smart, agile and scalable cognitive CPS for industry,' and demonstrations in real scenarios (D7.3, D7.4) confirmed operation at production scale across 5 different sectors.
The consortium includes 20 partners across 11 countries with 11 industry partners and 8 SMEs. IP arrangements would have been established within the consortium agreement. Interested companies should contact the coordinator (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) to discuss licensing of specific components like the customised robotic grippers.
The cobots were designed to be 'easy-to-repurpose' and 'multipurpose,' meaning they are built to fit into existing production environments rather than requiring a complete line redesign. The project validated integration across 5 very different sectors — plastics, textiles, electronics, automotive, and construction — suggesting strong adaptability.
Deliverables D7.3 and D7.4 document 'system demonstration in real scenarios' across two iterations. Customised robotic hands and grippers were also demonstrated in real use cases (D2.1, D2.2). The project ran 5 experimental pilots with 9 SMEs, then expanded to 15 pilots with 20 additional SMEs. This is well beyond laboratory stage.
The project operates through 4 Digital Innovation Hubs — UPM-AIR4S (Spain), Fortiss (Germany), PIAP (Poland), and EMC2 (France). These DIHs were specifically designed to support SME adoption and continue offering services based on VOJEXT technical areas, including for the crafting sector.
The VOJEXT consortium is exceptionally well-balanced for bringing technology to market: 20 partners across 11 countries, with 55% industry participation (11 companies) and 8 SMEs — meaning the technology was built with real end-users at the table, not just researchers. The 4 Digital Innovation Hubs in Spain, Germany, Poland, and France provide ready-made channels for SME adoption across Western and Central Europe. The coordinator, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, brings strong robotics research credentials while the 5 research organizations ensure scientific rigor. For a business buyer, this means the technology has already been stress-tested by companies similar to yours, and there are established support networks in multiple European countries.
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) — contact through project website or SciTransfer for a warm introduction
Want to explore whether VOJEXT cobots fit your production line? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the right consortium partner for your sector and use case.
