First networking of researchers for robust interaction of robotic systems
The Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) announces a partnering event for the IRiS research program on 28.05.2026. We are looking for approaches and partnerships that develop new ideas for the robust interaction of autonomous robotic systems in heterogeneous swarms – which also works when communication and localization are disrupted, restricted or specifically attacked. The Cyberagentur is thus transferring key impulses from the HAL2025 ideas competition “Autonomous intelligent systems in swarms” into a structured research program.
The Cyberagentur invites you to a partnering event for the research program “IRiS – Robust interaction of robotic systems in heterogeneous swarms for use in crisis and disaster situations” on 28.05.2026. The format serves to bring together scientific, technological and application-related expertise at an early stage and to enable resilient consortia for the planned call for proposals.
At the heart of IRiS is a security-related question that is becoming increasingly urgent in light of current technological and geopolitical developments: How can autonomous robotic systems work together reliably in swarms even if communication channels fail, localization becomes unreliable or external influences make coordination difficult? This capability is of fundamental importance in crisis and disaster situations.
This is precisely where IRiS comes in. The research program aims to identify and further develop approaches that enable robotic systems to interact robustly in heterogeneous networks – despite interference transmitters, difficult environmental conditions, interrupted radio connections or impaired navigation signals. To this end, questions of robot-robot interaction and human-swarm interaction are considered.
With IRiS, the Cyberagentur is also taking up key findings and ideas from the HAL2025 ideas competition “Autonomous intelligent systems in the swarm” and transferring them into a research program with a clear application and implementation perspective. This is a consistent continuation of an open innovation process: “Conceptual approaches and competition ideas are now to be turned into connectable research that combines scientific originality with safety-relevant effectiveness,” emphasizes programme manager Dr Eva-Maria Heinke.
The partnering event is aimed at universities, research institutions, technology-oriented companies and other potential contractors with expertise in robotics, swarm intelligence, artificial intelligence, distributed systems, cyber-secure communication, navigation, localization and human-machine interaction. The aim is to bring together suitable partners, make technical interfaces visible and support the formation of powerful partnerships. Because IRiS integrates several research dimensions, the early networking of different disciplines plays a special role.
The strategic relevance of the program is obvious for the users. Heterogeneous robotic alliances can take over reconnaissance, protection, transportation, support and situational awareness in environments in which humans are not deployed or only deployed at high risk. This is particularly important where (targeted) interference in the electromagnetic spectrum, GPS failures or dynamic environments push conventional systems to their limits. IRiS therefore addresses the question of how robust, self-organizing and adaptive networks can be developed that remain capable of acting even under adverse conditions.
Dr. Eva-Maria Heinke, IRiS programme manager, says: “With the partnering event, we want to bring together scientific excellence, technological implementation expertise and application-related perspectives at an early stage. We are looking for contributions from robotics, communication, navigation, artificial intelligence and human-swarm interaction. We expect this exchange to result in sustainable partnerships and research ideas that rethink robust robotic swarms under real disruptive conditions.”
With IRiS, the Cyberagentur is strengthening a field of research that will gain in importance for digital sovereignty and the ability to act in complex security situations. The partnering event is the next concrete step in this direction: it translates the need for research into a structured exchange with potential contractors and lays the foundation for a program that will set new standards for robust interaction in heterogeneous robotic swarms.
Interested parties can register until May 22, 2026 via the following page: IRiS Partnering Event – Cyberagentur
Further information and registration: