In the 7th Framework Programme, more than 100 projects in the area of robotics and cognitive systems have been funded with the overall amount approaching €400 million in the period from 2007 until 2011, ranging from blue-sky to more applied research. The focus has been on robotics as an enabling technology for diverse applications in real-life. 2013 will be the last year of FP7 and the relevant work programme will present a balance between continuity and transition towards the next Framework Programme (Horizon 2020). The ingredients include more emphasis on industry-led RTD topics, substantially increased effort to attract new levels of industry participation and focus on use-cases in service robotics.