Leading Robotics Centers Beyond Silicon Valley

I feel Munich’s robotics strength is its range What I like about Munich’s robotics ecosystem is that it is hard to put in one box and it has so much more depth than headlines and hype (AI or not). Some cities lean heavily into research. Others are great for software. And there are those with industrial depth. Munich has a bit of all three, which is why it keeps producing interesting robotics companies who are considered leaders in their own right. You can see it in the mix of companies and the stages they are at:   -> Franka Robotics helped shape the modern robotics conversation in Europe before their acquisition by Agile Robots SE. -> robominds GmbH and sewts are tackling harder automation problems. -> Magazino – a Jungheinrich company and Filics show what strong intralogistics innovation looks like. -> Angsa Robotics takes autonomy outdoors. -> Circus Group applies robotics to food production. -> Olive Robotics is building for the stack underneath it all. That variety matters because strong ecosystems are not built on one winning company. They grow when talent, ideas, customers and operators keep crossing paths. Munich also has an arsenal outside of these company names. TUM, active student communities, deep tech funding, and large industrial groups - all close enough to make collaborations and ideas a reality instead of dying in concept. So yes, Munich is a one of Europe's leading robotics city. Not because it has a nice label. Because the ecosystem has range, and range usually ages well. There are obviously companies missing from this map (credit to Lukas M. Ziegler), and that is probably the best sign of all. Who else belongs on this list? Pete Dormer Joanna Mainprice Matt McKenna #munich #ai #robotics #autonomy #automation #machinelearning

The Next Robotics Powerhouses: Why Silicon Valley May Not Lead the Charge 🤖 For years, Silicon Valley has been synonymous with tech innovation. But when it comes to robotics, the landscape is shifting—and fast. Having spent years analyzing automation trends, visiting with robotics startups, and exploring cutting-edge innovation, I’ve seen firsthand how Boston, Pittsburgh, and Detroit are quietly positioning themselves as the next big robotics hubs. 🔹 Boston: Home to MassRobotics, a thriving startup ecosystem, and powerhouse institutions like MIT, Boston has attracted over $5.5 billion in robotics investments since 2019. 🔹 Pittsburgh: Often overlooked, but with Carnegie Mellon University leading the charge, Pittsburgh has built a formidable robotics cluster. The city recently joined forces with Boston and Silicon Valley to form the US Alliance of Robotics Clusters, ensuring continued growth. 🔹 Detroit: The birthplace of American manufacturing is now embracing automation at scale. With deep expertise in industrial robotics, Detroit is leveraging its automotive legacy to drive innovation in AI-powered automation. The robotics industry is evolving, and regional specialization is becoming more important than ever. As companies rethink their strategies, these cities are proving that Silicon Valley isn’t the only game in town. #Robotics #Automation #TechInnovation #AI

Most robotics startups don’t die from bad ideas. They die in the wrong city. 📸 That's why you should move to Zurich if you are building such a company Indeed, Silicon Valley is great for software. Robotics plays by different rules: 1️⃣ You need the right talent People who understand mechanics, electronics, manufacturing, software, and AI. Able to integrate them end to end. 2️⃣ You need new ideas New research publications. Cutting-edge approaches. Experimental testing spaces. 3️⃣ You need real-world validation Factories, customers, and partners who stress-test the tech early. No lab-only assumptions. 4️⃣ You need patient capital Because robotics doesn’t move in straight lines. 5️⃣ You need startup founders helping each other Like in SF. Shared context. Shared pain. Shared shortcuts. Zurich covers almost all of this: 1️⃣ ETH Zürich supplies a constant stream of talents 2️⃣ ETH labs, Disney Research, and RAI Institute keep ideas circulating 3️⃣ Industrial players provide early customers and validation 4️⃣ Many deep-tech investors and grant opportunities are designed here for long B2B cycles and hardware risk. That’s why Zurich works well, with many robotics startups (look at the map or the list below). What’s missing? 5️⃣ A stronger startup culture where founders actively support each other. At Forgis, we want to help build that. That's why we’re opening our Schlieren office on weekends for founders and future founders to work together. Comment "ecosystem" to get access. ANYbotics, Gravis Robotics, Verity, mimic, Bota Systems AG, Duatic, RIVR, Flexion Robotics, Voliro, Sevensense, Tethys Robotics, Embotech, Ascento, Wingtra, Auterion, Loki Robotics, Nautica Technologies, Bubble Robotics, Cerrion and student initiatives such as ETH Robotics Club

Robotics skills in the U.S. are changing fast. I spoke with a hiring manager last week at a robotics company in Boston. They’ve grown from 20 to 80 people in under two years. He told me something that really stood out: the hardest roles to fill right now aren’t the pure robotics research positions - it’s the engineers who can bridge hardware, software and systems integration. They don’t just need someone who can code in C++ or Python. They need people who understand ROS2, real-time control and embedded systems but can also talk to mechanical teams and make the whole system actually work. It’s a pattern I’ve been seeing a lot. Robotics companies are moving from R&D to scaled deployment and the skills that drive growth are shifting with them. Integration is overtaking specialisation. Collaboration is overtaking siloed expertise. And geographically, the map’s changing too. The growth isn’t confined to Silicon Valley anymore. Places like Pittsburgh, Austin, Detroit and Denver are quietly becoming the backbone of U.S. robotics innovation. It’s a good sign. It means robotics isn’t just advancing technology - it’s driving business, manufacturing and opportunity across the country. If you’re working in this space, what skill or mindset do you think will matter most in the next couple of years? #robotics #autonomoussystems

🚀 DELHI NCR'S ROBOTICS CLUSTER IS QUIETLY BUILDING SOMETHING THE WORLD SHOULD WATCH 🚀 When people think India and tech, they think Bangalore software. They think IT outsourcing. They think code. They don't think hardware. They don't think robots. That assumption is getting outdated – fast. Delhi NCR is developing a robotics cluster that deserves serious engineering attention. Not hype. Not "the next Silicon Valley" marketing noise. Just solid startups solving real industrial problems with real hardware. Here's what's actually being built there right now: Addverb in Noida is running one of the world's largest mobile robot production facilities – 500+ warehouses automated globally. Octobotics Tech is tackling NDT inspection with AI-enabled robotics, freshly funded in early 2026. SS Innovations International, Inc. in Gurugram is pushing surgical robotics into markets where cost barriers previously made it impossible. Vyorius is building autonomous drone and robotics platforms with serious operational use cases. Solabot Technologies is solving the solar panel cleaning problem at scale with purpose-built robots. 🤖 Is Delhi NCR already competing with Bangalore or Shenzhen? Not yet. ⚙️ But that's exactly why it's worth watching now – before everyone else does. I share this because I have followers and contacts across India who are building real things. This is my way of putting a spotlight on engineering substance that rarely gets the international visibility it deserves. 💪 Are there other Delhi NCR robotics startups you think belong on this list? Best regards Ulrich - The German Engineer #ArtificialIntelligence #IndiaRobotics #RoboticsStartups #HardwareTech More Facts, More Automation, More Robotics, Less Show

Danish city of robotics! 🇩🇰 When I arrived in Odense in 2024, the first thing I saw was robots. Lots of them. Cleaning robots greeted me at the station, an autonomous one trailing advertising banners rolled past, and a few minutes later I spotted UR robots playing tic-tac-toe in a shop window. Odense is one of Europe’s strongest robotics ecosystems, especially for collaborative and industrial robots. At the center is the Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark (SDU), which has a leading robotics research department and works closely with startups. Many founders and engineers come directly from SDU labs, making it easy to turn research into real companies. A major boost to the ecosystem came from the success and acquisitions of Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots. 💰 Their global growth, and later acquisitions created serial founders and angel investors, capital recycled back into new startup, and a strong global reputation for Odense robotics! Also startup supporting initiatives like Odense Robotics that help with global commercialization and partnerships (hello Rasmus Festersen 👋🏻). Because of this, more robotics startups can now be incubated locally, supported by experienced mentors who have already built and scaled global robot companies. What companies are in their ecosystem: → Universal Robots builds collaborative robotic arms (cobots) for flexible industrial automation and was acquired by Teradyne for ~$285M → Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for internal logistics and was acquired by Teradyne for ~$148M → Teradyne Robotics is the robotics division of Teradyne → OnRobot provides plug-and-play end-of-arm tooling (grippers, sensors, screwdrivers) for collaborative robots and has raised ~$55M+ in funding → ROICO develops robotic solutions and automation systems for industrial painting applications → Spin Robotics builds collaborative robot torque tools for automated screwdriving in manufacturing → Enabled Robotics develops mobile manipulator robots combining AMRs with robotic arms for flexible logistics automation → Nord Modules A/S designs modular top modules for autonomous mobile robots to expand logistics functionality → Smooth Robotics ApS develops automated welding solutions for collaborative robots → Essential Robotics builds autonomous solutions for healthcare → XiniX AI develops AI software and vision solutions for robotics and industrial automation → ARIS Robotics develops advanced robotic systems for industrial and research applications → RobSub builds underwater robotic systems and ROV solutions for marine applications → Nordbo Robotics develops force-torque sensor technology and adaptive control software for robots I highly recommend visiting Odense for everyone that has an interest in robotics. A must-visit place! 🦾 What city should be next? ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → ziegler.substack.com

When you hear Switzerland, you think cheese, chocolate, and mountains... right? WRONG. After this, you will think... Robotics!🧵 [Take a seat, this will take a while] Greater Zurich Area... The Silicon Valley of Robotics! Over 100 companies can be found in the region. Not only heavyweights like ABB or Staeubli... A full hand of new startups fighting against Europe's irrelevance in deep tech: Forget MIT, CMU or Standford. ETH Zürich it is! A true global robotics leader: ✅#7 in QS 2026 ✅Top 10 in robotics, and ✅3rd worldwide in Automation & Control. With 10+ robotics labs, world-class research, ETH shapes the future of intelligent machines. But here is where it gets interesting 👇 The Swiss godfather(s) of robotics. Roland Siegwart. From founding startups to shaping ETH Zurich’s Autonomous Systems Lab ETH Zürich. He’s trained a generation of roboticists and pushed Europe’s deep tech forward. Not forgetting the Robotic Systems Labs from his protégé, Marco Hutter. LFG! RIVR has announced a $22 million seed funding round led by Jeff Bezos. With a focus on last-mile delivery, their Physical AI-powered wheeled-legged robots will begin deliveries in 2025 with major logistics carriers. Maybe one day, CEO & Co-Founder Marko Bjelonic will answer my DMs... who knows 🤷♂️ You think that number is cute? One of the biggest names is Switzerland: ANYbotics. $50 million Series B. Yes, you read that right. An end-to-end robotic solution to automate industrial inspections. A small but world-class team, spun out of ETH Zurich: mimic They develop scalable AI models for universal robotic manipulation, enabling intuitive automation of the most complex and repetitive tasks: from retail to manufacturing. I believe that learning from human demos requires hardware with human-level dexterity. (stole this quote from co-founder Elvis Nava) And he’s right, we’re getting there. 💪 Swiss components are known worldwide, and Bota Systems AG is no exception. They give robots a true sense of touch with compact, reliable force sensors that make automation safer and more precise, across manufacturing, assembly, and research. Shoutout to my friend & Bota co-founder Klajd Lika! Building autonomous infrastructure for offices, malls & more: Loki Robotics They handle high-contact tasks like toilets and counters. A mix of teleop supervision and end-to-end learning for rapid deployment. Saying hi to co-founder Miks Ozols 👋 Another one: Duatic, founded in 2024 in Zurich. By combining powerful lightweight arms, advanced actuators, and AI-driven control, they deliver next-gen automation to tackle labor shortages and boost productivity. Eris Dhionis Sako & team rock! From Google to Meta, Microsoft, Disney, and OpenAI... Oh, and did I mention RAI Institute (former AI Institute)? They all have offices in Zurich. Everyone wants to be part of it. I think Zurich is one of the best places to build an AI Robotics company in Europe today.

🌉 Building bridges in the Bay Area! Just wrapped a jam-packed few days in Silicon Valley meeting with some of the best founders and investors in the game. If you’re serious about reindustrialization - defense, energy, autonomy, space, robotics, AI - then 👉 Michigan needs to be on your radar. Showing up is how it starts. I don't want Michigan to be the “next Silicon Valley.” But I do want us to be focused on the future. Because we’ve got something the Valley doesn’t: ⚙️ An industrial engine that actually builds things! 📊 Why are we well-suited for this? Start with the numbers: 🧠 ~81,000 mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical engineers - the largest single metro-area pool in the U.S.! (bet you didn’t know that) 🏆 Nearly 2× more mechanical engineers than any other region 🏗️ 350,000 manufacturing employees in the Detroit region alone 🎓 ~13,000 engineering grads per year from top-tier Michigan universities 🏭 10,000+ manufacturing establishments within 90 minutes 🔩 Why does this juggernaut exist? Because we were built to build: 🚗 OEM gravity. GM, Ford, and Stellantis, plus the R&D hubs of every major foreign automaker, keep engineers pushing the edge in everything from powertrains to next-gen EVs. 🔧 Supply chain density. 5,000+ tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers + the nation’s deepest tool-and-die, stamping, and precision machining networks. 🎓 Talent on tap. Four R1 universities and Kettering’s co-op model = engineers who are test-lab and factory-floor ready on Day 1. 🔄 Cross-sector spillover. Defense mobility (TACOM, Selfridge, GM Defense), battery gigafactories, aerospace supply chains, robotics and AI - all pulling from the same deep electro-mechanical talent pool. If you design, build, and test physical systems...this is your ecosystem. You can follow the hype. Or you can follow the data. 🙏 Huge thanks to these incredible folks for the conversations and big thought partnerships this week: Erin Price-Wright (Andreessen Horowitz) Bruce Leak (Playground Global) Kei Onishi (Yamaha Motor Ventures) Haomiao Huang, PhD (Matter Venture Partners) 🙌 Big shoutout to the team at Silicon Foundry for helping us run the plays on the ground. 💬 If you're building or backing the future, and need to go from zero to prototype to production, Michigan is open for business. Ping me. #hardtech #reindustrialization #startups #manufacturing