ICRA 2026 Panel 1 - From Humanoid Robotics Research to Startup Creation: The Role of Public Funding
Giorgio, the panel host, and Cecile of the European Commission open an ICRA 2026 discussion with robotics researchers and founders about how public funding supports research, technology transfer, and startup creation.
In this talk
- 5:59
Building a European robotics network
Allen describes Eurobin, a network with 31 core partners across 14 countries and 38 additional partners brought in through cascade funding. Its work includes robot hackathons, PhD exchanges, and a shared code and data repository. A central goal is transferability: helping research developed on one robot work on different embodiments.
- 10:44
Funding the long path from research to products
Alin Albu-Schäffer traces a route from three generations of research robots to technology licensed to KUKA and used in products including the LBR iiwa. The journey took about 16 years, including years for industrial development, certification, and market acceptance. Panelists also describe research funding that built up over many projects, with Serena noting that her startup benefited from the founders’ accumulated experience.
- 12:59
A €40 million project for trustworthy robot AI
Majid introduces GRaIL, a five-year European project with 24 partners in 10 countries. It aims to advance robotics models from TRL 2 to 6 and test them in industrial settings, with work on planning, grounding, physical control, explainability, and risk monitoring. The project has €10 million set aside for three open calls and plans four testing hubs.
- 45:56
What founders and researchers want from Europe
Panelists call for steady, long-term support alongside faster ways to move research into companies. Suggestions include practical challenges with staged funding, clearer long-term goals for robotics, stronger links between robotics and manufacturing, and better support for technology transfer. They also point to supply-chain resilience, validation with end users, and realistic communication about what robots can do.
- 1:22:22
Connecting end users to research priorities
Cecile outlines European initiatives for AI capacity, robotics data, skills, and trustworthy technology. The proposed Catalyst approach brings end users together to identify shared needs and useful applications, then connects those needs to research questions. Independent testing and benchmarks developed with end users could help buyers assess robot capabilities.
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