From Research to Products
Putting innovations into practice: this is the overarching goal of the Robotics Institute Germany in order to make robotics and AI in Germany internationally successful. This requires intensive exchange between industry and research.
Transfer and Industry
Exchange between research and industry
The RIG provides the tools and infrastructure needed to foster systematic dialogue between research and industry, building a shared agenda and a clear pathway for innovation. Its industrial innovation pipeline delivers impactful and forward-looking research results in robotics. RIG also fosters an entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on harnessing and expanding the strengths of German industry.
Several RIG partners already run dedicated technology transfer programs and robotics incubators, including the DLR_Startup Factory, robo.innovate at TUM, and Fraunhofer Venture.
Consulting for Technology Transfer and Start-up Support
We consolidate national programs and offer comprehensive advice on entrepreneurship and funding opportunities such as SPRIND and EXIST, providing hands-on support throughout the start-up journey. At the German Robotics Congress 2026, we will also introduce a Start-up Award to recognize outstanding entrepreneurial achievements in robotics.
Centers as Platforms for Knowledge Transfer and Research Commercialization
Knowledge transfer and the commercialization of research results are the core objectives of centers jointly operated by universities and industry partners. These strategic partnerships not only help increase the visibility of their respective locations but also strengthen the international competitiveness of the German robotics and AI industry.
RIG Innovation Labs – Bringing Product Ideas to Market Readiness
This is where innovation happens: RIG operates 30 application-oriented innovation labs covering nearly all areas of robotics. Their goal is to rapidly increase the maturity level of innovations (TRL level) and thereby accelerate the cycle from research to commercialization. The labs offer customized collaboration opportunities, ranging from initial feasibility studies and research contracts for technology development or optimization, to long-term strategic research partnerships or joint research projects with companies.
Would you like to talk to us?
You can find us at various trade fairs and events, at workshops or at the annual German Robotics Conference. All current dates can be found on our website.
Do you have a specific request and are looking for a bilateral exchange?
Then please contact our Innovation Labs or the Head of the Transfer & Industry Division, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alin Albu-Schäffer.
Contact
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alin Albu-Schäffer
News
The University of Stuttgart has launched the Institute for Adaptive Mechanical Systems (IAMS), advancing next-generation legged and soft robotics. As part of the Robotics Institute Germany network, IAMS contributes to a nationally coordinated research landscape.
The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is providing €1.91 million in funding for the GRATA research project, which involves RIG partners such as the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Chemnitz University of Technology. The project focuses on the development of a modular, AI-supported learning platform for robot-assisted surgery.
The Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) continues its successful RIG Internship Program (RIGI), coordinated by the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Stuttgart. Together, we open structured entry points into top-level research and help promising students take a confident first step into the field of Robotics.
Productive atmosphere at the meeting in Berlin Although much can be communicated digitally, face-to-face meetings offer the opportunity to experience research firsthand, discuss background information and develop shared perspectives. The…
Starting on October 30, 2025, the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) will offer exciting weekly insights into current research work. Over the next twelve weeks, leading robotics researchers from universities and research institutions will present the latest developments, challenges, and visions and answer questions from the audience.
As part of the EU project SEACLEAR 2.0, a research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now developed an autonomous diving robot that can detect and retrieve litter. It uses an AI system to analyze objects with ultrasound and cameras, picks them up and brings them to the surface.
With the founding of ROBDEKON e.V., the Competence Center “Robots for Decontamination in Hostile Environments” becomes an independent entity.
Current projects, exclusive insights into research and development, events, and highlights from the Robotics Institute Germany: our monthly newsletters keep you updated with the latest developments. Here is an overview of previous issues.
European researchers unveil a innovative mission concept in Science Robotics: Lava caves on nearby planetary bodies could serve as natural shelters for future space missions.
In the future, a robot will help craftsmen to position the bricks precisely. In a workshop with apprentice bricklayers, this human-machine cooperation in construction has been tested under real-world conditions by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Munich-Ebersberg Construction Guild.