VUB spin-off AILOS Robotics delivers breakthrough in human-centered robotics

AILOS Robotics, a spin-off of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the BruBotics research group, has raised €3.5 million to bring a groundbreaking actuation technology to industrial scale. With its patented R2poweR gearbox, the Brussels-based company aims to set a new standard for humanoid robots, collaborative robots, and wearable robotics such as exoskeletons and prosthetics.

The technology combines the smoothness of quasi-direct drives with an exceptionally high torque density. This allows robots to be lighter, more energy-efficient, and safer in human interaction without sacrificing power. In doing so, AILOS addresses one of the biggest technical bottlenecks in modern robotics: creating actuators that are powerful yet agile and safe.

The investment round was led by QBIC and High-Tech Gründerfonds, with additional support from Wallonie Entreprendre and finance&invest.brussels. The funding aligns with a broader European ambition to develop and manufacture strategic hardware locally for human-centered robotics—a rapidly growing global market.

According to CEO and co-founder Pablo López García, R2poweR is the result of more than ten years of research, supported by VLAIO and Innoviris. The gearbox stands out for its low backdrive resistance, quiet and scalable design, and high energy efficiency, enabling large-scale production in Europe and the United States.

With the new capital, AILOS is preparing the transition from lab to factory and is actively seeking collaborations with robot manufacturers and industrial partners. Investors see the company as a potential European technology champion, helping to shape the future of safe, human-centered robotics.

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