The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and automation specialist SCHUNK agreed in Cologne to further expand their collaboration in the field of humanoid robotics. The partnership aims to accelerate technology transfer to industry and advance the fine motor skills of humanoid robot hands for new automation applications. The DLR’s Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics has extensive experience in developing robotic solutions and has been collaborating with SCHUNK for around 20 years. With this expanded cooperation, both parties are building on this success and combining their technological expertise.

In the future, DLR technology will be integrated into SCHUNK’s new modular humanoid robotic hands and further developed for industrial applications. This will enable the targeted expansion of human-like dexterity and, in particular, fine-motor manipulation skills for demanding automation tasks.

“We rely on strong partnerships to jointly tap into opportunities in robotics and consistently bring them to market—with speed and focus,” says Timo Gessmann, CTO of SCHUNK. “Combining our decades of mechanical expertise with modern robotics research and new AI technologies unlocks enormous innovation potential.”

The German Robotics Conference, organized by the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG), has brought together leading representatives from politics, science, business, and startups for the second time to strengthen the connection between research, innovation, and technology transfer. Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology, and Space, was also on site to get a firsthand look at the current state of robotics and to discuss with participants the role that collaboration and technological openness play in Germany’s innovative strength in robotics and AI.

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