It will happen faster than many can currently imagine. But fundamentally, when it comes to humanoid robotics, it's not about whether bipedal locomotion works. It's about how well the robot perceives its environment, how safely it operates alongside humans, and how autonomously its arms and hands can ultimately perform tasks. That's where the focus needs to be right now because the demand in the manufacturing industry is enormous. The many videos of bipedal robots found on the internet today are intended to attract investment money. However, they do not serve the industry's current needs.

Yes, we introduced our humanoid in October 2022 – even a day before Elon Musk presented his Optimus. Ultimately, it was about demonstrating that we can master the technologies and develop a humanoid robot. In Germany, we are currently the only commercial robot manufacturer in this field. But we also have the products, namely cognitive, intelligent robots, that one can already buy and use today. Because there are still a few challenges to be solved with humanoid robots. Otherwise, they would already be available everywhere.

One challenge is data processing. The human body receives an infinite amount of data simultaneously through its sensory organs, processes it directly, and controls its actuators, such as its muscles. Replicating this in a robot is very difficult. At Neura, we are currently working on addressing the problem at its core – for example, by using neuromorphic chips that have significantly more computing power than other chips. Another problem is achieving human capabilities in terms of dynamics and robustness while maintaining outstanding fine motor skills.

Imagine pushing a humanoid robot from Tesla or even our 4NE-1 forcefully. The robot will try somehow not to fall. Ultimately, however, it will fall, support itself somewhere, and something will break. The available components of automation technology were never intended to be pushed and survive a fall. Nevertheless, I am convinced that it will happen much faster than everyone thinks, until we have humanoid robots on the streets. Especially in Germany, we should take this development very seriously and strive to be at the forefront as a business location in humanoid robotics. Because robots are not just about artificial intelligence but essentially about complex mechanics and sensors – and in that, we are traditionally leading.

We constantly talk about a shortage of labour and skilled workers. Many experts then call for more automation and more robots. But classical robots and even cobots are not skilled workers in practice. They are simply machines that repeat processes but cannot react to unforeseen external influences. For example, with MAiRA, we have built the first and so far only cognitive robot arm that can hear, see, feel, and autonomously interact with its environment using artificial intelligence. This will bring entirely new possibilities, especially in industry – but also in household robotics. For instance, we have developed solutions for welding applications where – to simplify – the robot arm looks at the component and recognises by itself how and where to weld it.

Yes, we are already selling these products, and our revenue is steadily growing. Overall, we already have over 1 billion euros in the order books today.

This success is due to our partner strategy. We share our technology platform with well-established market leaders, who turn it into their own products and bring them to the market. This allowed us to avoid investing decades to build our own sales and service network, but instead could directly use existing channels. We currently work with over ten partners worldwide in this way.

We are financially in very good shape because we have enough cash in the bank. Last year, we raised over 100 million euros from well known investors. And the most significant investors in the world still want to invest in us.

In the selection process we mainly look for those who offer us strategic value. By this, I mean resources that accelerate the expansion of our technology platform, or structures that strengthen our partnership sales network. Of course, it is also about ensuring that core technologies continue to come from Germany.

Currently, American stock exchanges are vying for us. When we completed our investment round, the New York Stock Exchange congratulated us up on large screens, and then offered us support if we wanted to go public there. Americans simply know that it makes sense to attract innovative new companies. Let's just say the Frankfurt Stock Exchange hasn't called yet.