The startup born at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) develops humanoid robots that integrate design and advanced artificial intelligence, operating safely and efficiently in industrial environments
The first “made in Italy” start-up focused on intelligent humanoid robotics is being launched at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa, supported by an investment round of 70 million euros—one of the most significant in Europe in the deep-tech sector. The start-up, called Generative Bionics, stems from the Institute’s research on humanoid robotics and is preparing to establish itself as a key reference point in Europe.
The round was led by the Artificial Intelligence Fund of CDP Venture Capital, with the participation of AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, RoboIT and Tether.
Led by CEO Daniele Pucci, the company aims to bring to market a new generation of intelligent “Made in Italy” humanoid robots designed with particular attention to human integration and industrial usability. Applications include repetitive, hazardous or high-intensity operational tasks across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and retail.
The operation enables the integration of leading competencies from the Italian Institute of Technology:approximately 70 engineersjoin the company’s technical division, supported by specialists in certification, industrialization and production of humanoid systems.
The capital raised will accelerate product development, training of Physical AI systems – the fusion of robotics and artificial intelligence – industrial validation and the construction of the first production plant. The company is also finalizing its first industrial deployment contracts, which will be announced in early 2026, marking the introduction of humanoids into real production environments.
“Our mission is to build a future where intelligent humanoid robots collaborate daily with people, amplifying human cognitive and physical potential,” said Daniele Pucci, CEO and Co-Founder of Generative Bionics. “Our Physical AI enables us to design and manufacture human-inspired robots that create tangible value across multiple applications. According to leading international analyses, the humanoid robotics market will exceed €200 billion by 2035 and could surpass $5 trillion by 2050. This is an epochal transformation: our goal is to position Generative Bionics as a global leader in Physical AI for human-centric humanoid ecosystems.”
“Today, the development of intelligent humanoid robots represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our country to leverage distinctive scientific and industrial capabilities and compete in a fast-growing market,” said Alessandro Scortecci, Director of Direct Investments at CDP Venture Capital. “The collaboration between CDP Venture Capital and Generative Bionics began with an initial investment during the prototyping phase, through the RoboIT Technology Transfer Hub, and is now further strengthened by the entry of our Artificial Intelligence Fund and the international-tier investors we have brought on board. We are confident that this team has the potential to make Generative Bionics a European and global champion, positioning Italy among the leaders in the sector’s technological choices—combining industrial priorities with the cultural principles that guide our vision.”
Generative Bionics builds on more than twenty years of research, development and prototyping of humanoid robots at IIT and was founded in July 2024 by Daniele Pucci, Alessio Del Bue (Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer), Marco Maggiali (Chief Technology Officer) and Andrea Pagnin (Chief Business Officer) – all formerly at IIT – with an investment from RoboIT, the Technology Transfer Hub of CDP Venture Capital, and the entrepreneurial support of Davide Rota (Executive Chairman) and Jeffrey Libshutz, also co-founders of the initiative. IIT has granted the company exclusive licenses to key technologies developed in Italy, including those created in collaboration with INAIL as part of the Physical AI program.
“With the launch of Generative Bionics, the Italian Institute of Technology is bringing to fruition another key part of its mission to support Italy’s national industrial system, contributing to the field of cutting-edge, next-generation robotics,” said Giorgio Metta, Scientific Director of IIT. “Twenty years have passed since we launched the iCub project, IIT’s flagship platform, which laid the solid technological foundations for the Institute’s humanoid robotics program—training hundreds of researchers, patenting and transferring to industry a range of advanced technical solutions. Generative Bionics is the culmination of this work: the transfer of science to industry. It shows that sustained, stable support for Italian research leads to concrete, exceptional results. Generative Bionics is the largest academic spin-off in Europe now entering the global market.”
Generative Bionics’ humanoids are built on technologies developed in IIT’s major robotics programs: iCub, the cognitive research robot; ergoCub, the humanoid co-developed with INAIL to support workers in industrial settings; and iRonCub, the world’s only flying humanoid robot. From this foundation, the company has defined three technological pillars for the new generation of “Made in Italy” humanoids: a distributed network of tactile and force sensors, derived from iCub, enabling safe physical interaction; a Physical AI architecture, refined through ergoCub, allowing humanoids to be designed for specific applications and to learn directly from real environments; advanced AI methods, developed with iRonCub, enabling adaptation to extreme operational conditions such as high temperatures or complex outdoor environments.
Together, these elements enable humanoids capable of operating reliably and safely in real-world contexts. Completing the picture is a distinctively Italian design, carefully crafted in proportions, materials and human–robot aesthetic integration.
The complete version of the first humanoid – bringing together these technological and design elements – will be unveiled in its international premiere at the CES in Las Vegas.
About Generative Bionics
Generative Bionics is an Italian company founded on research and technologies developed at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and dedicated to building intelligent humanoid robots based on Physical AI. The company integrates robotics, artificial intelligence, and design to develop humanoids designed to operate safely and reliably in real-world settings, prioritizing industrial use cases.
