Brussels-based startup AILOS Robotics has raised 3.5 million euros in seed funding to bring its new class of robotic actuation technology to industrial scale.
The round was led by QBIC and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with additional backing from Wallonie Entreprendre and finance&invest.brussels.
AILOS has developed a patented planetary gearbox that blends the agility and safety of quasi-direct drive with high torque density, aiming to make humanoid and collaborative robots lighter, faster, safer, more energy-efficient, and more affordable.
The company emerged as a spin-off from the VUB BruBotics research group, building on nearly a decade of work on its R2poweR gearbox architecture.
Having already completed its minimum viable prototype with support from VLAIO and Innoviris, AILOS positions itself as a European alternative to existing gearbox technologies, emphasizing smooth backdrivability, strong torque capabilities, and scalable manufacturing.
With the fresh funding, the startup plans to launch pilot projects with robot makers, expand partnerships with industrial players, and develop a robust EU-based supply chain as it moves toward high-volume production.
“Modern robots demand a new category of actuation”, says CEO and co-founder Pablo López García, noting that AILOS’ approach removes key barriers to building agile and human-safe robots. Investors echoed this optimism: QBIC’s Cédric Van Nevel highlights the strategic importance of European hardware manufacturing, while HTGF’s Anne Umbach says the company has the potential to become a “new European tech champion” in the fast-growing humanoid and cobot markets.
