Adaptronics has secured a €2.5 million grant under the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme.
The University of Bologna deep-tech startup was selected from over 900 applications from 32 European countries. The company won the challenge "Innovative in-space servicing, operations, robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure", which focuses on emerging technologies for advanced robotic operations in orbit.
Founded in 2022, Adaptronics develops electro-adhesive devices for the controlled robotic grasping of objects of any shape or material, both on Earth and in space.
At the heart of the innovation is the proprietary EAAL (Electro-Active Adhesive Layer) technology, based on electrostatic forces with integrated tactile feedback. This solution enables robots to engage and disengage their grip in under 10 milliseconds, delivering efficiency up to 1,000 times higher than conventional systems and eliminates the need for pneumatic, magnetic, or mechanical components, ensuring full functionality in space environments.
“Being selected by the EIC Accelerator confirms the strategic value of our technology and its potential impact across the industrial and space sectors”, said Lorenzo Agostini, CEO of Adaptronics. “The funding will allow us to deploy our solutions in space, reduce time-to-market, and contribute to the development of a new generation of robots capable of operating autonomously in orbit.”
The objective is to establish Adaptronics as a European leader and a global benchmark in electro-adhesive robotic gripping for industrial and aerospace applications.
“The evolution of this spin-off is a concrete example of innovation moving from the laboratory to the market,” said Shiva Loccisano, Director of Behold, the University’s holding company which has supported the firm since its inception. “This result can inspire young researchers, PhD students and undergraduates to pursue high-tech entrepreneurial paths.”
Adaptronics was founded in 2022 by Lorenzo Agostini (CEO), Camilla Conti (COO), and Professor Rocco Vertechy (R&D Lead), alongside a multidisciplinary technical team that now comprises 15 people. Key figures include Nicolò Berdozzi (Director of Hardware) and Alessia Gloder (Director of Space Applications).
The startup develops intelligent, adaptive gripping technologies based on electro-adhesion, with applications ranging from industrial automation to in-orbit operations. These include maintenance, refuelling, life extension, and debris removal —areas that are strategic for the security and sustainability of European space infrastructure.
