AICA secures CHF 2.35 million to scale AI-powered industrial automation

AICA has raised CHF 2.35 million to scale its AI-powered robotic control platform and boost industrial automation across global markets.

An EPFL spin-off founded in 2019, AICA is redefining the way industrial robots are programmed and deployed. Its core innovation lies in a real-time, sensor-driven control framework that simplifies robotic automation while enabling more complex and adaptive behavior. Traditionally limited to repetitive, pre-defined tasks, most industrial robots require extensive and costly programming. AICA’s system—compatible with a wide range of hardware, sensors, and AI software—eliminates this barrier by allowing robots to learn and adapt to dynamic environments.

The start-up has completed a CHF 2.35 million investment round to accelerate the deployment of its intelligent robotic control systems across global markets. The round was led by Momenta, a venture capital firm focused on Industrial Impact®, through its Industry 5.0 Fund. Existing investors, including Spicehaus Partners, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Schaeffler, and Zürcher Kantonalbank, also participated in the round, reflecting growing confidence in AICA’s market potential.

A new standard for real-time robotic intelligence

Through its flagship software platform, AICA Studio, the start-up offers a modular, user-friendly interface for prototyping and production deployment. This framework enables seamless integration of force adaptation, impedance control, and motion planning. In doing so, it bridges a critical gap between AI-trained models and real-world robotic systems.

The company’s technology has already been adopted in sectors such as automotive, life sciences, and battery recycling. AICA plays a key role in the Eurostars-backed LAMBDA Project, where its platform supports the disassembly of electric vehicle batteries, contributing to circular economy initiatives in the mobility sector. In the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, its flexible automation tools are gaining traction in laboratory environments where adaptability and precision are critical.

Led by co-founders Baptiste Busch (CEO) and Enrico Eberhard (CTO), both with PhDs in robotics and control systems, AICA continues to translate cutting-edge academic research into practical industrial solutions. With this new funding, the company is well-positioned to advance its technology, expand its global footprint, and reinforce Western Switzerland’s growing role as a hub for next-generation industrial automation.