Adaptronics, an Italian deep tech start-up specializing in the development of electro-adhesive solutions for robotic manipulation in industrial and space applications, has been awarded a €2.5 million grant under the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program.
The young company is incubated at I3P, the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, and is an alumnus of the ESA BIC Turin incubation program, managed by I3P in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA), Politecnico di Torino and LINKS Foundation.
Selected from over 900 applications from 32 European countries, Adaptronics was among the winners of the challenge “Innovative in-space servicing, operations, robotics, and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure”, dedicated to emerging technologies for advanced robotic operations in orbit. Together with Fluid Wire Robotics, another start-up incubated at I3P and ESA BIC Turin selected for the EIC Accelerator, Adaptronics is one of only three Italian companies included among the 61 small and medium-sized enterprises from 17 countries benefiting from the latest round of EIC funding.
The start-up's technology
Founded in 2022 as a spin-off of the University of Bologna, Adaptronics develops, manufactures, and markets electro-adhesive devices for the controlled robotic gripping of objects of any shape and material, on Earth and in space.
At the heart of the innovation is the proprietary EAAL (Electro-Active Adhesive Layer) technology, a gripping system based on electrostatic forces and integrated tactile feedback. This technology allows robots to grasp objects in an extremely versatile, fast (activation and release in <10 ms) and efficient (up to 1000 times better than conventional systems) manner, eliminating the need for pneumatic, magnetic or mechanical components, and functioning even in space operating environments.
Its applications range from industrial automation to in-orbit operations such as maintenance, refueling, service life extension, and space debris removal: areas considered strategic for the security and sustainability of European space infrastructure.
The future of the project
In November 2025, Adaptronics had already announced the closure of a €3.15 million financing round led by 360 Capital with the participation of Galaxia, the Italian Aerospace Technology Transfer Hub created on the initiative of CDP Venture Capital's Tech Transfer Fund together with Obloo Ventures.
Today, thanks to new funding from the EIC Accelerator, Adaptronics will be able to further accelerate the in-orbit validation of its products, market access, and commercialization strategy.
The goal is to consolidate the company's position as a European leader and global benchmark in electro-adhesive gripping technology for industrial and orbital robotic manipulation, making a concrete contribution to the technological autonomy and competitiveness of the continental robotics and space sector.
Lorenzo Agostini, Co-Founder & CEO of Adaptronics, said: "This recognition represents a milestone for Adaptronics and for the entire European innovation ecosystem. Being selected among the companies supported by the EIC Accelerator confirms the strategic value of our technology and the potential impact it can have in the industrial and space sectors. I would like to thank our team, partners, and institutions that have supported us: this success is the result of years of work and research. EIC funding will allow us to bring our solutions into space, reducing time-to-market and contributing to the creation of a new generation of robots capable of operating autonomously in orbit."
