European robotics start-ups go up against Chinese heavyweights - Iraqi News

Their androids’ tightly choreographed displays wowed visitors to Vivatech, the latest fair to show them off in recent months.

Around 87 percent of the 13,000 humanoid robots deployed worldwide in 2025 rolled off a Chinese production line, according to the UK-based consultancy Omdia.

“China is definitely on the forefront” as its companies increasingly show off “dark factories” where robots work largely without human supervision, said Joern Buss, a robotics expert at the consultancy Arthur D. Little.

Nevertheless, Europe is “catching up” behind Japan and Korea, he added, boasting “some good robotics players” including longstanding firms. June 19, 2026

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European robotics start-ups go up against Chinese heavyweights

Tech AFP June 19, 2026 32 5 min

Mirokai from France’s Enchanted Tools already welcomes people at hospitals and airports

Paris – Humanoid robots able to perform tasks from grape harvesting to welcoming visitors were front and centre at France’s Vivatech trade fair this week, with European firms looking to fill niches beyond what dominant Chinese giants can offer.

French company Enchanted Tools was showing off its Mirokai, a “social” robot with long orange ears and wide blue eyes. New players on the European scene include Germany’s Neura, which builds humanoid industrial and household robots as well as a platform for training them to carry out human tasks.

The company recently announced it had raised $1.4 billion.

“We get requests for everything, even dentists, everyone is calling us and asking if they can have a robot as a supporter, because they can’t find people,” chief executive David Reger told AFP.

Like other advanced economies around the world, Europe faces an ageing population that could squeeze the labour supply in both manufacturing and services.

Reger called robots like Neura’s the continent’s “last chance”, saying “Europe does require this economic pillar to sustain” itself.