TECHiFAB from Radeberg Takes a Spot on the Winners' Podium at an International Deep-Tech Challenge
Infineon has announced the winners of the 2026 Infineon Startup Challenge, which focused on key technologies for the next generation of humanoid robots. Only one German company made it onto the winners' podium—TECHiFAB from Radeberg.
AdapTronics S.r.l. from Italy wins the international Infineon Startup Challenge on humanoid robotics with an innovative grasping technology; COSMOKE from South Korea took second place with its magnetic tactile sensor technology for physical AI, followed by TECHiFAB from Germany in third place with its intelligent motor control solution.
The program offered access to Infineon technologies, expert mentoring, business coaching, and an international innovation network. After four months of intensive collaboration, development, and support, 15 selected startups—chosen from more than 100 applications from 25 countries—presented their solutions at Demo Day. The event took place as part of the Electronic Based Systems Conference (EBSCON) in Graz, Austria.
The competition brought together startups from Europe and Asia, investors, industry experts, and technology companies to drive innovation in the fields of robotics and physical AI. The participants developed solutions that enable humanoid robots to better perceive and interact with their environment, handle objects safely, and execute precise movements. The winning teams were selected by an international jury comprising representatives from industry, venture capital, startup ecosystems, and technology innovation.
“Strategic collaboration with startups creates a win-win situation: it combines novel ideas with industrially proven semiconductor technologies, thereby accelerating innovative, market-ready applications,” said Sören Jehmlich, Vice President of Ventures, Startups & Ecosystems at Infineon. “The Start-up Challenge is a key pillar of our innovation culture and brings together entrepreneurial courage, technological expertise, and rapid implementation.”
TECHiFAB from Radeberg took third place with its in-memory computing-based approach to real-time motor control for robotic actuators. The solution, which is a core topic in physical AI, is designed to enable faster, more energy-efficient, and safer control while simultaneously improving performance directly within the powertrain of humanoid robots.