From guiding the blind to delivering goods: Romania’s .lumen expands into urban robotics with €11 million grant
Romania-based startup .lumen, known for its AI-powered glasses for the blind, has secured an €11 million grant for the "PABLO - Autonomous Robots for Urban Delivery" project. This move signals a strategic expansion into urban robotics, reflecting a broader European trend toward automation and robotics in logistics and inspection. The project aims to develop a new generation of robots for efficient and sustainable urban delivery. The €11 million grant comes from the Intelligent Growth, Digitalization, and Financial Instruments Programme 2021–2027. .lumen will lead a consortium including the Institute of Solid Mechanics of the Romanian Academy, BreadCrumbs Interactive, and Linnify. The project, running from September 2025 to September 2028, will focus on creating humanoid and quadruped robots capable of autonomous navigation. This initiative positions Romania among the few European countries advancing in humanoid and quadruped robotics for urban logistics. The project’s focus on EU-supported R&D complements private investment in building Europe’s autonomous mobility ecosystem, as other robotics and AI ventures in Germany, Poland, and the UK have attracted significant funding. The robots are expected to reduce delivery costs and environmental impact. The PABLO project exemplifies how fundamental research can translate into real-world applications through collaboration between academia and industry. This synergy strengthens Romania's capacity to develop intelligent, sustainable, and competitive robotics systems. It demonstrates the potential of European digital sovereignty by advancing autonomous mobility solutions within the continent.
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