FundraiseJun 24, 2026, 07:40 UTC

STMicroelectronics, Fondazione ENEA Tech and Spotinvest take a stake in Oversonic

What's the deal? STMicroelectronics, Fondazione ENEA Tech e Biomedical, and Spotinvest have taken a stake in Oversonic, an Italian cognitive robotics startup.

The deal lets Oversonic accelerate its push into factories, healthcare, and the food sector.

Why now? Advanced automation has become one of the most disruptive technology trends worldwide, with 493 startups now recorded across 39 countries.

These ventures have raised €7.4 billion to date, with the US alone attracting nearly 60% of global funding.

In Italy, the robotics market is worth €2.2 billion annually in capital expenditure, rising to €3.5 billion when operating costs are included.

The pivot to next-generation machines is clear. Collaborative robots are set to rise from 25% to 34% of companies, autonomous mobile robots from 24% to 30%, and humanoids will nearly quadruple their share within two years.

What could go wrong? Italy remains a minor player, with just ten startups identified and €120 million raised.

Traditional robotics still dominates the installed base, with industrial manipulators accounting for 82%. Shifting to AI-integrated systems demands fresh investment that smaller firms may struggle to fund.

The average outlay is €456,000, ranging from €700,000 for large enterprises to €160,000 for small ones.

The signal: The backing of STMicroelectronics, a corporate investor, marks a strategic bet on a breakout-stage company in a market where Italy still punches above its weight with only ten startups and €120 million raised. For a chipmaker, taking a stake in cognitive robotics positions it close to the AI-integrated systems that Italian companies plan to prioritise, with 29% of those investing in 2026 earmarking resources for robots combining AI, sensors, and continuous learning.