Modular Robot Hands for Industry
Schunk and DLR intensify Cooperation in Humanoid Robotics
At the German Robotics Conference held in Cologne from March 11 to 13, 2026, Schunk and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) significantly expanded their partnership in the field of humanoid robot hands.
The aim of the cooperation is to accelerate the transfer of technology to industry and to improve the fine motor skills of humanoid robots for new automation applications.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding marks an important step: research results are to be transferred more quickly into robust, industry-oriented solutions in the future. DLR's Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics has decades of experience in the development of robotic solutions and has already been working with Schunk for around 20 years. With the expanded cooperation, both partners are pooling their technological expertise.
Research and industry - hand in hand
The DLR technology is to be incorporated into the new modular humanoid robot hands from Schunk and further developed for industrial applications. This allows human-like dexterity and fine motor manipulation skills to be developed in a targeted manner - for demanding automation tasks in industry.
"We rely on strong partnerships to jointly develop opportunities in robotics and consistently bring them into application - with speed and focus," says Timo Gessmann, CTO of Schunk. "Combining our decades of mechanical expertise with modern robotics research and new AI technologies unleashes enormous innovation potential."
Platform for innovation and exchange
The German Robotics Conference, organized by the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG), brought together leading representatives from politics, science, business and start-ups. The aim of the event is to strengthen the link between research, innovation and technology transfer.
Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, was also on site to find out about the current state of robotics. She discussed with Schunk the role that collaboration and openness to technology play in Germany's innovative strength in robotics and AI.
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