With the Startup Challenge, Infineon brings together start-up teams and young high-tech companies from all over the world to work together on a highly topical issue: humanoid robotics. The Challenge is a structured innovation program to further develop technological concepts towards market-ready applications. It is part of the global Infineon Co-Innovation Program, in which Infineon, as a technology and development partner, drives innovation together with start-ups.

"Semiconductors are the foundation of humanoid robotics and a key driver of growth. Strategic collaboration with start-ups creates a win-win situation that combines novel ideas with industrially proven semiconductor technologies and thus accelerates innovative, marketable applications in this future topic. Innovation is not created in isolation, but where our customers' challenges meet entrepreneurial courage, technological expertise and rapid implementation. The Startup Challenge is therefore a central cornerstone of our innovation culture," says Sören Jehmlich, Vice President Ventures, Startups & Ecosystems at Infineon.

Technological focus of the Challenge

The 2026 Challenge is aimed at up-and-coming technology companies working on solutions for humanoid robotics, particularly in the following areas:

• Artificial feeling: Virtual skin and hand concepts based on advanced sensor technology
• Perception of the environment and surroundings using camera, radar, microphone and sensor fusion solutions
• Virtual feedback and interaction mechanisms, for example using laser beam scanning projectors
• Innovative motor control and movement technologies for precise, dynamic processes

"Humanoid robotics - or physical AI in a broader sense - is a relevant topic for Infineon. Especially in this young and dynamic market segment, our semiconductor products offer clear advantages as system solutions in the development of robot applications: for example, in energy-efficient and precise actuator technology, sensors for environmental perception and the networking of systems. As part of the Infineon Startup Challenge, young technology companies can use our hardware and software demo kits to turn their ideas into real, scalable applications," says Dirk Geiger, Senior Director & Team Lead Humanoid Robotics at Infineon.

From application to industrial use

Ambitious start-ups can submit their ideas until May 27, 2026. After the application phase, a multi-stage selection process will be carried out by a jury of experts. The selected teams are part of a technology and development program lasting several months, receive access to Infineon technologies, prototyping kits as well as hardware and software solutions and take part in pitch formats and workshops. In addition, the teams receive technical support and mentoring in prototype development as well as business and presentation training. The program concludes with demo and pitch formats in which results are presented to an expert team of industry representatives, deep-tech investors and decision-makers.

Partner network and expert jury

The implementation is carried out together with a network of technology, industry and financing partners. The jury combines in-depth technological understanding with entrepreneurial and strategic investment expertise. A central component of the challenge is the direct exchange with investors and financing partners from the deep tech and innovation environment. The aim is to make promising technologies visible at an early stage and to support them in their growth and scaling phase. The program is made possible in part by the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for microelectronics and computer technology, which promotes the development of European innovation ecosystems.