Engineering Tomorrow: Robotics Finalists of the Deep Tech Award 2025

As the Deep Tech Award enters its tenth year, Berlin once again honors the most ambitious pioneers transforming the way we live, work, and move. Among this year’s finalists, three standout robotics companies pi4_robotics, LABFLY, and ConBotics embody how machines, AI, and human ingenuity can converge to solve urgent societal challenges. From construction sites and hospital corridors to factory floors, these innovators are reimagining the future of human-machine collaboration. Their work proves that robotics isn’t just about automation – it’s about empowering people, increasing resilience, and expanding what’s possible.

ConBotics: Robotic Tools That Work With, Not Instead Of, People

David Franke, Cristian Amaya and Philipp Heyne, Co-founders ConBotics

In an industry as tradition-bound and labor-intensive as construction, ConBotics is bringing a refreshing new perspective: robotics that support tradespeople instead of replacing them. Their first product, a lightweight, user-friendly robotic painting system, is already proving that high-tech doesn’t have to mean high complexity.

Born from a desire to turn years of prototyping into real-world impact, the ConBotics team saw an opportunity to make a difference where it’s needed most: the skilled labor shortage plaguing construction industries worldwide. Instead of chasing humanoid dreams, they focused on practicality – developing compact, intuitive tools that integrate seamlessly into craft workflows. Their proprietary robotic arm mimics human movement and drastically reduces weight by avoiding conventional six-axis designs.
“Our vision is to create freedom for people through robotics,” the team explains. “We achieve this by developing robotic tools that support skilled workers by enhancing productivity and taking over physically demanding tasks.”

Headquartered in Berlin, ConBotics draws strength from the city’s international talent pool and robotics research networks. As more industries seek scalable, human-centered automation, ConBotics is poised to lead a new generation of robotics – quietly transforming hard jobs into smart ones.

LABFLY: Delivering Healthcare at Drone Speed

Kolja Klein, Tim Fischer and Juri Bieler, Co-founders Labfly

From lab to diagnosis in record time: LABFLY is building a medical logistics revolution from the skies. Born in rural Saxony-Anhalt and launched from Berlin’s MotionLab, this TU Berlin spin-off uses autonomous drones to dramatically reduce sample transport times for hospitals and clinics. The results are tangible: deliveries that once took hours now arrive in minutes.

LABFLY combines advanced aerodynamics, proprietary flight software, and full regulatory compliance to create the kind of real-world, real-impact drone system that health systems need. Their drone infrastructure functions as a scalable logistics backbone for a pan-European aerial healthcare network.
“Being a Deep Tech Award finalist is a huge honor that validates our team’s work and highlights the critical role of medical-drone logistics in tomorrow’s healthcare,” the team says.

In a time when speed can mean the difference between life and death, LABFLY’s work underscores the social power of robotics. Their platform is a clear example of AI and autonomous systems designed not for convenience, but for care. And they’re doing it in one of Europe’s most dynamic deep tech ecosystems.

pi4_robotics: Humanoid Automation for the Factory of the Future

Matthias Krinke, CEO pi4_robotics

For over two decades, pi4_robotics has quietly helped shape the evolution of robotics in Germany. Today, they’re stepping into the spotlight with the Workerbot16 – a mobile, two-armed humanoid robot designed for collaborative industrial work. But this isn’t a futuristic gimmick. With full flexibility, AI-powered communication, and built-in AR capabilities, the Workerbot is ready to partner with human workers in real-time – no headset or programming degree required.

From the beginning, pi4’s philosophy has been rooted in the idea that robots should work with people, not separate from them. Their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals speaks volumes about the broader vision behind the tech: automation that uplifts industries, lightens human effort, and strengthens social equity.
“The aim of all our products is to develop and produce something that makes our lives easier and has a positive impact on people and the environment,” the team explains. “We want to strengthen the competitiveness of German industry with this product.”

Berlin’s unique blend of top-tier engineering education, creative talent, and international collaboration makes it the ideal launchpad for pi4’s work. As physical AI becomes more central to how society operates, pi4 is ensuring that robotics remains not just useful but human.

Where Human and Machine Meet

Together, ConBotics, LABFLY, and pi4_robotics represent the new face of robotics: accessible, intentional, and purpose-driven. Each finalist of the Deep Tech Award 2025 in the category Robotics demonstrates that the future of robotics is about designing tools, systems, and platforms that let people do more, safely and sustainably.

As Berlin celebrates a decade of groundbreaking innovation, these three companies show why robotics will be a cornerstone of the next: not as an end in itself, but as a powerful enabler of resilience, creativity, and care.