Humanoid robots capable of tasks ranging from harvesting grapes to greeting visitors appeared prominently at France’s Vivatech trade fair this week, as European companies seek to develop niche capabilities beyond the reach of dominant Chinese tech giants.
French robotics firm Enchanted Tools presented its social robot Mirokai, a machine with long orange ears and large blue eyes.
Multilingual Robot Used in Hospitals and Airports
Marketing chief Richard Malterre said at Vivatech that the robot operates in over 50 languages, and that early prototypes already serve in real-world settings such as hospitals and airports to greet visitors.
The startup also expects its first mass-produced units to be available by the end of the year. Malterre told AFP that at least 60% of the robot is produced in Europe, and the company is working to maintain that share.
However, he noted that some areas of AI robotics expertise are “not necessarily available” in Europe, including advanced graphics processors made by Nvidia that power Mirokai’s core systems, as well as capabilities tied to the wider generative AI surge.
Lights-out Factories
China leads the world in robotics production capacity, driven by companies such as Unitree and Agibot. Their androids, performing highly coordinated routines, impressed visitors at Vivatech, the latest in a series of recent showcases.
UK-based consultancy Omdia reports that China manufactures roughly 87% of the 13,000 humanoid robots deployed globally in 2025.
“China is clearly at the forefront,” according to robotics expert Joern Buss of the consultancy Arthur D. Little, as Chinese firms increasingly showcase “dark factories” where robots operate largely without human oversight.
Nevertheless, Europe is “catching up” behind Japan and South Korea, he added, noting that it still has “some strong robotics players,” including well-established companies.
New entrants on the European robotics scene include Germany’s Neura, which develops humanoid industrial and domestic robots, as well as a platform designed to train them to perform human tasks.
The company recently said it secured $1.4 billion in funding.
“We receive requests for all kinds of roles, even dentists. Everyone is contacting us to ask whether they can get a robot assistant, because they are struggling to find workers,” chief executive David Reger told AFP.
Europe Faces Labor Pressures Amid an Aging Population
As in many advanced economies worldwide, Europe is also dealing with an aging population that may tighten labor availability across both manufacturing and service sectors.
Reger described robots like those developed by Neura Robotics as Europe’s “last chance,” arguing that “Europe does require this economic pillar to sustain” its economy.
He also pointed to long-standing hurdles for European tech firms, including strict regulation and greater difficulties in securing funding compared with competitors in the United States.
However, Reger said he has no intention of relocating the company, which is working with German auto parts suppliers Bosch and Schaeffler on factory automation projects.
He highlighted that Neura has an order backlog exceeding $1 billion.
Data Privacy Protection
“If all robot production ends up concentrated in Japan or China, it could pose a serious issue for sovereignty,” said Francesco Ferro, CEO of Spain’s PAL Robotics.
His firm was exhibiting at Vivatech, showcasing its latest models assembled in Barcelona.
Among them is a black bipedal robot nicknamed Kangaroo, while the Tiago robot features articulated arms that have been deployed in logistics operations and even grape harvesting.
Robotics developers rely on large volumes of data to train machine movements, and they continue gathering additional information as the robots perform their tasks.
Ferro argued that Europe should pursue a “fully European supply chain” without focusing solely on cost, warning that otherwise customers may turn to Chinese robots instead.
He also cautioned that this could result in valuable or sensitive data “falling into the wrong hands.”
Robotics developers depend on enormous datasets to train robot movements, continuously accumulating more information as the machines operate and perform tasks.
Ferro argued that Europe should build a “fully European supply chain” without prioritizing cost alone, warning that otherwise customers may be pushed toward Chinese-made robots instead.
He also cautioned that this situation could lead to valuable or sensitive information “falling into the wrong hands.”
“We must be prepared to compete rather than give up.”
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