Versatile RobotX Raises €1.17 Mn to Develop AI-Powered Farming Robots

The company develops smart robots for farming that can automate labour-intensive agricultural tasks. The new funding will help Versatile RobotX move its robots closer to commercial use.

The funding comes from several sources. It includes investment from the British Design Fund (BDF), support from Innovate UK Growth Catalyst – Investor Partnerships Round 2, and additional grants from the Defra Farming Innovation Programme.

Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier, Chief Executive Officer of Versatile RobotX and Head of the Robotics and Embedded Systems Research Group at the University of Essex, said, “Securing more than £1 million in combined investment and innovation support is a major milestone for Versatile RobotX. It reflects the confidence that investors, Innovate UK, Defra, Freeport East and the University of Essex have shown in our vision.

“Agriculture faces unprecedented challenges around labour availability, food security and sustainability. This funding will allow us to accelerate the transition from successful field trials to commercial deployment, as we aim to make advanced robotics affordable and accessible to growers worldwide.”

Dr. Vishwanathan Mohan, CTO of Versatile RobotX and Head of the AgriRobotics Laboratory at the University of Essex, said, “Working closely with growers, we have demonstrated that advanced agricultural robotics can deliver real-world impact, helping tackle the challenges that matter most to farmers.

“Growers consistently tell us that affordability, reliability and ease of deployment are key barriers to automation. This funding package will help us scale manufacturing readiness, strengthen customer engagement and demonstrate how Robotics-as-a-Service can provide a practical route to adoption for farms of all sizes. It will also allow us to expand our portfolio of multifunctional robotic systems and accelerate deployment across a wider range of crops and agricultural settings.”

Versatile RobotX is a spin-out company from the University of Essex. It was founded in July 2024 by Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier and Dr Vishwanathan Mohan.

The company develops agricultural robots that use artificial intelligence, machine vision, smart technology, and advanced robotics. These robots are designed to automate difficult and labour-intensive farming jobs, including harvesting and handling crops.

Versatile RobotX currently has two main products: the Fruit and Vegetable Autonomous Picker and the Hydroponic Robotic Harvester. The Fruit and Vegetable Autonomous Picker uses sensors, machine learning, and robotic arms to identify different fruits and vegetables and carefully pick them without damaging the produce.

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