Hitachi enters strategic co-creation partnership with Agile Robots to develop the intelligence for AI robotics

Combining Hitachi's and Agile Robots' complementary strengths to build a more powerful Physical AI technology foundation that enables autonomous manufacturing operations

• Hitachi and Agile Robots will collaborate to advance Physical AI in industrial practice, and develop more powerful intelligence for AI robotics, enabling the autonomous execution of complex tasks and production processes that have traditionally relied on human operators and could not be addressed through conventional automation.
• Hitachi plans to offer the Physical AI solutions resulting from the partnership globally through HMAX Industry, contributing to the autonomous operation of factories worldwide.

Tokyo, Japan, September 29, 2026 - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, “Hitachi”) today announced that it has entered into a strategic co-creation partnership with Agile Robots SE ("Agile Robots"), a leading provider of AI-powered robotics solutions headquartered in Munich, Germany, to develop the intelligence for AI robotics.

Through this partnership, Hitachi will combine its Physical AI technologies with Agile Robots' AI-powered robotics solutions, which have been proven across a wide range of industrial applications, to advance the practical deployment of Physical AI, enabling robots to perceive, interpret, and act flexibly in real-world environments. Hitachi will use the intelligence for AI robotics created through the partnership to learn domain knowledge from industrial operations, evolve it into Physical AI that can be deployed in manufacturing environments, and roll it out globally as HMAX Industry. In doing so, aims to realize autonomous next-generation manufacturing environments that help address social challenges such as labor shortages.

Overview of the Co-Creation Partnership

Hitachi has developed Physical AI technology capable of learning complex tasks in a short period of time^*1. Through this collaboration, Hitachi's Physical AI technology will be combined with Agile Robots' portfolio of AI-powered robotics solutions, which together cover a broad range of industrial tasks and processes, including automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and data centers. Together, the companies will create new “intelligence” for AI robotics that enables the early autonomy of diverse and complex tasks and production processes that have traditionally depended on human expertise and judgment.

In addition, Hitachi's edge AI semiconductors^*2, which can process information equivalent to a robot's vision and sense of touch at high speed and with low power consumption, will be combined with Agile Robots' robotics technologies. 

• 1 Hitachi Develops Physical AI Technology That Continuously Learns and Optimizes Operations in Real-World Environments to Automate Complex Tasks (in Japanese, March 23, 2026)
• 2 Hitachi Develops Edge AI Semiconductor Technology as a Foundation for Physical AI Powering HMAX Industry (in Japanese, April 24, 2026)
  The Connective Industries Sector and Hitachi's Strategic SIB Business Unit will jointly drive technology development and customer co-creation, leveraging company-wide growth opportunities to create new businesses.

Comment from Yoshimitsu Takagi, Vice President and Executive Officer, CEO of Industrial Solutions Business Unit, Connective Industries Sector, Hitachi, Ltd.

This co-creation partnership with Agile Robots marks an important step forward in accelerating Hitachi's Physical AI business. Hitachi's strength lies in combining deep expertise in IT, OT, and products to continuously create value from AI. By integrating Agile Robots' advanced robotics technologies with Hitachi's capabilities, we will deploy Physical AI that enables not only intelligent robots but also the autonomous operation of entire factories. Through real-world implementation, we will further enhance our Physical AI solutions by leveraging the operational data and know-how accumulated in the field, contributing to greater competitiveness and sustainable growth across the global manufacturing industry.

Comment from Dr. Zhaopeng Chen, Founder and CEO, Agile Robots SE

Physical AI will only transform industry if it works reliably on the factory floor, and at scale. Hitachi brings more than a century of manufacturing and operational technology expertise, a global customer base and its edge AI semiconductor technology. We contribute AI-powered robotics solutions, from robotic arms and mobile robots to our humanoid Agile ONE, that are already proven in industrial operations worldwide. Together, we want to bring physical intelligence into production environments around the world and make flexible, autonomous manufacturing a reality for our customers.

Background of the Partnership

As labor shortages continue to intensify worldwide, manufacturers have increasingly adopted automation systems that repeatedly perform predefined tasks under fixed conditions. However, many operations, including parts handling, machine loading, machining and assembly, product changeovers, and material transfer between processes, still require human judgment and adaptability in response to changing conditions and varying workpieces.

Tasks such as picking and production line setup changes remain heavily dependent on human workers. As a result, achieving true autonomy, where machines can perceive changing situations, make decisions, and control their own actions, has become one of the most significant challenges facing the manufacturing industry today.

Hitachi has cultivated operational technology (OT) and control expertise across sites in 190 countries and regions through more than 110 years of manufacturing experience. By combining high-quality products with advanced digital technologies, Hitachi promotes Social Innovation Business worldwide. As a manufacturer itself, Hitachi leverages data generated from both its own and customers' digitized manufacturing assets to advance the deployment of Physical AI enhanced by deep domain knowledge.

Agile Robots is one of the world's leading providers of AI-powered robotics solutions. The company offers a full-stack Physical AI platform integrating robotics hardware, including humanoid robots, the AI-driven software platform AgileCore, and real-world data infrastructure, enabling greater intelligence, flexibility, and efficiency across a wide range of industries.

By combining their complementary strengths, Hitachi and Agile Robots will advance the Physical AI solutions required to enable the autonomous execution of tasks and processes that have traditionally relied on human workers, and will bring these capabilities to manufacturers around the world.

Hitachi's Connective Industries Sector

The Industrial Solutions Business Unit within Hitachi's Connective Industries Sector is focused on HMAX Industry, a portfolio of next-generation industrial solutions that combines data from its extensive installed base of products and digitized assets with deep domain knowledge and advanced AI technologies.

Aiming to become a leader in Physical AI, Hitachi is delivering Industrial Solutions centered on HMAX Industry to maximize customers' lifetime value. Through these efforts, Hitachi seeks to transform industries on a global scale and contribute to the realization of a more prosperous and sustainable society.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT(Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

About Agile Robots

Agile Robots is a leading provider of AI-powered robotics solutions to automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, and service customers. By combining artificial intelligence and robotics, the company makes industries smarter, more flexible, and more efficient.

Founded in Munich in 2018 by renowned robotics researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Agile Robots has experienced rapid global growth. Today, more than 3,500 highly skilled robotics and AI enthusiasts from almost 60 nations work for the company and have installed more than 20,000 robot solutions worldwide.

Agile Robots is at the forefront of what's possible in robotics and automation. The company has one of the largest research and development teams in the AI and robotics industry and is a key driver of the industrial transformation. On more than 20,000 square meters of lab space, the international team bridges the gap between hardware and software to create the next generation of industrial automation solutions. The company has successfully filed over 650 patents to date.

Agile Robots has built a unique portfolio, together with the subsidiaries BÄR Automation, Franka Robotics, idealworks, and Krause Automation, the company covers all areas of AI-driven robotics.

Find out more at: agile-robots.com

Business Contact

Hitachi, Ltd.