What Percipio Robotics does

Percipio Robotics S.A. is a French deep-technology company founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the Femto-ST Institute, specializing in micro-assembly robotic systems for industrial miniaturization. The company designs and manufactures cobotic platforms, custom-built automatic industrial machines, and a proprietary gripper portfolio — TulipGripper, Chronogrip, PiezoGripper, PitweezGripper, and Teletweezer — capable of positioning with sub-micron accuracy (down to ±0.5 µm) and gripping components as small as 5 µm. Its offering integrates precision mechanics, HD vision-based control, and a proprietary modular software suite comprising Fast CV image analysis, a digital twin platform, and a virtual system/simulator with Industry 4.0 connectivity and predictive maintenance capabilities.

The company serves industrial customers in photonics, MEMS and semiconductors, medical technology, and fine watchmaking — verticals where micro-scale assembly drives up to 90% of production costs in photonics — and addresses each engagement through a collaborative approach spanning feasibility study, prototyping, and qualification of industrial solutions. Revenue is generated primarily through custom-engineered hardware sales of cobotic platforms and automatic machines, complemented by standalone gripper sales (notably TulipGripper launching as an independent product in 2025), software licenses and updates, and recurring customer support and maintenance services, with an enterprise field-sales go-to-market.

Operating from a custom-built 400 m² facility in the Temis technology park in Besançon, France, the company employs more than 30 specialists in mechanics, computer science, and robotics. Capital development has been funded predominantly through collaborative R&D grants from French and European public bodies (BPI France, ANR, ERDF) rather than traditional venture capital, with active multi-year programs including the France 2030 PhotonScale initiative (2025-2028) and partnerships with Mecademic, Innocise GmbH, Photonics France, and the Femto-ST Institute.

Name

Percipio Robotics

Legal name

PERCIPIO ROBOTICS S.A.

Website

https://percipio-robotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Percipio Robotics S.A. is a French deep-technology company founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the Femto-ST Institute that designs micro-assembly cobotic platforms, custom automatic machines, and proprietary micron-scale grippers for industrial customers in photonics, MEMS, medical technology, and fine watchmaking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Micro-Assembly Robotics

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Micro-assembly robotics
• Precision robotic grippers
• Cobotic platforms
• Photonics assembly automation
• Industrial micro-manipulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Besançon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Micro-assembly Robotic Systems (Cobotic Platforms): Sale of custom-built cobotic platforms — operator-driven robotic systems that are reconfigurable and adaptable for new production ranges. Used for feasibility studies, prototyping, pre-series assembly, and small-volume production. Combined with proprietary grippers, vision software, and human-machine interfaces.
2. Automatic Industrial Machines: Sale of custom-built automatic micro-manipulation machines designed for large-volume production. Equipped with modular technical solutions in mechanics, robotics, image analysis, and control via proprietary software suite. Full digital integration with Industry 4.0 connectivity.
3. Proprietary Grippers and End Effectors: Sale of specialized micro-gripping tools including TulipGripper (standalone product launched 2025), Chronogrip, PiezoGripper, PitweezGripper, and TulipGripper interchangeable end effectors. Targets integration into customers' existing robotic systems.
4. Software Licenses and Updates: Proprietary modular software including Fast CV image analysis, vision processing, robotic control, and digital twin platforms. Software controls HD vision-based positioning, machine monitoring, and process optimization. Remote support and program upgrades provided as part of customer support.
5. Customer Support and Maintenance Services: Connected machine support with remote control, continuous parameter recording for diagnostics, remote support for program creation and upgrades, and ongoing maintenance services. Provided as part of customer support policy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Percipio Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells custom-built micro-assembly robotic systems and proprietary micro-gripping tools for industrial miniaturization. Its product portfolio includes cobotic platforms for feasibility studies and small-volume production, automatic industrial machines for high-volume production, and a range of patented grippers such as TulipGripper, Chronogrip, and PiezoGripper. The systems integrate HD vision, proprietary software, digital twins, and Industry 4.0 connectivity to enable precision assembly at the micron scale for photonics, MEMS, medical technology, and watchmaking customers.

Product overview

Percipio Robotics offers an integrated portfolio of micro-assembly robotic solutions centered on their core gripper technologies and robotic platforms. The portfolio consists of two main system types: Cobotic Platforms (operator-driven, flexible systems for feasibility studies and small-volume production) and Automatic Industrial Machines (custom-built systems for high-volume production). Key gripper products include the Chronogrip (standard cobotic tool), PiezoGripper (piezoelectric precision gripper), Tulipgripper (high-capacity industrial micromanipulator), Teletweezer (force feedback tweezers), and PitweezGripper. These are supported by a proprietary modular software suite encompassing HD vision control, Fast CV image analysis, digital twin technology for real-time monitoring, and virtual simulation systems. The solutions enable micro-assembly operations with positioning accuracy down to ±0.5 µm and gripping of objects as small as 5 µm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chronogrip: Standard cobotic tool for micro-assembly, used for feasibility studies and high precision movement and gripping operations.
• PiezoGripper
• AlceaGripper
• TulipGripper
• PitweezGripper
• Digital Twin
• Virtual System (Simulator)

Products and services

• Cobotic Platform Operator-driven robotic system designed for easy adaptation to new production ranges, ideal for automation feasibility studies, prototyping, pre-series assembly, and small-volume production; combines robot performance with operator intelligence for precision micro-assembly. Targeted at enterprise customers in photonics, MEMS, medical technology, and watchmaking.
• Automatic Industrial Machine Custom-built robotic micro-manipulation systems for large-volume production, reprogrammable, flexible, and adaptable to product diversity and evolution. Includes modular technical solutions in mechanics, robotics, image analysis, and control software, with full digital integration and Industry 4.0 connectivity for high-volume production environments.
• TulipGripper High-capacity industrial micromanipulator gripper with robust design, versatile use, and interchangeable end effectors; qualified for grasping components from 50 µm in size and designed for high-speed miscellaneous grasping operations. Being released as a standalone product in 2025 for integration into third-party robotic systems worldwide.
• Chronogrip Standard cobotic tool used daily for feasibility studies — a miniaturized robotic assembly system for high precision movement and gripping operations with multiple human-machine interface options (joystick, game controller, haptic feedback controller, touch screen HMI). Used in cobotic platforms for feasibility studies and small-volume production.
• PiezoGripper / AlceaGripper Industrial micro-gripper based on proprietary piezoelectric technology developed from scientific research with multiple patent filings; enables precision gripping of fragile miniature components in micro-assembly applications and has been awarded multiple times at microtechnology trade shows.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positioning repeatability down to 5 µm achieved through TulipGripper + Meca500 combination
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Photonics FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024Percipio Robotics worked closely with Photonics France to organize and host the French Photonics Days 2024 at its headquarters in Besançon. The national two-day event focused on 'Disruptive Photonics Micro-Nanotechnologies.' Percipio provided its facilities and delivered multiple technical workshops demonstrating micro-robotics solutions for photonics applications.
• MecademiccoreTechnology or Integration · 24 September 2024Mecademic is a technology partner providing the Meca500 robotic arm — described as the most precise and compact industrial robotic arm in the world — which Percipio Robotics combines with its TulipGripper for active mirror alignment demonstrations at Micronora 2024 and French Photonics Days 2024. The partnership showcases seamless integration of automation and precision robotics for photonics applications. Positioning repeatability down to 5 µm is achieved through this combination.
• Innocise GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 September 2024Innocise GmbH co-exhibited with Percipio Robotics at Micronora 2024, presenting the Gecomer adhesive microgripper — a bio-inspired adhesive gripping solution for scratch-free and residue-free handling of sensitive parts in vacuum and cleanroom environments. Percipio serves as a partner/channel for demonstrating Innocise technology to the French market. The Gecomer complements Percipio's own gripper portfolio.
• CCI Bourgogne Franche-ComtéminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 September 2024The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bourgogne Franche-Comté organized the Micro-Nano Event B2B matchmaking platform during Micronora 2024. Percipio participated in this B2B networking event to present its expertise and innovations to new industrial, academic, and governmental partners. The CCI facilitates connections between Percipio and potential customers/partners in the region.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 September 2024EEN co-organized the Micro-Nano Event B2B matchmaking sessions with CCI Bourgogne Franche-Comté at Micronora 2024. Through this platform Percipio engaged with business partners and research laboratories, exploring several promising collaborations in industrial and research contexts.
• Femto-ST InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Femto-ST Institute is the research laboratory from which Percipio Robotics spun off in 2011. The company maintains active partnerships with different research institutes. The institute provided the foundational research (more than 15 years of R&D) underlying Percipio's core micro-assembly technologies including piezoelectric grippers and cobotic solutions. The relationship represents an ongoing academic-industry collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EV Group (EVG): EVG is a major supplier of wafer bonding, nanoimprint lithography, and micro-assembly equipment to MEMS, semiconductor, and photonics manufacturers. While far larger and more capital-intensive than Percipio, EVG competes for the same micro-assembly capital equipment budgets at advanced packaging and photonics customers.
• FANUC: FANUC is the world's largest industrial robot manufacturer by installed base, with extensive small-payload and high-precision robotic offerings. Its global installed base and channel make it a structural competitive threat to niche micro-assembly specialists.
• ABB Robotics: ABB Robotics is a global leader in industrial and collaborative robots, including precision small-payload arms used in electronics and photonics assembly. ABB represents the primary large-incumbent threat to Percipio if micro-assembly automation becomes a higher-volume market.
• KUKA: KUKA is one of the world's largest industrial robot and automation suppliers with a growing portfolio of small-payload and collaborative robots. As micro-assembly scales, KUKA could leverage its global channel to enter Percipio's niche with bundled offerings at significantly lower per-unit cost.
• Physik Instrumente (PI): PI is a global leader in precision positioning systems, piezo actuators, and nanopositioning stages used in micro-assembly and photonics. While far broader in scope and scale than Percipio, PI competes for the same photonics, MEMS, and semiconductor customers seeking micron- and sub-micron-level motion and assembly solutions.

Direct peers

• Mecademic: Mecademic manufactures the Meca500, the ultra-compact precision industrial robotic arm that Percipio integrates with TulipGripper for photonics active alignment. Mecademic is also a strategic technology partner of Percipio, co-demonstrating solutions at Micronora 2024 and French Photonics Days 2024 — making it both a supplier and the closest directly comparable precision micro-robotics peer.
• New Scale Robotics: New Scale Robotics produces small-format precision robotic grippers and systems for micro-assembly and small-part handling in manufacturing. It directly overlaps with Percipio's gripper-and-platform offering and is a competitor in the same end-market applications.
• Innocise GmbH: Innocise produces the Gecomer bio-inspired adhesive microgripper for scratch-free handling of sensitive parts in vacuum and cleanroom environments. Innocise is both a complement (co-exhibits with Percipio) and a competitor in micro-gripping for delicate components.
• SmarAct: SmarAct develops high-precision micro-positioning and robotic systems for nanomanipulation, micro-assembly, and optics/photonics applications. Like Percipio, it serves customers requiring micron and sub-micron handling accuracy and competes for design wins in photonics and MEMS micro-assembly.

Emerging players

• Sutter Instrument: Sutter Instrument manufactures micromanipulators and precision motion systems primarily for biomedical and electrophysiology research. While more research-oriented than Percipio's industrial focus, it competes for micro-precision manipulation applications and is a credible adjacent player as Percipio expands in medical technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/percipio-robotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Percipio Robotics