Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Schaeffler have launched the next phase of their corporate lab partnership to advance research in AI-powered humanoid robotics.
NTU Singapore said last Wednesday that the new 900‑square‑meter facility on its campus will support Singapore’s goal of boosting advanced manufacturing and robotics.
This marks another milestone in the NTU–Schaeffler collaboration, which began in 2017.
The corporate lab is supported by Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) under the RIE 2025 plan and developed with the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The lab will focus on collaborative robotics, autonomous mobile robots, and assistive robotic systems for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
The lab will work with researchers from other universities, strengthening Singapore’s role as a regional hub for intelligent automation and humanoid robotics.
The lab is part of Schaeffler’s global SHARE network, which partners with top universities worldwide through its company-on-campus program.
“The next phase of collaboration at the Schaeffler Hub for Advanced Research at NTU marks a significant milestone in our long standing partnership and reinforces our commitment to pioneering innovation in robotics and AI,
“With a focus on advancing technologies for humanoid robotics, this partnership represents a key step forward in our holistic agenda to drive progress in this future field,” said Uwe Wagner, Chief Technology Officer at Schaeffler AG.
“Drawing on expertise across our eight product families, Schaeffler is best equipped to shape the future of humanoid robotics. By working closely with leading researchers at NTU, we strive to accelerate development and deliver value that resonates far beyond the regional level,” he added.
Prof. Lam Khin Yong, NTU Vice President (Industry), said the expanded partnership with Schaeffler strengthens NTU’s role as a top research university with strong ties between academia, industry, and public agencies.
He added that the corporate lab gives researchers, PhD students, and students a platform to tackle robotics challenges with industry experts.
“We have also collaborated closely with Schaeffler engineers to develop robots that can co-work with humans, with advanced sensors improving sensitivity and safety, which has direct industrial impact. I’m confident that our innovations can boost the manufacturing sector and shape the future of autonomous and assistive robotics in Singapore and beyond,” he added.
Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President of EDB, said Schaeffler’s ongoing investments in Singapore have strengthened the advanced manufacturing ecosystem and created skilled research, engineering, and corporate jobs.
“The expanded corporate lab builds on the success of Schaeffler’s longstanding partnership with Singapore’s research community and universities, helping to connect academic research with real-world industry applications. This aligns with Singapore’s strategic interest to increase adoption of robotics and embodied AI in advanced manufacturing and unlock new opportunities across industries,” she added.
Since 2017, the NTU–Schaeffler partnership has developed several innovations, including:
Real-time touch and force sensing to improve robot precision and safety in industrial settings.
A universal soft gripper that can handle objects of different shapes, stiffness, and surfaces, boosting manufacturing and supply chain efficiency.
The collaboration also focuses on talent development, training PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students through hands-on projects with Schaeffler engineers. Many alumni now hold leadership roles in academia and industry, strengthening Singapore’s deep-tech and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
