GIVING ROBOTS A SENSE OF TOUCH: INVEEL’S DEEP-TECH JOURNEY

From breakthrough materials research to advanced robotics applications, Inveel is developing sensor skins that allow robots to feel touch, proximity and temperature while growing within the innovation ecosystem of the Jura region. 

«The Jura Campus offers exactly the kind of ecosystem a deep-tech company needs: close connections to industry, access to expertise and a collaborative environment that supports innovation and growth.»

Dr. Barbara Horvath

CEO & Co-Founder, Inveel

From Research Breakthrough to Robotic Applications 
Transforming scientific research into a successful business is rarely a linear process. Inveel, co-founded by Dr. Barbara Horvath and rooted in research at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), began with a breakthrough in integrating high-resolution electronics into flexible polymer materials. The result is a sensor “skin” that enables robots to detect touch, proximity and temperature simultaneously, bringing them closer to a human-like sense of touch.

Finding the Right Market Through Customer Discovery 
Like many deep-tech startups, Inveel initially had a powerful technology but no obvious first market. Rather than relying on assumptions, the team conducted an extensive discovery process, speaking with more than 150 companies across multiple industries. These conversations revealed a clear opportunity in robotics, where the need for intelligent sensing surfaces is growing rapidly. The process also highlighted a key customer requirement: combining multiple sensing capabilities in a single, thin and flexible solution that can be integrated into complex robotic systems.

Enabling Safer and Smarter Human–Robot Interaction 
Inveel’s sensor skins allow robots to perceive and respond to their surroundings in real time. By combining touch, proximity and temperature sensing within one material, robots can better detect contact, recognise nearby objects and react more safely in environments shared with humans. The technology has potential applications in collaborative robotics, industrial automation and healthcare, where precision, responsiveness and safety are critical.

Growing Within Switzerland’s Innovation Ecosystem 
As Inveel moved from research towards commercialization, the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – Jura Campus became an important part of its growth journey. Through programs such as the InnoJura Accelerator and access to a strong network of industrial partners, research institutions and innovation experts, the company refined its market focus and accelerated its development. Today, Inveel demonstrates how world-class research, entrepreneurial ambition and a supportive innovation ecosystem can turn scientific discoveries into technologies with the potential to shape the future of robotics.  

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