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German Autonomous Meal Prep Firm Circus SE Secures €2 Million Grant to Advance Defense AI-Robotics

Insider Brief

  • Circus SE secured a €2 million annual R&D grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to accelerate development of its CA-M AI-Robot for autonomous defense nutrition systems.
  • The CA-M builds on Circus’s flagship CA-1 robot, extending its capabilities to deliver fully autonomous meal preparation and supply in mission environments.
  • The funding underscores Germany’s commitment to AI and robotics as strategic technologies while strengthening Circus’s position in defense-focused autonomous nutrition solutions.

PRESS RELEASE – Circus SE (XETRA: CA1), a global leader in AI software and robotics for autonomous nutrition systems, has secured a EUR 2 million research and development grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This recurring annual funding will accelerate the development of the CA-M AI-Robot, a fully autonomous nutrition system designed for reliable meal supply in defense environments.

The CA-M is built on the proven core technology of the CA-1 AI-robot, Circus’ commercial flagship robot, and extends its capabilities into the defense sector. Designed to remove manual labor from complex meal supply infrastructures, the CA-M robot enables seamless autonomous operation in mission environments, freeing up personnel for more critical tasks and enhancing operational resilience.

Backed by Circus’ patented AI-robotics ecosystem, the CA-M combines advanced AI-driven software, autonomous meal preparation, and secure system integration to deliver end-to-end nutrition at scale. With the support of the Federal Ministry, Circus will fast-track R&D, expand its defense-focused engineering teams, and further strengthen its newly established Defense Unit.

“With the funding provided by the federal research grant, we can significantly expand our technological development and decisively accelerate the rollout of the CA-M AI-Robot. It underscores our mission to shape the future of autonomous nutrition systems – not only in commercial use, but also as a key technology in the defense sector,” says Fabian Becker, CFO of Circus SE.

The grant highlights the German government’s commitment to advancing AI and robotics as strategic technologies. For Circus, it represents a supportive step toward establishing itself as the global innovation leader in autonomous defense nutrition systems.

Greg Bock
About the author
Greg Bock

Greg Bock is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than 25 years of experience in print, digital, and broadcast news. His reporting has spanned crime, politics, business and technology, earning multiple Keystone Awards and a Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters honors. Through the Associated Press and Nexstar Media Group, his coverage has reached audiences across the United States.

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