Insider Brief
- 1X has formed a strategic partnership with private equity firm EQT to accelerate the commercial rollout of its NEO humanoid robot, marking a step toward large-scale deployment of general-purpose humanoids across multiple industries.
- The companies intend to facilitate access to up to 10,000 humanoid robots across EQT’s global portfolio companies between 2026 and 2030, with pilots starting in the United States in 2026 and potential expansion into Europe and Asia.
- The partnership targets use cases including logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, facility operations, and healthcare, positioning humanoid robots as tools to address labor shortages, improve safety, and support workforce transformation.
PRESS RELEASE — 1X, the AI and robotics company behind NEO, the first ready-to-ship humanoid robot, announced a strategic partnership with EQT, one of the world’s largest private equity firms and an investor in 1X through EQT Ventures. The partnership marks the beginning of what could become a large-scale commercial rollout of general-purpose humanoid robots across multiple industries.
Together, 1X and EQT have a shared intent to facilitate the rollout of up to 10,000 humanoids across EQT’s global portfolio companies between 2026 and 2030, with any potential implementation decision ultimately taken by each portfolio company. The partnership represents an early step in bringing humanoid robotics into mainstream commercial use.
Through this collaboration, EQT’s portfolio companies will gain early access to 1X’s commercial production capacity and integration expertise, giving early adopters a first-mover advantage in addressing structural workforce transformation. The partnership will focus on high-impact use cases for robots working closely with humans, such as industrial software, logistics, facility operations, warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare.
1X will launch pilots in the United States in 2026, followed by rapid scaling across Europe and Asia.
“This partnership brings humanoid robotics into the real economy,” said Bernt Øivind Børnich, Founder and CEO of 1X. “EQT’s global reach and operational expertise make them the ideal partner to help deploy our technology safely, responsibly, and at scale. Together, we aim to demonstrate how humanoid robots can enhance productivity, improve safety, and create more sustainable labor models worldwide.”
“Humanoid robotics is moving from fiction to real-world deployment, and 1X is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of mass-market robotic adoption,” said Ted Persson, lead Partner in EQT Ventures, which first invested in 1X in 2023. “This isn’t about replacing people, it’s about giving them superpowers. By making 1X’s technology available to our portfolio companies, we help them tackle labor shortages, improve safety, and unlock new levels of productivity in the industries that keep the world running.”
Key Highlights
- Up to 10,000 humanoids made available for deployment across EQT’s 300+ portfolio companies (2026–2030), with any potential implementation decided by each portfolio company
- Focus on logistics, facility operations, warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare
- Joint ambition for safe, responsible, and human-centered deployment
The partnership underscores a shared vision between EQT and 1X: a future where humanoid robots work alongside people, supporting industrial resilience and enhancing productivity. With this announcement, 1X strengthens its position as a frontrunner in the global race to commercialize general-purpose humanoid robots at scale.
Image credit: X1
