Insider Brief
- Shanghai-based OYMotion has partnered with Hangzhou-based automotive bearing maker Radical to jointly develop embodied intelligence technologies, combining robotics, neural interfaces, and large-scale manufacturing, according to China Daily.
- The agreement includes a 160 million yuan ($22.8 million) strategic investment and the creation of a 100 million yuan joint venture aimed at building a vertically integrated industry chain spanning core components, system integration, and finished products.
- Founded in 2015, OYMotion has advanced from bionic and dexterous robotic hands into neurorehabilitation and industrial applications, while Radical is seeking to move beyond traditional mechanical components into higher-value intelligent systems as embodied intelligence gains traction in China’s industrial and healthcare markets.
Shanghai-based robotics and neural interface company OYMotion has formed a strategic partnership with Hangzhou-based automotive bearing maker Radical to jointly develop embodied intelligence technologies, according to the state-run China Daily.
The agreement, announced Saturday in Shanghai, pairs OYMotion’s robotics and neural interface capabilities with Radical’s manufacturing scale as both companies seek to position themselves in a fast-emerging segment that blends artificial intelligence with physical systems. Embodied intelligence refers to AI embedded in machines that interact with the physical world through sensing, movement, and adaptive control, an area attracting growing interest from industrial and healthcare players in China.
Under the partnership, the companies plan to build a vertically integrated industry chain spanning core components, system integration, and finished products. The collaboration includes a strategic investment of 160 million yuan, or about $22.8 million, and the formation of a joint venture capitalized at 100 million yuan. The structure is intended to accelerate commercialization while tightening coordination between technology development and industrial production.
OYMotion, founded in 2015, has focused on neural interface technologies and advanced robotic end-effectors. The company introduced a domestically produced intelligent bionic hand in 2017 and has since expanded into medical and rehabilitation applications. In 2022, it worked with a research team led by Professor Xu Jianguang at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to develop neurorehabilitation products, applying neural signal processing to assist motor recovery. In 2024, OYMotion released a robot dexterous hand aimed at broader robotic manipulation tasks.
The company has also attracted significant investor interest. According to China Daily, OYMotion completed three financing rounds this year, raising several hundred million yuan, reflecting rising demand for dexterous robotics and neural interface technologies that can be deployed in both medical and industrial settings.
Radical brings large-scale manufacturing expertise rooted in the automotive supply chain, where precision components and high reliability are essential. By aligning with OYMotion, the company is seeking to move beyond traditional mechanical components and into higher-value intelligent systems, leveraging embodied intelligence as a potential growth engine.
The announcement was made at an industry summit in Shanghai that included panel discussions on embodied intelligence and neural interfaces, China Daily reported.
