Schaeffler Deepens R&D Ties in Singapore with New Robotics and AI Lab

German industrial supplier Schaeffler has opened a new joint laboratory with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, a move that reinforces the company's aggressive pivot toward humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence.

The new 900-square-meter facility, announced alongside Singaporean government officials and university leadership, is the latest expansion of the SHARE (Schaeffler Hub for Advanced Research) program. While Schaeffler has long maintained a presence in automotive and industrial sectors, this specific investment highlights its intent to secure a foundational role in the emerging humanoid supply chain.

The lab will focus on accelerating "disruptive technologies to series readiness," according to Uwe Wagner, Schaeffler’s Chief Technology Officer. While corporate R&D partnerships are common, this initiative is notable for how explicitly it aligns with Schaeffler's recent, rapid-fire series of partnerships and pilot programs in the humanoid sector.

The "User-Supplier" Strategy

The Singapore lab underscores Schaeffler’s "dual strategy" in robotics: it aims to be both a high-volume customer of humanoid robots and a critical supplier of their internal components.

The company explicitly views itself as a "Motion Technology Company" rather than just an automotive supplier, a rebranding effort supported by its hardware portfolio. The new lab will focus on transferring technology from the automotive sector—specifically planetary gear actuators—into robotics. These actuators, originally developed for electric mobility, are being adapted for the high-torque, compact requirements of humanoid hip and shoulder joints.

This R&D push complements a string of commercial agreements Schaeffler has struck in recent months. The company is not merely researching these machines; it is actively preparing to deploy them.

• Neura Robotics: In early November, Schaeffler committed to purchasing thousands of humanoid robots from German manufacturer Neura Robotics. That deal also positioned Schaeffler as a supplier of actuators for Neura’s 4NE-1 platform.
• Humanoid (UK): The company recently completed a successful bin-picking trial with UK-based startup Humanoid, using a pre-alpha robot to handle metallic bearing rings—a task designed to test the robot's ability to handle cluttered, unstructured environments.
• Hexagon: Schaeffler is also serving as an industrial pilot partner for Hexagon's new AEON humanoid, further diversifying its exposure to different hardware platforms.

From Simulation to Physical R&D

The NTU facility adds a physical dimension to what has, until recently, been a heavily digital strategy for Schaeffler.

Prior to these physical deployments and lab openings, the company invested heavily in digital twin technologies. In collaboration with Accenture, NVIDIA, and Microsoft, Schaeffler built virtual replicas of its factories to simulate robot interactions before hardware ever hit the floor. The new Singapore lab aims to bridge that gap, facilitating "interdisciplinary research" that moves ideas from the "laboratory to practice."

Maximilian Fiedler, Regional CEO for Asia/Pacific, described the partnership as a way to combine "Schaeffler’s deep industry experience with NTU’s cutting-edge research." For Singapore, the collaboration further solidifies its status as a global innovation hub, leveraging a "rich pool of talents" to attract major industrial players.

As the race to commercialize humanoid robots heats up, Schaeffler’s move to entrench itself in the component supply chain—specifically in actuators—could prove to be a lucrative hedge. By supplying the "muscle" for robots from various manufacturers while simultaneously deploying them in its own factories, Schaeffler is betting that regardless of which humanoid brand wins the market, they will likely be moving on Schaeffler parts.