Emerald and DIC unveil €52 million Physical AI investment platform
Swiss venture capital firm Emerald has partnered with Japanese materials and chemicals manufacturer DIC to launch a new €52 million platform focused on the next wave of Physical AI innovation. The initiative targets startups that merge advanced artificial intelligence with real-world systems such as robotics, smart materials, and industrial automation.
Targeting the convergence of AI and the physical world
The new platform aims to back early- and growth-stage companies developing technologies that bring AI algorithms out of the cloud and into factories, logistics centers, laboratories and infrastructure. This includes intelligent robots, autonomous production lines, sensor-rich materials, and AI-driven quality control systems that can operate in demanding industrial environments.
By combining Emerald‘s track record in deep-tech and industrial innovation with DIC‘s global manufacturing footprint, the platform is designed to give portfolio companies both capital and direct access to industrial partners, pilot sites and potential customers.
Strategic push into next-generation industrial technologies
Physical AI is increasingly seen as a critical layer in the digital transformation of manufacturing and supply chains. The new fund is expected to focus on sectors such as advanced materials, process industries, mobility, packaging and energy, where embedding AI into physical assets can unlock major gains in efficiency, safety and sustainability.
The €52 million vehicle will seek startups primarily in Europe and Asia, while remaining open to global opportunities that align with its thesis. Beyond funding, the platform is expected to offer strategic support on regulatory pathways, industrial scaling, and partnerships with large corporates seeking to modernize operations.
With this move, Emerald and DIC position themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field where software, hardware and materials are converging. The initiative underlines growing investor confidence that Physical AI will shape the next decade of industrial innovation and create a new generation of globally competitive deep-tech companies.