Fluid Wire Robotics – Strategic and Technological Analysis
Fluid Wire Robotics is a Pisa-based deep-tech spin-off founded in 2024 from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. It specializes in fully-electric modular manipulators designed to operate in environments hazardous to conventional robots[1][2]. Its co-founders (all Italian engineers) leverage Sant’Anna’s robotics research (100+ publications) to commercialize a patented “fluid wire” transmission system that locates motors and sensors in a sealed box. This architecture enables the arms to work under high radiation, in vacuum, at extreme temperatures and depths – tasks like nuclear decommissioning, in-orbit servicing and subsea maintenance[1][3]. Early investor support (RoboIT/CDP venture, Pariter, Scientifica VC) and selection by ESA and NATO reflect growing institutional interest in such cross-domain robotics. This report examines FWR’s position in Europe’s defense-industrial landscape, assessing how its technology advances EU strategic autonomy, NATO interoperability and supply-chain resilience under evolving security priorities.