ITU researchers launch robot spin-out

A new, user-friendly robot has the potential to revolutionize workflows in laboratories worldwide. The driving force behind the invention is ITU-researcher Kasper Støy, who will commercialize the idea in a new spin-out company.

Written 17 May, 2016 08:00 by Vibeke Arildsen

It is no secret that robots are changing many aspects of our lives. Now, a new liquid handling robot developed by researchers at the IT University of Copenhagen is set to change work processes in laboratories by making it easy to automate repetitive and physically demanding tasks.

The invention has led to the establishment of the spin-out company Flow Robotics. The company has just been launched with a total investment of more than DKK 2,000,000 from a group of investors, including ITU Business Development. This is the first major investment for ITU Business Development, which was launched in the autumn of 2014 to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology between the IT University of Copenhagen and the business community.

A human-friendly robot
The new robot will be able to perform pipetting tasks in for example the pharmaceutical industry in a faster and more flexible manner than existing products on the market, says Associate Professor at ITU Kasper Støy, who is CEO of the new company.

- The robots used for pipetting today are both expensive and difficult to operate. What is new about this robot is that we very much focus on user-friendliness. The technological development enables us to create systems that are much more human-friendly than previously, says Kasper Støy.

Having co-founded the successful robotics company Universal Robots, which was sold to the American company Teradyne for DKK 1.9 billion in 2015, Kasper Støy is an experienced player in the robot industry.

Must be able to cooperate
The liquid handling robot will primarily be used in research and development laboratories where robots must be able perform changing tasks.

Flow Robotics founders Kasper Støy, Associate Professor, and Andres Faiña, Post. doc.

Kasper Støy emphasizes that his invention will not make human hands superfluous, but rather will function as a flexible partner in the laboratories.

- Our vision is that robots must be able to cooperate with people and not just automate processes. You might compare it to the shift from DOS to Windows in the computer world – from only experts being able to operate computers to ordinary people being able to perform complicated tasks. We want to set off a similar process in laboratories.

Big market potential
During the startup-phase, ITU Business Development will act as a co-owner and partner for Flow Robotics. Director Kristine Helen Falgren is looking forward to the cooperation.

- Kasper Støy has experience from another successful spin-out company, a clear vision for his company, and is surrounded by a good team. At the same time, all the latest reports show a gap in the market. Many companies could automate many more processes using robots, so the market potential is huge, she says.

ITU Vice Chancellor Mads Tofte is also pleased with the investment.

- This is a good example of a combination of how good IT research and an entrepreneurial spirit can lead to the creation of groundbreaking technologies, he says.

Further information

Vibeke Arildsen, Press Officer, phone 2555 0447, email viar@itu.dk

Kasper Støy, Professor, phone 7218 5368, email ksty@itu.dk

Kristine Helen Falgren, Director, email khfa@itu.dk

News

"The aim is our trust"

6 May, 2025

As part of the Danish Science Festival, the IT University and the newspaper Dagbladet Information gathered a number of experts to discuss cyber warfare in Denmark and how prepared we are for it. The Minister of Resilience and Preparedness, Thorsten Schack Pedersen, also participated in the talk.

Professor portrait: Nutan Limaye is pushing the boundaries of complexity theory

1 May, 2025

On 22 May 2025 at 14:30, Professor Nutan Limaye from the section Theoretical Computer Science will present her inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled “My reflections on the last two decades and Complexity Theory”.

Professor portrait Anna Vallgårda challenges the design of care technology

24 April, 2025

On 9 May 2025 at 14:30, Professor Anna Vallgårda will give her inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled: ”Radical Redesign of Care Technologies”.

Is Denmark prepared for cyberwarfare?

8 April, 2025

A group of researchers from the IT University of Copenhagen is investigating what Denmark can learn from Ukraine in terms of preparing for cyberwarfare. Cyberwarfare does not just affect governments and companies, but also civilians, and the researchers ask what should be done if we come under attack.

Researchers aim to teach math students critical thinking with data science

31 March, 2025

In a new research project at the IT University of Copenhagen and the University of Copenhagen, a group of researchers will investigate how data science can become part of high school mathematics education to provide students with a better foundation for critical thinking and the ability to illuminate and nuance claims they encounter in their daily lives.

ITU researcher secures grant to improve safety of AI systems

19 March, 2025

At Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Japan, Associate Professor Alessandro Bruni from ITU is currently conducting research on the mathematical foundation for developing verifiably correct machine learning frameworks. The project is supported by the Carlsberg Foundation.

Professor portrait: Vasilis Galis found his way in research on the Athens metro

13 March, 2025

On 28 March 2025 at 14:30, Professor Vasilis Galis from the section Technologies in Practice will present his inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled “Research against dead time”.

ITU researcher investigates elections in Greenland

11 March, 2025

On 11 March 2025, the election for Inatsisartut (Greenland's parliament) will take place. For several years, researchers from ITU, led by Professor Carsten Schürmann and Center for Information Security and Trust, have been investigating election and the possibility of internet elections in Greenland, and the election today is no exception.

IRFD funded ITU project to develop theoretical foundation for probabilistic session types

6 March, 2025

The increasing technological complexity makes probabilistic understanding and management of critical computing systems a necessity. A new research project, led by Associate Professor Marco Carbone, aims to develop the foundation for probabilistic session types to that end.

Urban highways are barriers to social connections

5 March, 2025

Researchers from IT University of Copenhagen have proved that urban highways limit social connections in the 50 largest cities in the US. It is the first ever quantitative evaluation of the barrier effect of urban highways in reducing social connections across neighborhoods.

New research to find efficient strategies for prevention of epidemics

26 February, 2025

Assistant Professor at ITU, Jonas Juul, receives a Novo Nordisk Foundation Data Science Investigator grant of DKK 6.5 million for a project that aims to improve statistical methods for predicting outbreaks of infections.

Within Limits – an exhibition on computation and constraint

24 February, 2025

On 7 March, join Artist Jacob Remin, Associate Professor James Maguire and Postdoc Frauke Mennes from the Center for Climate IT at ITU for the launch of Within Limits – an art installation that questions and reimagines the scalar logics inherent in computational worlds.

ITU students and alumni win awards at Copenhagen Gaming Week

21 February, 2025

ITU was represented with games developed by both students and alumni from the university at Copenhagen Gaming Week and ‘Spilprisen’ that took place last week. Students from the MSc Games won the award for ’Best Student Game’, while alumni from the same study programme won for ‘Best Debut’.

New research project to find a more inclusive way to develop algorithms

10 February, 2025

Associate Professor Veronika Cheplygina has received a Novo Nordisk Data Science Investigator Grant of almost DKK 11 million. The grant will fund research on how more inclusive teaching and research environments may lead to better algorithms for medical imaging.

Thesis on digital divide in prisons wins award

31 January, 2025

Three students from ITU have won the Danish Institute for Human Rights' Thesis Award for their thesis "The Digital Divide in Prisons". The thesis examines how the digital divide between inmates in Danish prisons and the surrounding society can be bridged.

New ITU research analyses attacks on Large Language Models

16 January, 2025

What are the intentions and profile of someone trying to use LLMs for malicious purposes? And how do they do it? In a new study, researchers from ITU define so-called “red teaming” of LLMs to enable better security in the future.

Jakob Grue Simonsen named new prorector at IT University in Copenhagen

22 November, 2024

Jakob Grue Simonsen, who comes from a position as head of department at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, will focus on well-being and collaboration when he takes over as prorector at ITU on 1 January 2025.

IT University of Copenhagen reveals two new members of management

18 November, 2024

At IT University of Copenhagen, future head of education, Luís Cruz-Filipe (L), and future head of research, Morten Hjelholt (R), will become part of the university management when both take up their positions on 1 February and 1 January 2025 respectively.

Video: Is artificial intelligence the key to human consciousness?

12 November, 2024

"Our future is going to look like science fiction." Associate professor at IT University of Copenhagen, Paolo Burelli, uses artificial intelligence to approach a better understanding of the human brain and consciousness.

ITU researcher awarded Villum Synergy grant for qualitative data project

15 October, 2024

Associate Professor at IT University of Copenhagen, Anna Rogers, and Associate Professor Hjalmar Carlsen at University of Copenhagen have received a Villum Synergy grant from Villum Fonden to develop a new tool for conducting large-scale, high-quality qualitative interviews.