SR Robotics (SRR), a Katowice-based deeptech company specializing in underwater robotics, has successfully secured over €8.4 million in funding from Vinci, a fund managed by the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego Group. This significant investment will fuel SRR’s expansion of eco-friendly underwater solutions and bolster energy security.
Advancing underwater technology for dual-use applications
Founded in 2017, SRR is at the forefront of developing remotely operated and autonomous underwater robots. These dual-use robots serve both civil and defense sectors, with capabilities including:
- Detection and neutralization of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and chemical weapons.
- Seabed mapping.
- Safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure and strategic ports.
“Our goal is to shape the future of underwater technology,” states Tomasz Hartwig, CEO and Co-founder of SR Robotics. “Thanks to Vinci’s support, we can increase the scale of our operations and the availability of services in a subscription model.”
AI-powered solutions and eco-friendly hull cleaning
A key differentiator for SRR is its integration of AI to enhance underwater operations, including sensor data analysis and object identification. This technology is particularly crucial for the offshore sector, including offshore wind farms, and plays a vital role in strengthening energy security.
SRR also specializes in magnetic robots for cleaning ship hulls and other challenging underwater surfaces. This innovative service, set to deploy initially in Polish ports before expanding across Europe, offers significant environmental and economic benefits:
- Reduces fuel consumption for maritime transport by preventing microflora buildup on hulls, which currently accounts for an average increase of up to 10% in fuel usage.
- Supports ecological sustainability and protects marine ecosystems, aligning with EU environmental regulations and addressing the recently introduced CO₂ charges (ETS) in maritime transport.
Strategic investment for national competence and security
This investment goes beyond technological development, aiming to build national competence in protecting critical underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines. “It is an investment in the security of strategic data for the Polish maritime area, including any infrastructure developed there, such as wind farms,” explains Bartosz Drabikowski, CEO of Vinci S.A.
The capital raised will significantly expand SRR’s production capacity, increase the availability of its robotic fleet under a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, establish a Remote Operations and Analysis Centre, and create a training center for unmanned underwater vehicle operators. This also aligns with Poland’s national security interests, as highlighted by Mirosław Czekaj, President of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, emphasizing the need for reliable suppliers of underwater technologies. The investment will also foster local Polish expertise in servicing offshore wind farm infrastructure.
