Europe's Chipmakers Bet Big on Physical AI
Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP leaders say Europe is well positioned to compete in robotics and real-world AI systems.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Robotics
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The CEOs of Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP said at an industry gathering in Munich, Germany, that Europe is well positioned to compete in physical AI. STMicroelectronics has agreed to introduce humanoid robots from Italy's Oversonic into its factories.
Why it matters
As AI moves out of data centres and into robots, vehicles and machinery, demand grows for chips and systems that can operate safely in the real world. Europe's chipmakers are positioning their automotive and industrial expertise to meet that demand against US rivals.
The three companies supply power chips, sensors and microcontrollers used in machines and compete with US rivals Texas Instruments and onsemi. The number of Oversonic robots planned for STMicroelectronics factories has not been disclosed.
The players
Infineon
A German semiconductor manufacturer and major supplier of power chips used in machines and vehicles.
STMicroelectronics
A European semiconductor company headquartered in Switzerland with major manufacturing operations across Europe, which has agreed to deploy Oversonic humanoid robots in its factories.
NXP
A Dutch-founded semiconductor company that supplies microcontrollers and sensors used in automotive and industrial applications.
Oversonic
An Italian robotics company whose humanoid robots are being introduced into STMicroelectronics factories.
The details
The CEOs spoke at an industry gathering in Munich, arguing that physical AI requires close cooperation between chipmakers and customers, including training robots in AI-simulated environments before deployment. The first Oversonic humanoid robot has been installed at a semiconductor plant in Malta, though most physical AI projects remain at an early stage and factory trials are far more common than widespread use.
Timeline
Monday, November 10, 2026: CEOs of Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP make statements at the Munich industry gathering.
Date unspecified: first Oversonic humanoid robot is installed at a semiconductor plant in Malta.
The Tech Race
The push by Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP follows the EU Chips Act's goal of rebuilding Europe's semiconductor capacity against US and Asian competitors. Physical AI extends that competition from data centres into the factories and vehicles where European firms have long held industrial strength.
For manufacturers and their workers, the shift means humanoid robots may increasingly appear alongside existing factory equipment as trials move toward wider use. For consumers, the chips and sensors that power these machines are the same components found in vehicles and household electronics.
The takeaway
Physical AI is still early, with factory trials far outnumbering full deployments, so watch for how quickly pilot robots move into production lines. Europe's chip suppliers are betting that their industrial expertise will matter as much as software in this next phase.
Further reading
For more on how humanoid machines are moving onto factory floors, explore our Robotics coverage.
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