Some call it Roboburgh. Some call it Robotics Row. We call it Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh region is at the intersection of the best talent and the biggest names in tech, making us a world leader in robotics and autonomy.
AI began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) as a trailblazer since the 1950s — in fact, esteemed faculty members, Herbert Simon and Allen Newell, invented the field of AI during their tenure. In 1989, CMU founded the world’s first doctoral program in robotics. Then and now, Pittsburgh remains home to some of the most prestigious robotics and AI programs in the world that are continuing to drive forward innovations that impact a global society.
Pittsburgh robotics companies include the world’s biggest names in the industry, like Aurora, Carnegie Robotics, Caterpillar, Gecko Robotics, Seegrid and Smith+Nephew. More than 100 organizations continue to shape the robotics industry and develop some of the world’s largest commercial centers for autonomous mobile systems. Some of the top AI companies in the world also have a presence in Pittsburgh, like Meta, Microsoft and Google.
The Pittsburgh region was one of the 21 awardees of the federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. $62.7M is being invested in the region’s robotics cluster development through the adoption of new technologies in small and medium enterprises, upskilling and empowering workers to thrive in an innovation economy, and commercialization acceleration of our cluster’s inventions.
Pittsburgh, the birthplace of AI and a global leader in the growing robotics industry, is both an incubator and living laboratory for world-shaping technologies and digital transformations.
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NREC is an applied facility that operates within the CMU Robotics Institute and partners with government and industry clients to develop and commercialize robotics and AI systems solutions. It also educates K-12 and college students through the Robotics Academy.
ARM is a federally-funded public/private partnership and leading national collaborative in automation and robotics technology and education.
HERL operates in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and improves the mobility and function of people with disabilities through engineering in clinical research and medical rehabilitation.
Currently in development, the RIC will provide CMU robotics researchers with the facilities and spaces needed to bridge the stages of foundational research, integration, iteration and commercialization.
U.S. AI grad program
AI undergrad program
academic & private research centers
annual computer & information science R&D expenditures (2022)
industry employment
robotics patents awarded (2008-2018)
city for tech worker momentum (WSJ, 2023)
Founded by CMU in 2017 and received $250M in funding to establish itself as an independent nonprofit to lead robotics innovation and expertise to accelerate growth in Pittsburgh.
Two of Carnegie Mellon’s top AI + robotics researchers now lead one of social media’s newest AI labs in Pittsburgh on the university’s campus.
Tech company behind the autonomous robots that support the world’s largest retailers. Recently doubled its Strip District space to accommodate an eventual 50% increase in staff. Announced that its robots will be in 1,000 Walmart stores by the end of 2020.
Oregon-based company that develops robots that work alongside people in warehouses to expedite workflows expands in Pittsburgh in a former 45,000 SF warehouse building. The expansion comes on the heels of the company receiving an $8 million venture funding round.
Developer and operator of wall-climbing, infrastructure inspecting robots. Relocated in Pittsburgh in 2015 and landed $40M in funding to build out its safety and infrastructure monitoring services. Plans to hire 120 new employees.
Warehousing robotics startup spun out of CMU announced plans to expand in the Strip District, moving into a 30,000 SF facility – five times larger than its current space – with a headquarter offices, a showcase center and manufacturing space.
Honeywell announced the spinout in 2019 with plans to establish an advanced technology center of excellence focused on robotics and AI development in Pittsburgh. Leased a 25,000 SF space in the Strip District with plans to hire engineers and designers.
Lunar tech company that went from unfamiliar to globally realized after landing a $200M contract to deliver a NASA moon rover in 2023. They’re now investing $6.5M to relocate to 47,000 SF building on the North Shore and creating 95 new jobs.
Developer and manufacturer of advanced mobile robotic systems, RE2 Robotics announced an expansion of its HQ in Pittsburgh, increasing its total space to 30,000 SF. The company plans to invest over $1 million in its production capabilities, including buying new machinery.
*Sarcos announced closure of its Pittsburgh offices in November 2023.
One of the most active early-stage investors in the U.S. with startup support programs. Also has two nationally ranked accelerators – AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear – that help hardware and software companies get off the ground.
Supports the region’s technology-based companies with business development, talent retention, government relations and visibility services.
A public/private partnership that elevates and accelerates Pittsburgh’s status as a global innovation city and supports the Innovation District of Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
Empowers and strengthens robotics companies in the Pittsburgh region and positions the ecosystem as an internationally recognized powerhouse.
Connect with our experienced business investment leaders to learn more about why Pittsburgh is the perfect location to take your business to new heights.
Startup Genome, a global leader in ecosystem research, spotlights the Pittsburgh startup ecosystem as part of its network of 290+ ecosystems worldwide. Pittsburgh is tied for 21st – 25th nationally and31st to 40th globally in the top emerging ecosystems with its advanced manufacturing robotics, life sciences and space tech sectors recognized.
Pittsburgh, one of the top robotics and AI hubs in the United States, is home to several successful leaders in the industry. Read on to learn about more the success artificial intelligence and robotics companies have found in Pittsburgh.
London-based portfolio medical technology company Smith+Nephew focuses on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue through the invention and application of new collaborative robotic technologies across healthcare like orthopedics, sports medicine & ENT and advanced wound management. In 2021, S+N opened a new facility in Pittsburgh focused on robotics technology, R&D and surgical training – advancing innovation in orthopedic surgery.
This German engineering and technology company has a Research and Technology Center in Pittsburgh that focuses on machine learning and also specializes in aerospace projects, including a NASA command station in their Robotics Row offices. Additionally, the Carnegie Bosch Institute (CBI) is at CMU.
Gecko is a Pittsburgh-based startup that creates wall-scaling robots. These AI-powered bots allow for easier inspection and analysis of damage to critical infrastructure, particularly in hard-to-reach places. This robotics provider recently expanded with the opening of a new 70,000 San Francisco HQ in 2022.
Gecko’s offering combines wall-scaling robots, industry-leading sensors and an AI-powered data platform to ensure the availability, reliability and sustainability of its customer’s critical infrastructure. The company recently expanded with the opening of a new 70,000 SF HQ in 2022.
Carnegie Robotics is a global leader in advanced robotics sensors, autonomy software and platforms for defense, maritime, agriculture, mining, infrastructure and energy sectors. The company doubled its Pittsburgh footprint in 2022, and is one of the longest-standing contributors to commercial field robotics in Pittsburgh and the world at large.
Aurora is delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly and broadly. Its core AI technology, Aurora Driver, can be integrated into a broad set of vehicle types for autonomous driving. Aurora entered into an exclusive partnership with Continental AG for the first scalable buildout of the Aurora Driver in 2023. Aurora named Pittsburgh its corporate HQ in 2021, relocating from San Francisco, California.
If you want to be a part of what’s next in AI, what better place to be than where it all started? Pittsburgh is the birthplace of this world-changing technology, and today, we’re still leading the way and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with groundbreaking AI applications. Watch to learn what makes Pittsburgh uniquely positioned to thrive in the AI landscape and some of the companies who are making it happen.
Pittsburgh is the robotics capital of the world. We leverage our unmatched technical strength to develop creative solutions. And with Carnegie Mellon as our academic anchor, we attract world-class talent that go on to create some of the most innovative robotics companies. Here in Pittsburgh, we don’t just make things. We make things happen.
