Durst and TUM Venture Labs Launch Multi-Year Robotics and AI Partnership
South Tyrol's Durst Group has joined TUM Venture Labs in Munich as a Platinum Partner in a multi-year robotics, AI and industrial automation collaboration, the first Italian partner in the deep-tech network.
Key Takeaways
Durst Group signed a multi-year robotics and AI partnership with TUM Venture Labs on 9 July 2026, becoming a Platinum Partner and the first Italian member of the network.
The collaboration centres on the Robotics/AI Lab in Munich's Urban Colab, covering robotics, embedded systems, industrial automation and physical AI, with Durst contributing real production challenges and gaining access to TUM founders, researchers and students.
The partnership builds on Durst's Kyveris intelligent production system and its AuRo-Layer, which extends Kyveris into robotics, material flow and autonomous processes.
Joint projects with TUM Venture Labs teams will focus on human-robot interaction, embedded AI and digital twins.
The engagement is part of Durst's 90th anniversary programme in 2026 and its wider European physical AI push.
Kaan Tınmaz
Italian industrial digital printing group Durst has signed a multi-year partnership with TUM Venture Labs, the joint deep-tech incubator run by the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM, plugging the 90-year-old Brixen company into one of Europe's largest robotics and AI ecosystems.
Platinum Partner, first Italian in the network
Under the agreement announced on 9 July 2026, Durst joins TUM Venture Labs as a Platinum Partner and becomes the first Italian member of the network. The collaboration centres on the Robotics/AI Lab in Munich's Urban Colab, which bundles TUM's expertise in robotics, embedded systems, industrial automation and physical AI. Durst will contribute real production-related challenges and gain a structured pipeline to TUM founders, researchers and students.
From Kyveris to AuRo-Layer
The partnership sits alongside Durst's own automation stack, the Kyveris intelligent production system, which connects machines, software, data and AI on the shop floor. The newer AuRo-Layer extends Kyveris into robotics, material flow and autonomous processes, an area the company plans to accelerate through joint projects with TUM Venture Labs teams working on human-robot interaction, embedded AI and digital twins.
90 years, next chapter
“Isolated machines are yesterday's model. Production is becoming connected, learning and autonomous,” said Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of Durst Group. “With Kyveris, we are building the system for this. Munich is no coincidence for us.” TUM Venture Labs CEO Dr Philipp Gerbert added that the partnership combines “technological excellence, entrepreneurship and concrete application”, creating a base for automation solutions built around digital production. The engagement is part of Durst's 90th anniversary programme in 2026 and follows the group's wider European physical AI push.
Reporting based on coverage from World of Print, TUM press office and Durst Group.
What is the Durst and TUM Venture Labs partnership about?
It is a multi-year collaboration in robotics, AI and industrial automation, announced on 9 July 2026, in which Durst joins TUM Venture Labs as a Platinum Partner and works with the Robotics/AI Lab in Munich's Urban Colab.
What is TUM Venture Labs?
TUM Venture Labs is a joint deep-tech incubator run by the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM, and one of Europe's largest robotics and AI ecosystems.
What are Kyveris and AuRo-Layer?
Kyveris is Durst's intelligent production system connecting machines, software, data and AI on the shop floor, while AuRo-Layer extends Kyveris into robotics, material flow and autonomous processes.
Why is the partnership significant for Durst?
Durst becomes the first Italian partner in the TUM Venture Labs network, gaining a structured pipeline to TUM founders, researchers and students, and the deal is part of the 90-year-old Brixen company's anniversary programme and broader push into physical AI.
