The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program has awarded a €2.5 million grant to Israel’s Nanovel. The company is developing autonomous robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for harvesting dense-canopy citrus orchards. The award also includes eligibility for an equity investment of up to €4.3 million, intended to anchor a planned funding round of approximately €8 million.
Nanovel will utilize the EIC grant for development of a commercially ready autonomous robot, initially targeting orange and lemon harvesting, for launch in 2028. To achieve this, Nanovel is finalizing development of its multi-arm platform and expanding its European operations to conduct comprehensive field trials with leading growers in countries such as Spain and Italy.
Nanovel stated that fresh fruit growers worldwide face mounting macroeconomic pressures driven by a dependence on seasonal manual labor. It reported that manual labor accounts for approximately 50% of production costs amid a deepening shortage of agricultural workers.
“Our mission is to ensure global availability for consumers and economic viability for fresh fruit growers by automating the most critical and labor-intensive part of the production process,” said Isaac Mazor, founder and CEO of Nanovel. “This grant supports our expansion into Europe as a strategic global market and firmly positions us on the path to a 2028 commercial launch.”
Nanovel’s platform was developed to meet the exacting standards of the fresh citrus market. The system utilizes advanced computer vision and deep-learning AI to detect fruit located deep within tree canopies. It guides a patented Grip & Trim end-effector, mounted at the tip of a telescopic arm, to grasp the fruit and precisely sever its stem without causing damage. To maximize throughput, the robot simultaneously operates multiple arms, all controlled by a central onboard computer linked to a remote management system that supervises the entire fleet.
Nanovel’s trial program spans orchards in Israel, Europe and the United States, following successful field validation in California in collaboration with the Citrus Research Board in the fall of 2025.
Although Nanovel is currently focused on oranges and lemons, the company’s roadmap includes adaptations for additional citrus varieties and other crops, including mangoes, peaches and nectarines.
Source: Nanovel
Share this Post