- Humanoid robot 4NE1 Mini from NEURA Robotics made its Bundesliga debut on Matchday 26 at a game of VfB Stuttgart, performing tasks on and off the pitch for the first time.
- Two pioneers from southwest Germany – VfB Stuttgart and NEURA Robotics from Metzingen – demonstrate how elite sport and technological innovation come together during the “Innovation Match Day”.
- With an order backlog exceeding one billion euros, NEURA Robotics underscores its role as a global innovation driver – aiming to deploy several million cognitive robots worldwide by 2030.
Metzingen, Germany – March 15, 2026 – During Sunday’s Bundesliga top match between VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig, a humanoid robot became part of the on-field action for the first time. The 4NE1 Mini (“For Anyone”) from NEURA Robotics supported both interviews with VfB legends and the ceremonial kickoff as part of the club’s “Innovation Match Day.” Equipped with cognitive capabilities such as vision, hearing, and tactile sensing, the robot performed tasks requiring precision, timing, and interaction. It handed VfB legend Sami Khedira the microphone for his TV interview, carried the official match ball onto the pitch, and together with club mascot Fritzle recreated the famous “Undav pose” of VfB striker Deniz Undav. The moment symbolically united elite sport and technological excellence – made in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Two Regional Pioneers, One Vision
The initiative brings together two pioneers from southwest Germany: VfB Stuttgart, one of the Bundesliga’s most traditional clubs, and NEURA Robotics, developing the next generation of cognitive robots. Both share a common ambition: winning through excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Just as every movement, decision, and training session matters in elite sport, the same applies to the development of cognitive robotics. Only through constant learning, adaptation, and optimization can systems be created that reliably operate in the real world and deliver tangible value.
4NE1 Mini: Compact Intelligence for Versatile Applications
The 4NE1 Mini is NEURA’s compact humanoid robot designed specifically for human interaction. Equipped with cognitive capabilities, it can act autonomously, respond to its environment, and learn from experience. During “Innovation Match Day,” the robot wore the VfB’s iconic red chest ring and demonstrated its versatility – from the precise handover of a microphone and the safe transport of the match ball to interactions with fans in the business area. There, a larger humanoid model, the 4NE1 Gen 3.5, standing 1.80 meters tall, was available for conversations and selfies. These use cases demonstrate how humanoid robots may increasingly operate in a wide range of environments in the future—not only in industrial settings or households, but also in service-oriented roles.
Regional Strength Meets Global Innovation
NEURA Robotics develops and manufactures cognitive robots and, with the Neuraverse, has created the first collaborative platform connecting robots, humans, and data. Headquartered in Metzingen, the company represents the industrial strength of the region, combining German engineering expertise with global high-tech collaboration. Alongside close partnerships with German innovation leaders such as Bosch, Schaeffler, and Zimmer Group, NEURA Robotics works with international technology companies including Qualcomm and NVIDIA.
With locations in Switzerland, China, and the United States, innovations from the Stuttgart region are becoming a driving force behind the industrial scaling of cognitive robotics and physical AI worldwide.
David Reger, Founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics, said: “Our humanoid robot on the pitch is not a stunt – it is proof that cognitive robotics is a reality. It navigates autonomously, makes decisions in real time, and learns from every interaction. Just like in elite sports, the same principle applies in robotics: those who learn from every deployment become better and win. Through the Neuraverse, our robots share their knowledge globally, so every improvement instantly strengthens the entire network. This is how the next generation of robotics emerges – combining Swabian engineering excellence with global network intelligence right here in the Stuttgart region.”
With an order backlog exceeding one billion euros and the goal of deploying several million robots worldwide by 2030, NEURA Robotics reinforces its position as a reliable partner for industry and a global driver of innovation.
About NEURA Robotics
NEURA Robotics was founded in 2019 by David Reger to close key innovation gaps and usher in the era of cognitive robotics. The award-winning innovators from Metzingen pursue a strict “one-device” approach across their entire product portfolio – from industrial to household robots. With the Neuraverse, the company is creating the conditions for the iPhone moment in robotics, bridging the gap between technology and humanity. All innovations and technological components required for this vision, including AI, are developed in-house by NEURA Robotics. NEURA’s cognitive robots can see, hear, and have a sense of touch. They operate fully autonomously and learn from experience. Supported by a rapidly growing global partner network, NEURA is on track to bring the world’s first general-purpose humanoid robot to market.
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