CynLr, a foundational technology building company in Robotics and AI, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India’s premier science and engineering institution, to explore the intersection of neuroscience and robotics. The initiative, titled Visual Neuroscience for Cybernetics, is focused on developing perception-led robotic systems that adapt to the real world with the same flexibility as the human brain.
The research aims to translate core principles from neuroscience into foundations for robotics. This includes studying how the brain handles depth, motion, and object continuity through neural recordings, and applying those insights to build robotic vision systems that do not rely on prior training or preprogrammed routines.
The partnership includes structured scientific research, hands-on algorithm development, and training programs that bring together engineering, perception, and neuroscience. CynLr will provide technical infrastructure and real-world problem statements from its robotic stack. IISc’s Vision Lab, led by Prof. SP Arun at the Centre for Neuroscience IISc, will lead neuroscience research and experimentation.
The research engagement will include doctoral scholars and early career researchers through sponsored PhD projects and will lead to selective recruitment into CynLr’s further research programs.
CynLr’s collaborations with Swiss institutions such as École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Centre Suisse d’Électronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM) have focused on pushing the boundaries of visual processing and object manipulation in robotics. The company was onboarded as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2025, joining a global cohort of thirty-nine innovators, and was invited to present at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit. These milestones reflect a growing international interest in its work on Object Intelligence and Universal Factories.
“Robotic systems that operate in the real world cannot rely solely on training data. They must be able to perceive, remember, and act, much like biological organisms do,” said Gokul N A, founder of CynLr. “This collaboration is designed to combine real-world complexity with robotic perception from first principles. We are here to build machines that do not just see but comprehend. Our work with IISc represents a deliberate investment into that vision.”
“This is one of those rare opportunities where scientific research can inform practical engineering,” said Prof. SP Arun. “At our lab, we study how the brain encodes visual information through neural recordings in primates as well as cognitive neuroscience in humans. We are excited to partner with CynLr to bring these insights into robotics The structure of this partnership gives us a unique pathway to translate fundamental neuroscience into practical robot perception.”
CynLr looks to further collaborate & partner with other startups and research institutions to develop capabilities in areas such as human mimicking imaging sensors, robotics specific compute platforms, skin sensor design, learning algorithms and grasping research. These collaborations extend to supporting robotics supply-chain and advancing fundamental research in robotics. It underlines a shift in how India is seen globally, from a focus on low-cost IT back-office to recognition as a hub for innovation and deep research – a push from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Create in India’.
The project is now active and under execution. CynLr is open to engaging with academic institutions working in neuroscience, robotics, machine learning, optics, and human-computer interaction for similar initiatives.
About CynLr
CynLr is a foundational technology company in robotics and AI that builds Object Intelligence, a technology stack that enables robots to intuitively learn to pick and handle even unknown objects without requiring any prior training. This capability allows robots to operate in unstructured and unpredictable environments, performing tasks that traditional systems cannot automate. In manufacturing, tasks like fitting screws, removing packaging, or assembling parts have resisted automation because they require machines to adapt on the fly. CynLr’s goal is to replace rigid, product-specific lines with Universal Factories, where micro factories can switch between products without needing custom-built machines.
Founded in 2019 and based in Bangalore, India, CynLr has raised $15.2 million from investors including Pavestone Capital, Athera Venture Partners, Speciale Invest, and InfoEdge’s Redstart Labs. With its Design center in Switzerland and Development center in Bangalore, the company has recently opened its US center for Business Development. Its flagship system, CyRo, demonstrates how Object Intelligence can simplify manufacturing and reduce the need for dedicated machines built for single tasks. CynLr was named a 2025 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.
