Recognizing innovation in mechanical engineering and factory automation is the goal of the VDMA Startup-Machine Award. Each year, the award is dedicated to a different focus topic that addresses key future issues in mechanical and plant engineering and presented by VDMA and Produktion. In 2025, the focus was on artificial intelligence (AI) in robotics and automation. The award was presented to a young company using AI technologies to provide practical impetus for robotics and automation, thereby making an important contribution to the future viability of the industry.
From the applications submitted, a jury nominated three finalists in advance for the pitch final on September 16 at the Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin. In front of around 600 decision-makers, Resoniks from The Hague, Netherlands, ultimately prevailed over its two competitors in a live vote. The startup impressed with its acoustic AI inspection, which analyzes metallic workpieces and detects even the finest structural defects. Resoniks' technology is designed to make the invisible audible.
“Artificial intelligence unleashes its potential in mechanical and plant engineering wherever it solves specific challenges and integrates seamlessly into existing processes,” said Alexander Jakschik, CEO of Jakschik ULT Group and vice president of VDMA. “Reliable partners and practical solutions are essential for companies to make the leap from proof of concept to industrial practice. This is exactly where this year's award winner Resoniks comes in."
Resoniks faced strong competition from two other finalists. Augmented Industries presented an industrial AI platform for training, instructions and knowledge management. Cerpro introduced an AI assistant that automatically generates test reports and accelerates quality assurance.
Hartmut Rauen, deputy executive director of VDMA and member of the jury, emphasized the role of startups in the use of artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering: "If you want to scale successfully, you need interoperability and access to the market. At VDMA, we focus on open, interoperable interfaces between digital worlds and between people—solution spaces in cooperation. The VDMA Startup-Machine demonstrated early on that Germany is a global center of gravity for AI applications in production and mechanical engineering. It was therefore clear to us that we would focus this year's Startup Award on the topic of artificial intelligence in robotics and automation. The award highlights how young companies apply technical excellence to create solutions that are directly applicable to small and medium-sized enterprises."
