DIC Corporation is making a decisive move into one of tech’s fastest-growing frontiers, launching a $62 million investment portfolio to accelerate business creation in the booming Physical AI sector — spanning sensors, wearables, robotics and automation.

 

In a parallel move, DIC has forged a strategic partnership with Emerald Technology Ventures, a Switzerland-based global venture capital firm with deep industrial technology expertise and a strong footprint across Europe and North America. Leveraging Emerald’s investment engine and global innovation network, DIC will begin full-scale investments and collaborations with startups worldwide.

 

To cement the push, DIC plans to establish a startup investment management subsidiary in Zurich in spring 2026. The Swiss city, widely regarded as one of Europe’s premier deep-tech hubs, offers a dense ecosystem of AI, robotics and advanced materials startups, along with top-tier universities and industrial partners. By co-locating with Emerald, DIC aims to accelerate deal flow, sharpen market intelligence and fast-track joint initiatives.

 

Physical AI — where intelligent systems sense, interpret and respond to human movement and environmental data — is rapidly reshaping multiple industries. Technologies such as smart sensing, soft robotics, wearables and automation are poised to drive major gains in productivity and quality of life, aligning closely with DIC’s long-standing materials science expertise.

 

The investment platform also reinforces DIC’s “Direct to Society (D2S)” framework, designed to anticipate future societal needs and convert breakthrough ideas into commercially viable solutions. Partnerships with Physical AI startups will serve as a cornerstone of that strategy, expanding DIC’s innovation pipeline and long-term growth options.

 

Over the next five years, DIC intends to build a diversified portfolio of high-potential companies, combining strategic flexibility with hands-on support to help emerging ventures scale globally.

 

Takashi Ikeda, President and Group CEO of DIC, said: "For many years, DIC has been committed to addressing social imperatives through materials innovation. Physical AI has the potential to transform the way people interact with technology in a more natural and intuitive manner. Our partnership with Emerald is a major step in securing world-class expertise and networks that will help us deliver new value to society.”

 

Gina Domanig, Managing Partner and CEO of Emerald, added: "Physical AI represents the next wave of innovation, enhancing human capability through intelligent systems. By partnering with DIC, we aim to translate emerging technologies into practical, human-centered solutions and support the long-term growth of pioneering startups.”