The Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC), a leading U.S. research institute in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human performance, has entered into a strategic partnership with Conduit Venture Labs, a venture studio leader in venture creation and deep-tech commercialization in physical AI, the acceleration and commercialization of frontier technologies emerging from IHMC’s research. The engagement is designed to broaden IHMC’s real-world impact across defense and commercial markets while creating new pathways for revenue generation to support IHMC’s long-term research mission to advance and elevate the human condition.

IHMC has pioneered advancements in exoskeletons, human-machine teaming, embodied AI, and physical system intelligence. Through this partnership, Conduit will apply its venture-building methodology to evaluate commercialization pathways for select technologies, with strategies spanning direct licensing to new venture creation.

A convergence of factors is driving the critical need for commercialization in physical AI — the fusion of software intelligence with embodied systems such as robots, wearables, autonomous platforms, and sensing interfaces. These technologies are rapidly becoming essential tools for national security, industrial efficiency, and human performance. At the same time global markets increasingly demand that government-enabled breakthroughs scale into commercial deployment. IHMC’s focus on advancing human-machine teaming performance positions it to help lead this transformation.