Sydney tactile-sensing company takes residency prize as new MoU strengthens collaboration between Brisbane and Boston on industrial AI and robotics.

BRISBANE, 5 August 2026 - Contactile, the Sydney-based company giving robots a human sense of touch, has been named winner of Propel-AIR 2026, ARM Hub's AI and robotics sprint program delivered in partnership with MassRobotics in Boston.

The result caps a four-week sprint that took seven Australian companies through structured mentoring, investor sessions and a final pitch night on 31 July. As winner, Contactile receives a residency at MassRobotics, the Boston-based innovation hub whose resident start-ups have collectively raised more than US$2 billion in venture funding since 2017.

Contactile develops bio-inspired tactile sensors and grippers allowing robots to measure force, slip and friction, enabling reliable handling of delicate or variable objects without damage. Founded out of UNSW Sydney in 2019, the company operates at the forefront of industrial AI, where dependable physical manipulation is critical to moving from lab demonstration to real-world deployment.

Alongside the winner announcement, ARM Hub and MassRobotics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising closer collaboration between Brisbane and Boston. The agreement establishes a pathway to co-develop industrial AI and robotics capabilities, support the exchange of technology and expertise, and accelerate Australian companies into global markets. Contactile's residency will be the first initiative delivered under the MoU.

"We are excited to deepen our relationship with ARM Hub," said MassRobotics Director of Growth Marita McGinn. "Our MoU opens a direct pathway for Australian companies into the Boston robotics ecosystem and a route to commercialization in the United States. We are thrilled to welcome the Contactile team to Boston this fall."

SpatioTemporal, the Australian company building an intent-aware motion intelligence layer for Physical AI, was named runner-up. ARM Hub congratulated founder Andrew Ballard and the SpatioTemporal team on a standout showing across the sprint.

CEO and Co-Founder of Contactile Dr Heba Khamis thanked the Propel-AIR team for putting together the program, and said the residency offers a genuine opportunity: "This residency is a tremendous opportunity to connect with the Boston robotics ecosystem more broadly and build relationships with some of the most exciting companies developing solutions in the Physical AI space," said Khamis. "The market timing for tactile intelligence has never been better. As Physical AI moves from demonstration to deployment, robots need a reliable sense of touch, and Contactile is perfectly positioned to deliver it."

Contactile CEO and Co-Founder Dr Heba Khamis
 

"The robotics world is racing to build humanoids and general-purpose machines, but a robot is only as capable as its sense of touch, and that is exactly what Australian robotics company Contactile has spent years perfecting," said ARM Hub CEO Prof Cori Stewart. 

"They were a standout in this cohort because their technology answers a problem the whole industry is running into at once. In Boston they will embed in one of the world's densest robotics ecosystems, connect with the humanoid and Physical AI companies building the next generation of machines, and open doors to US customers and investors. It is the right technology at the right time, and Boston is the right place to prove it."
 

"Contactile stood out for their commitment to building what their customers need and for their dedication to their technology," said McGinn. "Touch is what makes robots reliable in the real world, and it matters across a vast array of applications, so their work could not be more timely."
 

Propel-AIR is designed to take Australian robotics and AI companies from strong local prospects to internationally investable businesses. The partnership with MassRobotics extends that ambition, providing a direct pathway into one of the world's leading robotics ecosystems.

Contactile will begin residency planning in August and September, with its Boston placement scheduled for October 2026. Further details on joint initiatives under the MoU will be announced in the coming months.

ENDS

About Propel-AIR

ARM Hub's Propel-AIR program, delivered by ARM Hub's AI Adopt Centre, is Australia's AI and Robotics Sprint, designed to fast-track Australian robotics and AI innovators by equipping them with tools, guidance, and networks to scale their business. This pioneering program provides business opportunities for AI and robotics companies, culminating in a virtual pitch to an international panel of experts. The winner receives a month's residency in Boston with MassRobotics. The program was supported by key partners including NVIDIA, MassRobotics, and the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the National AI Centre, which funds the AI Adopt Program.

About ARM Hub

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub is an independent, not-for-profit company based in Brisbane, dedicated to advancing AI, robotics and design-led manufacturing across Australian industry. More at armhub.com.au.

Media contact: Mike Woodcock, Communications Director, ARM Hub
P: 0411 969 248
E: mike.woodcock@armhub.com.au

Link to Press Release: https://prwire.com.au/pr/130116/contactile-wins-propel-air-2026-as-arm-hub-and-massrobotics-deepen-australia-boston-robotics-ties