Innovating in high-criticality environments: the challenge that brings together safety, efficiency, and industrial vision

In industrial contexts characterized by extreme operating conditions, process control and operational safety represent some of the most critical technological challenges. It is from this concrete need that Graphicore was born, a startup co-founded by Fabio Vanoni, CTO of the company, specializing in the development of robotic grippers designed to operate in highly critical environments.

The project was launched with a precise focus: the decommissioning of graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. This is a highly complex field, where human intervention is limited or impossible and where extremely high levels of precision, reliability, and control are required. In this scenario, Graphicore positions itself as the first enabling technology in the sector, introducing robotic solutions capable of making operational processes that until now represented a technical limitation.

Graphicore develops robotic grippers designed to address the entire operational cycle in extreme environments, enabling delicate and continuous activities while reducing risks and increasing overall efficiency. Robotics thus becomes a strategic tool to support companies in managing complex contexts, offering concrete solutions to improve safety, reliability, and operational control.

As emphasized by Fabio Vanoni, Graphicore’s goal is to enable operations that are currently unmanageable with traditional technologies, providing industry with tools capable of operating where environmental conditions represent an insurmountable barrier.

The value of the project was recognized when Graphicore was named one of the winning projects of StartCup Lombardia 2025, receiving the Sustainability and Innovation Award. This recognition confirms the potential of the developed technology and its impact on strategic issues such as industrial safety and process sustainability.

Within this path, MUSA Scarl has played a key role in fostering the development and visibility of projects like Graphicore. Through its contribution to the growth of the innovation ecosystem, MUSA supports the creation and consolidation of advanced technological solutions, creating a context in which skills, research, and business can meet and grow in a structured way.