Nanovel Awarded €2.5M EIC Grant to Commercialize AI-Powered Citrus Harvesting Robots

Non-dilutive Horizon Europe grant to fund commercial development and field trials with leading European growers, paving the way for a 2028 commercial launch.

MEVO CARMEL, Israel, July 15, 2026 — Nanovel (http://www.nanovel.ag), a precision AgTech startup developing autonomous, AI-powered robots for harvesting in dense-canopy citrus orchards, today announced it has been awarded a competitive €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program. The award also includes eligibility for an equity investment of up to €4.3 million, intended to anchor a planned funding round of approximately €8 million.

This award reflects the EIC’s assessment of Nanovel’s technological edge, the commercial viability of its product, and the company’s proven execution capabilities.

Fresh fruit growers worldwide face mounting macroeconomic pressures, driven by a dependence on seasonal manual labor — which accounts for approximately 50% of production costs, amid a deepening shortage of agricultural workers. Nanovel will utilize the EIC grant to achieve strategic milestones, leading to the development of a commercially ready autonomous robot, initially targeting orange and lemon harvesting, for launch in 2028. The global market for these crops represents an estimated $1 billion annual opportunity.

To achieve this, Nanovel is finalizing development of its multi-arm platform and expanding its European operations to conduct comprehensive field trials with leading growers in countries such as Spain and Italy.

“Our mission is to ensure global availability for consumers and economic viability for fresh fruit growers by automating the most critical and labor-intensive part of the production process,” said Isaac Mazor, Founder and CEO of Nanovel. “This grant supports our expansion into Europe as a strategic global market and firmly positions us on the path to a 2028 commercial launch.”

Technology Breakthrough: “Grip & Trim” Mechanism

Nanovel’s platform was developed to meet the exacting standards of the fresh citrus market. The system utilizes advanced computer vision and deep-learning AI to detect fruit located deep within tree canopies. It guides a patented “Grip & Trim” end-effector, mounted at the tip of a telescopic arm, to grasp the fruit and precisely sever its stem without causing damage. To maximize throughput, the robot simultaneously operates multiple arms, all controlled by a central onboard computer linked to a remote management system that supervises the entire fleet.

Trial Program & Roadmap

Nanovel’s trial program spans orchards in Israel, Europe, and the United States, following successful field validation in California in collaboration with the Citrus Research Board (CRB) in the fall of 2025. While currently focused on oranges and lemons, the company’s roadmap includes adaptations for additional citrus varieties and other crops, including mangoes, peaches, and nectarines.

About Nanovel

Nanovel is a deep-tech AgTech company founded in 2018 by Isaac Mazor, a serial entrepreneur and the former founder and CEO of Jordan Valley Semiconductors, which was acquired by Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR). The company is transforming specialty crop production through a platform that integrates computer vision, artificial intelligence, and patented robotics. Nanovel’s precision harvesting solutions preserve crop value while providing farmers with operational resilience in the face of agricultural labor shortages..

Photo: Nanovel’s robot . Photo by Tal Badrak.