TCS Partners With CEA to Advance Physical AI in Industry

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has signed a partnership with CEA, among the world’s most innovative research institutions to accelerate innovation and industrialization of Physical AI solutions. Physical AI is focused on bringing together robotics, artificial intelligence, and intelligent systems to help machines perceive, interpret, and interact with the physical world, thus advancing digital transformation and modernization of industrial processes. TCS and CEA’s leading French research institute for intelligent digital systems, will drive the design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge Physical AI-powered systems for real-world applications. By combining CEA deep expertise in digital transformation and scientific research with TCS’ domain knowledge and global scale, the alliance will deliver scalable AI-driven solutions tailored to industrial use cases—from manufacturing and logistics to automation—ultimately transforming efficiency and resilience across sectors.

Alexandre Bounouh, Director of CEA-List, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with TCS to accelerate the diffusion of Physical AI technologies in industry. This partnership will enable us to connect cutting-edge research with the concrete needs of businesses and to jointly invent the intelligent systems of tomorrow. By transforming collaboration between humans and machines, AI solutions applied to physical systems will optimise the production chain, thereby contributing to one of our core missions: boosting the resilience and competitiveness of French and European businesses.”  

Together, TCS and CEA intend to offer organizations concrete solutions based on Physical AI, proofs of concept (POCs), as well as training and technological support programs.

Key areas of collaboration include:

1. Versatile Robots: Development of adaptable robots capable of learning and executing diverse tasks in a dynamic environment.

2. Advanced Human-Robot Collaboration: Creation of intuitive, safe, and efficient human-robot interaction systems for industrial environments.
3. Socially Assistive Robots: Creation of robots capable of interacting and assisting humans in social contexts, particularly for personalized support and guidance.

The partnership also relies on the unique expertise and leading-edge research of CEA in the convergence between physical AI and humans. From brain-controlled exoskeletons for tetraplegic patients to world records in AI for self-driving vehicles, CEA’s leadership in emerging technologies such as haptic telepresence and dexterous handling is opening the way for robots that can feel and manipulate objects intelligently but also enable humans to extend our capabilities and reach. CEA’s technological leadership in physical AI and robotics has been recently entrusted with the co-direction of the national program in Organic Robotics, and the co-ordination of the European roadmap for AI-powered robotics.

Rammohan Gourneni, Managing Director – TCS, France, said, "Our commitment to technological innovation is reflected in strong partnerships with key players like CEA. Physical AI is a key technology for the future of industry, as it combines the power of AI with the intelligence of physical systems. This partnership marks an important step in supporting our clients in their industrial transformation.”

This partnership leverages the TCS Pace PortTM Paris research and innovation centre at the heart of the French technology ecosystem. This hub brings together experts, startups, researchers, and large companies to accelerate the development of next-gen solutions on a large scale. By combining technological innovation, local talent, and global expertise, TCS is strengthening its long-term commitment to the AI economy in France.

For several years, TCS has been focused on investing in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, industrial IoT, and autonomous systems. The collaboration with CEA reflects TCS’ commitment to being a trusted transformation partner for leading businesses in France. Present in the region since 1992, TCS supports leading French enterprises in their growth and transformation journeys, including 18 CAC40 companies. In recent years, TCS has made significant investments in France and opened four delivery centers across France (Paris-Suresnes, Lille, Poitiers, and Toulouse). These sustainable investments demonstrate TCS' continued commitment to the region and its desire to support key players in the French economy by offering them local support and access to TCS' global expertise.