The consortium formed by Vicomtech, Tekniker, Cyber Surgery, and Medical Simulator awarded Phase 2 of the AUTONOMOUS SURGERY (AUTOPILOT) project, focused on developing a functional prototype of the system

The consortium (Vicomtech, Tekniker, Cyber Surgery, Medical Simulator) has been awarded Phase 2 of the Pre-Commercial Public Procurement initiative AUTONOMOUS SURGERY (AUTOPILOT), promoted by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI) and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Spain’s 2021–2027 Pluriregional Operational Programme and CDTI Innovación. The initiative has a total budget of €12,100,000 (VAT included) and a total execution period of 42 months.

This second phase focuses on the development, integration, and validation of a functional prototype of the autonomous surgical system, including its deployment in a representative environment and the evaluation of its performance in simulated operational conditions.

The goal of AUTONOMOUS SURGERY (AUTOPILOT) is to develop a robotic system with autonomous capabilities to assist surgeons in performing surgical tasks related to the treatment of soft tissue injuries through minimally invasive approaches. The system is expected to be tested on various medical models, including advanced preclinical scenarios, with validation at the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre Foundation (CCMIJU)—a multidisciplinary institution dedicated to research, training, and innovation in the healthcare sector, which identified the need for this type of technology. The resulting prototype will be installed and remain for five years at the CCMIJU facilities in Cáceres, Extremadura, where testing will continue to increase its technological maturity.

As leader of the consortium, Vicomtech plays a strategic role in developing key technologies that will progressively enhance the surgical platform’s autonomy and real-time adaptability. Its areas of work include:

• Preoperative planning based on patient-specific models.
• Advanced laparoscopic video processing for real-time segmentation and tracking of anatomical structures.
• Development of surgical digital twins to simulate and anticipate the evolution of the intervention.
• Design of artificial intelligence systems for intraoperative decision-making, capable of adapting the course of action based on the dynamic state of the surgical target.

This award represents a major milestone for Vicomtech, consolidating its position as a leading technology center in computer-assisted surgery and medical robotics. Using cutting-edge digital technologies, Vicomtech reaffirms its commitment to developing safer, more effective, and personalized surgical systems in line with the challenges of future medicine.