1X has entered a global partnership with investment firm EQT to make as many as 10,000 humanoid robots available to EQT’s portfolio companies between 2026 and 2030. The agreement centres on NEO, 1X’s general purpose humanoid robot, and gives EQT-backed businesses a direct path to real deployments rather than isolated pilots.
Each company in the portfolio can opt into the programme based on its own needs. 1X will provide production capacity, integration support and deployment planning. The first pilots are expected to start in the United States in 2026 before expanding into Europe and Asia.
The partnership formalises a long running relationship. EQT Ventures is already an investor in 1X. This new agreement signals a shift into commercial adoption at scale. As 1X’s chief executive put it, the collaboration “brings humanoid robotics into the real economy.”
Why This Partnership Matters
The plan to deploy up to 10,000 humanoids is one of the clearest signs that robotics is moving out of labs and into everyday business operations. Until now, most humanoid robots have existed as demos or tightly controlled pilots. This agreement shows that large institutions are ready to test them in real environments with real workloads.
EQT’s position adds weight. The firm manages companies across logistics, manufacturing, healthcare support and facility operations. Those industries face labour shortages, physically demanding tasks and rising safety concerns. EQT described humanoid systems as tools that can help businesses “tackle labour shortages, improve safety and unlock new levels of productivity.”
For 1X, the partnership provides a predictable commercial runway. Instead of finding customers one by one, the company now has access to a global pipeline of potential adopters.
Who Stands To Benefit
EQT’s portfolio companies will be first in line. They gain early access to humanoid robots without navigating separate procurement deals. Workers in warehouses, factories and facility-operations teams may see new robotic collaborators handling repetitive or high-strain tasks.
The broader robotics sector feels the impact too. An agreement of this scale raises expectations about readiness, reliability and long term deployment. It also signals to regulators that humanoid robots are moving into mainstream enterprise use, which may accelerate new safety and workplace-interaction standards.
What Comes Next
1X and EQT plan to begin pilot deployments in 2026. The early tests will measure productivity, integration challenges and safety outcomes. Rollouts in Europe and Asia will follow as companies identify suitable use cases.
To support the scale, 1X will continue expanding its manufacturing capacity and deployment teams. Meanwhile EQT will work with its portfolio companies to decide where humanoid systems can deliver the most value. If the pilots succeed, humanoid robots could become part of everyday infrastructure across multiple industries.
