Surgical robotics market accelerates as new players challenge industry giants

Editor's Note

Dozens of companies are racing to stake a claim in the rapidly expanding surgical robotics market, with multiple launches, partnerships, and regulatory milestones signaling a pivotal moment for the field. Challengers to established leaders are advancing soft tissue systems, targeting specialty niches, and building executive teams to scale in the US and abroad, MedTech Dive August 22 reports.

As detailed in the article, UK-based CMR Surgical and France’s Moon Surgical are preparing for major US rollouts of their soft tissue robots, each hiring senior executives this summer to lead expansion. Meanwhile, Olympus partnered with Revival Healthcare Capital to co-found a gastrointestinal robotics company backed by as much as $458 million, and ForSight Robotics announced work on the first robotic platform for cataract and ophthalmic surgery. These moves reflect a push to capture unmet needs beyond general soft tissue procedures.

Per the outlet, medtech giants Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) continue to pursue their own platforms. Medtronic is awaiting Food & Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its Hugo robot in urology and recently earned a CE mark in Europe for a vessel-sealing device used with the system. J&J expects to file a de novo application for its Ottava soft tissue robot in early 2026. Intuitive Surgical, the market leader, is advancing next-generation capabilities, including its CE-marked da Vinci 5 and a high-profile trans-Atlantic telesurgery demonstration this summer.

Recent months have also seen breakthroughs in autonomy and specialty applications. Monogram Technologies completed the first fully autonomous robotic knee replacement and agreed to be acquired by Zimmer Biomet for $177 million to bolster its orthopedic robotics portfolio. Stereotaxis secured FDA clearance for a robotically navigated electrophysiology catheter, and SS Innovations reported its robot’s first cardiac surgery in the Americas as part of its global expansion efforts.

According to MedTech Dive’s coverage, investors and strategics are betting heavily on the space. ForSight Robotics raised $125 million for its cataract platform, while new hires at Moon Surgical suggest growing confidence in the Maestro system, which has already supported more than 1,600 procedures. Training partnerships are also emerging, as Medtronic teams with IRCAD to advance surgical education across multiple disciplines using robotic systems.

Taken together, these developments highlight both intense competition and accelerating innovation in robotic surgery. The next 2 years could redefine how robotics are adopted across specialties, with regulatory decisions, clinical data, and global expansion shaping which vendors emerge as leaders.