There's something poetic about a technology born to help people with muscular dystrophy finding its second life on factory floors and logistics warehouses. That's the story of Agade, an Italian deeptech startup that began as a research project at Politecnico di Milano and evolved into something far more ambitious: a mission to preserve human craftsmanship in an age of automation.
Agade: The AI-Powered Wearable Robots That Protect Workers, Not Replace Them
AI Meets Human Craftsmanship
There's something poetic about a technology born to help people with muscular dystrophy finding its second life on factory floors and logistics warehouses. That's the story of Agade, an Italian deeptech startup that began as a research project at Politecnico di Milano and evolved into something far more ambitious: a mission to preserve human craftsmanship in an age of automation.
I sat down with Lorenzo Aquilante, CEO and co-founder of Agade, to talk about their journey from healthcare innovation to industrial exoskeletons—and what it was like showcasing their latest product at CES 2026.
The origin story matters here. Back in 2017, researchers at Politecnico di Milano started developing exoskeletons for people affected by muscular dystrophy. They created something different—a semi-active model powered by AI that recognizes when a user is lifting and responds accordingly. It wasn't just about motors and sensors. It was about intelligence.
Then companies came knocking. Manufacturing firms, logistics operations, industries where human workers still matter because their skills, experience, and judgment can't be replaced by machines. They saw potential. Why not use this technology to protect the people doing the heavy lifting—literally?
Agade was founded in 2020 with a clear mission: preserve craftsmanship against the physical toll of material handling. Not replace humans. Protect them.
The company now has two products. The first, launched in 2024, focuses on shoulder assistance. The second—the one they brought to CES 2026—targets the lower back, which makes sense when you consider that back pain is practically an occupational hazard for anyone moving materials all day.
What makes Agade's approach different is that semi-active AI system. The exoskeleton knows when you're lifting. It responds. It's not just a passive brace or a fully motorized suit that takes over. It's somewhere in between—smart enough to help, light enough to wear all day.
Lorenzo emphasized something that resonated with me: the importance of feedback. From day one, Agade has been obsessed with real-world testing. Not lab conditions. Actual workers doing actual jobs. Because the buyer isn't the user—companies purchase these for their employees—and that creates a unique dynamic. You need both sides to believe in the technology.
The CES experience brought that home. There's always the initial wow factor when someone sees a wearable robot with motors and sensors. But the real work happens after the demo, when users tell you what needs to improve. That's where the collaboration lives.
And here's what struck me most about this conversation: Agade isn't trying to remove humans from the equation. They're trying to keep humans in it longer, healthier, and more capable. In a world racing toward full automation, there's something refreshing about a company betting on human skill—and building technology to protect it.
The products are available globally. You can reach Agade through their website at agadexoskeletons.com, find them on LinkedIn and other social channels, and even arrange trials before committing to a purchase.
For those of us watching the intersection of AI, robotics, and human labor, Agade represents a different path. Not humans versus machines. Humans with machines. Tools that amplify rather than replace.
That's a story worth telling.
Marco Ciappelli interviews Lorenzo Aquilante, CEO & Co-Founder of Agade, for ITSPmagazine's Brand Highlight series following CES 2026.
>>> Marcociappelli.com
GUEST
Lorenzo Aquilante, CEO and co-founder of Agade
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-aquilante-108573b0/
RESOURCES
AGADE: https://agade-exoskeletons.com
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KEYWORDS
Agade, exoskeleton, CES 2026, wearable robotics, AI, future of work, industrial exoskeleton, made in Italy, workplace safety, deeptech, robotics.
TRANSCRIPT SUMMARY
In this Brand Highlight conversation, Marco Ciappelli speaks with Lorenzo Aquilante, CEO & Co-Founder of Agade, about the Italian startup's journey from healthcare research to industrial exoskeletons. Agade began as a spinoff from Politecnico di Milano, developing AI-powered wearable technology originally designed for people with muscular dystrophy. In 2020, the company pivoted to industrial applications after manufacturers and logistics companies recognized the potential to protect workers performing physically demanding tasks. At CES 2026, Agade showcased their latest product—a semi-active lower back exoskeleton that uses AI to detect lifting movements and provide real-time support.
Lorenzo Aquilante:
"Our mission is to preserve craftsmanship against material handling tasks where human skills really matter—where the human being cannot be replaced for experience, for skills."
"We developed an innovative semi-active model based on AI to recognize when the user is lifting payloads."
"The good feedback from the user—and when the user starts telling you what could be improved in the product—this is the best way we can collaborate with companies."
Marco Ciappelli:
"There's something poetic about a technology born to help people with muscular dystrophy finding its second life on factory floors."
"Agade isn't trying to remove humans from the equation. They're trying to keep humans in it longer, healthier, and more capable."
"Not humans versus machines. Humans with machines. Tools that amplify rather than replace."