Cornerstone Robotics, an innovative surgical robotics company founded and headquartered in Hong Kong, announced a strategic partnership with Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology. As part of the partnership, Medtronic will make an approximately $700 million strategic investment in Cornerstone Robotics and have the rights to distribute Cornerstone Robotics' Sentire surgical system in select markets outside the U.S. where the system is market-approved.
With robotic-assisted surgery adoption still in single digits globally, the opportunity to make advanced surgical care accessible to more patients, physicians, and health systems around the world is significant.
Addressing this market requires both continuous technical innovation and strong market scaling capabilities. By aligning Cornerstone Robotics' technology with Medtronic's comprehensive global presence, the two companies aim to make high-quality robotic-assisted surgery accessible to more patients worldwide.
Cornerstone Robotics has established a strong strategic foundation through its full-stack in-house R&D and vertically integrated paradigm. By independently developing its core hardware, control software, advanced algorithms, and proprietary imaging and energy platforms, Cornerstone Robotics maintains substantial control over product integration, quality, and supply chain resilience. This underpins the exceptional stability and high-fidelity performance of the Sentire surgical system in demanding clinical environments.
In 2024, Cornerstone Robotics' Sentire surgical system received National Medical Products Administration approval in China. In May 2026, the Sentire surgical system received CE Mark in the European Union and approval from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority, both covering minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic, and urologic surgical procedures.
"This partnership marks an important step in advancing access to robotic-assisted surgery around the world," said Professor Kwok Wai Samuel AU, Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics. "There remains a significant gap between the growing demand for minimally invasive surgery and the availability of robotic-assisted surgical technologies. At Cornerstone Robotics, we have built a strong foundation through full-stack in-house R&D and vertical integration, enabling us to continuously advance the core technologies of surgical robotics. Our partnership with Medtronic positions us to further accelerate and scale our work to bring the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to more surgeons and patients around the world."
