Innovation Award NEO2025: AI-powered Harvesting Assistant Wins Audience Prize

Robotic system from start-up Prefiro makes asparagus and saffron harvesting easier – Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion recognizes an innovative solution
Frieder Matter and Lorenzo Di Leo at the NEO2025 award ceremony – Innovation Award of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion ARTIS-Uli Deck / TRK GmbH
The start-up Prefiro has developed an AI-powered robotic system for agriculture – and was honored with the audience award of the NEO Innovation Award for this achievement.

The agricultural start-up Prefiro, a spin-off from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has received the audience award of the Innovation Award NEO2025 from the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion. The young founders developed a robotic system that uses cameras and AI algorithms to identify individual plants and determine the optimal harvest time. The technology supports agricultural businesses, particularly those cultivating specialty crops close to the ground, such as green asparagus or saffron.

Reducing Harvest Losses, Strengthening Regional Agriculture

Prefiro was founded by Frieder Matter and Lorenzo Di Leo from KIT and the University of Hohenheim. The modular system can be integrated into existing field infrastructures and operated both autonomously and in collaboration with workers. It is designed to reduce harvest losses, lower labor costs, and strengthen regional agriculture. “Prefiro is a prime example of how scientific ideas can be transformed into market-ready solutions that address societal challenges,” says Professor Thomas Hirth, Vice President Transfer and International Affairs at KIT.

“Our vision is to leverage AI and robotics to specifically ease the workload for people in agriculture,” say the founders. The award is an important signal for the team: “The prize motivates us to further develop our systems and bring them into practical use.” In the coming years, Prefiro plans to test its technology in additional European countries.
Since 2010, the Innovation Award NEO has honored outstanding developments in research and business, with the 2025 theme being “Artificial Intelligence.”

mfe, November 27, 2025