International Airlines Group (LSE: IAG) has announced a strategic investment in wearable robotics start-up Verve Motion through its corporate venture arm, IAGi Ventures, as the airline group looks to improve worker safety, operational resilience and productivity across its aviation operations.
The investment forms part of a broader funding round that also included new and existing investors, among them personal protective equipment manufacturer HexArmor. Verve Motion said it has now raised more than $55 million to accelerate the development and deployment of its wearable robotics technology.
Founded in 2020 by Spanish entrepreneur Ignacio Galiana and built on research originating at Harvard University, Verve Motion develops lightweight exosuits designed to reduce physical strain during repetitive lifting tasks. The technology is already being used in logistics and industrial environments to help improve worker comfort while lowering the risk of workplace injuries.
As part of the partnership, IAG and Verve Motion will collaborate on trials of a new aviation-specific exosuit, initially designed to provide shoulder support for baggage handlers. The pilot programme will evaluate how wearable robotics can ease repetitive lifting, improve worker performance and enhance efficiency across ground handling and cargo operations.
The initiative reflects growing interest within the aviation industry in technologies that can address physically demanding tasks while improving workforce wellbeing. Ground crews, particularly baggage handlers, routinely perform repetitive lifting under tight operational schedules, making injury prevention and productivity key priorities for airlines and airport operators.
Nacho Tovar, Group Innovation Director at IAG, said Verve Motion represents the type of technology-focused company the airline group aims to support through IAGi Ventures.
“Verve Motion is exactly the kind of company we want to back through IAGi Ventures—a business applying innovative technology to solve real operational challenges,” Tovar said. He added that the collaboration would allow IAG to evaluate the technology in a live operational environment and assess its potential to improve employees’ day-to-day work while supporting more efficient operations.
Tovar also noted that, beyond financial investment, IAG provides start-ups with access to its operational expertise and aviation infrastructure, enabling emerging technologies to be tested and refined under real-world conditions.
Ignacio Galiana, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Verve Motion, said baggage handlers perform some of the most physically demanding work across industries, making aviation an important sector for deploying wearable robotics.
He said IAG’s operational expertise would help accelerate the adoption of exosuit technology in ground and cargo operations, adding that wearable robotics could eventually become as common in workplaces as conventional personal protective equipment.
The investment aligns with IAG’s wider strategy of partnering with technology companies developing practical solutions for operational challenges across its airline businesses. Through IAGi Ventures, the company has focused on identifying innovations that can improve efficiency, sustainability and workforce safety while supporting long-term operational performance.
