Today, a storm seems to be brewing among French companies. Just two weeks after entering judicial reorganization, Aldebaran, the maker of the renowned humanoid robot Nao, is set to cut nearly half of its workforce.
Significant Workforce Reductions to “Survive”
This marks a grim chapter for a longstanding icon of French Tech. Established twenty years ago, Aldebaran, a pioneer in social robotics, is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Initially acquired by Japan’s SoftBank, the company later came under German ownership before its funding was abruptly halted last summer. Consequently, the financials have tanked, with losses exceeding 150 million euros accumulated since 2019.
In an effort to recover, the management has unveiled a massive layoff plan: reducing staff from 162 to 90 while attempting to sustain the same level of operations. This is very short-sighted. Cash reserves are dwindling rapidly, and trying to do the same amount of work with half the staff is going to be challenging
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A Last Glimmer of Hope from the Government
Despite these severe cuts, Aldebaran’s salvation may come from external sources. The company is banking on its status as a technological showcase to attract a buyer or secure public funding. Indeed, it hopes to benefit from the positive outcomes of the AI summit, the economic climate, and generally to spur innovation across Europe.
However, time is of the essence. Without prompt support, the fear of liquidation looms over the business. Such a disastrous scenario would not only result in the loss of the remaining jobs but also the loss of technological patents related to Nao and other robotic projects by Aldebaran.