The Facilitator: Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos on AI, Innovation, and Empowering the Next Generation
Nikolaos P. Papanikolopoulos’s recent election to the National Academy of Inventors (Class of 2025) is the capstone of a 33-year career dedicated to transforming “pie in the sky” robotics into tangible human impact. Recognized by the NAI for his prolific contributions to academic invention, Papanikolopoulos is the McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor at the University of Minnesota (UMN) and Director of the Minnesota Robotics Institute (MnRI). An IEEE Fellow and recipient of the IEEE RAS George Saridis Leadership Award, he has authored over 400 peer-reviewed papers. He holds multiple patents that have successfully moved from the lab to the global marketplace, and these designs led to the founding of ReconRobotics, Inc. and the creation of the UMN Scout robot, with over 6,000 units deployed worldwide to protect military and police personnel in hazardous environments.
Dr. Papanikolopoulos has also worked to bridge the gap between complex engineering and clinical medicine. He has pioneered AI-driven tools for healthcare, including one of the world's largest datasets for kidney cancer detection and computational methods for the early identification of neurodevelopmental disorders. A graduate of the National Technical University of Athens with a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, he remains a deeply committed mentor to the next generation, and his trainees now lead at global giants such as SpaceX and John Deere. In his current work he continues this legacy of open innovation, focusing on large-scale datasets that can advance precision agriculture, and on integrating AI into manufacturing robotics to improve global well-being.
Segmentation of kidneys and malignancies. Courtesy of Nick Heller, Chris Weight, Resha Tejpaul, and Nikos Papanikolopoulos
What does being elected to the National Academy of Inventors mean to you?
Nikos: Being elected to the National Academy of Inventors is a reflection of the group. I’ve been at the University of Minnesota for 33 years, so this award is dedicated to all of my students and collaborators. I’m fortunate to have more than forty students who believe in this vision and its efforts to impact human well-being. I’m glad the community has recognized these efforts.
When we started the distributed robotics group, a lot of people said our ideas were “pie in the sky” because they didn’t fit the mold of traditional computer science. It’s not “pie in the sky” for me, because it directly impacts the lives of people. My greatest satisfaction comes from our ability to collaborate across the University to make a tangible impact on the lives of others.
Most people recognize us for our robotics and drone research, but our collaborations with medical researchers are just as impactful. We have one of the largest datasets in kidney cancer, and thousands of people have cited our work. We’ve also helped develop computational methods to look for early signs of neurodevelopmental disorders. Early detection can be essential in cognitive therapy. Instead of the exhaustive waiting periods for detection, our technology can detect subtle signs that may provide an early indication of anxiety, autism, and panic attacks. Today, we are one of the most widely recognized robotics departments in the world. We are training a new wave of professionals and creating hundreds of jobs at viable companies globally, bolstered by our work with startups and Fortune 500 leaders like Medtronic, Sentera, Honeywell, 3M, PAR Systems, and Best Buy.
What motivates you and your research?
Nikos: Sometimes, as faculty, we need to listen to our students and not underestimate their power. A teacher is a facilitator—someone who listens, pushes, and acts as a mentor. We need to believe in them and give our support.
What motivates me are the younger individuals who bring new ideas. People who are doing groundbreaking work. For example, Scott Morton went on to work with SpaceX as a Senior Engineer, but he’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He once told me that he wanted to build his own company; he was full of ideas for startups. Although he never finished his master's program, he told me that the guidance and mentorship he received here helped him. Now, he has his own company and has raised $45 million. It is amazing to see him undertake such an enterprise.
What are some challenges you face in your research related to AI?
Nikos: I think AI is important, but it has its pros and cons. It can create a bogus paper with fake references, yet it can also detect cancer. If I ask it to identify the first researchers of kidney cancer, it provides results, but I am ultimately responsible for checking them. While I’m frightened sometimes, 90% of the time I see the unbelievable power of these tools to make things faster and easier. Like any technology, we can use it to improve the lives of people or to destroy them. I believe we are changing the job landscape by helping people understand how to use AI. Ultimately, I want clinicians to leverage these tools to support more informed clinical decisions.
Why are you passionate about “engineering in medicine”?
Nikos: I love robotics, but I’m most proud of the work I do in collaboration with medical professionals. I’m not a clinician, but I want to contribute to helping clinicians do their job more effectively. I have seen people wait ten agonizing days for biopsy results. I’ve seen human loss—young people dying too soon. A friend of mine died from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Thankfully, his life had been extended four years due to the technologies we have now. I also believe that we have a mental health pandemic, especially in young people. When there are young people losing their belief in life, it’s the least I can do. Tools to assist clinicians with making valid assessments can stimulate critical early intervention; this is seen as a miracle. Recently, I was discussing an individual who had been diagnosed with ALS. The medical robotics technology we’re helping to create can produce stabilization in the lives of those with the disease. We have to believe, invest, and let the research take its course.
What advice would you give young engineers today?
Nikos: Dream big! Through exams, we push people to kill innovation. They’re not dreaming. We want them to have perfect scores and take ten AP courses by age eighteen. We’re not letting them innovate and create. I’m guilty of this. I pushed my daughters to excel, but this kills the innovation. Innovation is based on failures. People need to experience productive and constructive failures.
What are some of your upcoming projects that you can share?
Nikos: I have slightly changed my motto; I’m not doing patents as much anymore. Instead, I’m supporting students and faculty in creating systems that people can use to produce meaningful results. My passion now is being a facilitator and ensuring that the work continues. I often collaborate with companies and encourage them to hire our students. In the last five years, about 70 of our trainees have moved on to the most impactful companies in the world. For example, one of my former students is a pioneer in agricultural AI algorithms whose company was acquired by John Deere. I hope to see this success pave the way for a deeper collaboration—perhaps even a machine learning center here in Minnesota.
I’m making my work in datasets widely available to everyone. I’ve stepped back from patenting because I want people to utilize this data on a massive scale. Additionally, the new robots we’re building for manufacturing incorporate AI. We are also working to simplify agricultural processes and reduce pesticide use to help cultivate higher-quality food at better prices.
Finally, I’m continuing my collaboration with the Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) because I believe in its mission. IEM has done a tremendous job, and I hope to see its continued growth. Together, we can have an impact on the lives of millions. I’m very thankful for this partnership, and I hope the University of Minnesota sees its value and continues to invest in this collective effort.
New project that monitors kids playing to detect early signs of OCD. Courtesy Tasoulla Hadjiyanni, Gail Bernstein, Kathryn Cullen, and Nikos Papanikolopoulos
