Chinese Surgical Robotics Firm Ronovo Secures $67M in Series D Funding, Partners with Johnson & Johnson

Ronovo Surgical Raises Significant Capital, Expands Global Reach

Ronovo Surgical, a Shanghai-based surgical robotics company, has successfully closed a $67 million Series D financing round led by Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC), the venture capital arm of Johnson & Johnson. This latest investment brings Ronovo's total funding to over $100 million in the past year, following previous rounds that included a $44 million Series B in 2024 and more than $50 million in earlier financing.

The substantial funding boost comes as Ronovo signs a strategic agreement with Johnson & Johnson Medical Shanghai Ltd. to expand surgical technology offerings in parts of China. This collaboration will encompass Ronovo's Carina robotic surgery platform for soft tissue procedures alongside complementary Johnson & Johnson surgical products.

Carina Platform Receives Regulatory Approval and Prepares for International Expansion

Ronovo's flagship product, the Carina robotic surgery platform, received regulatory approval from China's National Medical Products Administration in March for use in general surgery, gynecology, urology, and thoracic surgery. The company touts the platform as addressing "flexibility, adaptability, and affordability challenges posed by legacy robotic surgical systems."

With its domestic regulatory hurdles cleared, Ronovo has initiated an international expansion strategy. The company has begun regulatory submissions in Europe and South America, signaling its intent to compete in the global surgical robotics market.

Shifting Landscape in Surgical Robotics and Chinese Healthcare Market

Ronovo's growth comes amid an increasingly competitive surgical robotics field, with several companies challenging the market dominance of established players like Intuitive Surgical. Johnson & Johnson itself is preparing to introduce its own soft tissue robot, Ottava, in the United States, with plans to submit a de novo application to the FDA in the first quarter of 2026.

The Chinese healthcare market presents both opportunities and challenges for robotic surgery companies. Since 2022, several Chinese provinces have implemented limits on what hospitals can charge patients for robotic surgeries. While these restrictions have affected procedure volumes and revenue for companies like Intuitive Surgical, the full impact on the market remains to be seen.

John Ma, CEO of Ronovo and a former Intuitive Surgical executive, emphasized the company's commitment to "democratizing access to surgical robotics on a global scale." The collaboration with Johnson & Johnson is expected to accelerate Ronovo's commercial momentum in China and lay the groundwork for international growth.