European Robotics Discussion board 2023 was a hit!

Earlier this spring, the biggest robotics occasion in Europe – The European Robotics Discussion board 2023 (ERF23) – was held in Odense, Denmark. As probably the most influential gatherings of the robotics group in Europe, the occasion introduced collectively researchers, engineers, managers, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and public funding officers to discover the newest traits and themes within the subject of robotics. With greater than 1100 registered members and 65 sponsors and exhibitors, this was ‘the biggest ERF in recorded historical past – on all parameters’, say the organizers.

Throughout the four-day discussion board, RI4EU robotics DIHs community, along with agROBOfood and Rima Community, hosted a sales space on the occasion, the place they showcased a variety of robotics initiatives. These additionally included TRINITY Robotics DIHs, agROBOfood, DIH-HERO, and DIH² robotics networks.

One of many highlights of the convention for RI4EU was their workshop – “Supporting SMEs in Bringing Robotics Options to Market“. The purpose was to have an interactive dialogue on how robotics Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) networks can create a better influence for SMEs and facilitate a broad uptake and integration of robotics applied sciences within the trade. The query comes within the context the place a gaggle of 5 EU-funded robotics tasks – robotics DIHs networks (agROBOfood, Rima Community, TRINITY, DIH-HERO, and DIH²) – beneath the umbrella of RI4EU, have offered monetary help of 40M EUR and extra providers to greater than 180 European robotics SMEs, to assist them carry their options to the market. So now, when these tasks are ending after a interval of 4 years, it is just pure to debate the influence they’ve created, challenges and classes discovered.

The session featured 5 knowledgeable audio system: Minna Lanz, Coordinator of TRINITY Robotics DIHs, Christophe Leroux, Coordinator of Rima Community, Françoise Siepel, Coordinator of DIH-HERO, Ali Muhammad, Coordinator of DIH², and Tsampikos Kounalakis, Robotics Researcher-agROBOfood. Maurits Butter, RI4EU Gateway to EU Robotics Initiatives, was a moderator, guaranteeing a productive and fascinating dialog.

Constructing trusting relationships is vital

There may be large potential for robotic functions within the trade, for instance, to extend productiveness, enhance security, and many others. however the whole market dimension of robotics remains to be negligible in relation to the general market dimension. The suggestions obtained in the course of the workshop indicated that one of many main points robotic SMEs face is the trouble wanted to develop Proof of ideas and run checks. Alongside the identical line of reasoning, firms agreed that the 4 most vital providers they want from DIHs are:

• Technological help, to offer technological infrastructure and experience to develop the innovation.
• Ecosystem providers, aiming on the provision of help to create a dynamic ecosystem.
• Enterprise help, to offer extra single buyer help on growing an innovation-based enterprise
• Abilities and academic help, to boost the experience, abilities and human assets with the community companions.

Nevertheless, there was a typical key ingredient that firms acknowledged to have nice influence on their exercise: the trusted enterprise connections that have been facilitated by the DIHs. Constructing a group of interconnected consultants within the many robotics fields requires strategic planning, assets, and dedication. So on this sense, DIHs networks can present alternatives that can not be discovered elsewhere. Furthermore, scouting for brand new regional community connections, in search of to attach the worth chain, and many others. could be a daunting and time-consuming activity however then the DIHs networks actually carry added worth via their connections with different tasks or professionals inside area of interest markets, which give the robotics ecosystem with a complete record of contacts to seeks steering from or do enterprise with.

Lengthy-term progress

However now, the 5 robotics tasks, agROBOfood, Rima Community, TRINITY, DIH-HERO, and DIH², are coming to an finish, as they’ve obtained funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 thus far. So what would be the future of those DIHs networks? Will they cease their exercise as soon as the EU funding could have ended or will they proceed to offer their providers sooner or later? When requested these questions in the course of the workshop, all networks made it clear that they ‘will proceed to dwell’, as one of many audio system stated. They’re well-established networks within the subject of robotics and though their new enterprise fashions usually are not officialized but, the DIHs networks are planning to develop sooner or later.
To date, the Rima Community has made its announcement: it’s now reworking into the RIMA Alliance, to maintain offering providers and seize all good practices in simply one-stop-shop, to maintain working in the direction of the uptake of robotics in inspection and upkeep. As for the opposite 4 networks, comply with their pages and RI4EU community to listen to contemporary information and subscribe to the publication on their web site.

By means of participation within the ERF23, the RI4EU crew was in a position to study from consultants within the subject, make new connections, and promote their work to a wider viewers. By partnering with their innovation actions/DIHs networks, they have been in a position to showcase their initiatives and encourage others to hitch them of their mission to speed up innovation in robotics.