What is a Robotic Cluster?

Originally published 3/29/2018

Huge demand for robots, cobots, AI and Industry 4.0 is driving innovation hubs across the globe.  Whether the focus is software, industrial robots, cobots, medical robots or something else - the best way to facilitate and attract talent is to huddle around academic centers and universities.  Thus is born a Robotics Cluster, which is a group of entities that – formally or informally – locate in close geographical proximity.  There are several Robotics Clusters popping up around the globe.  Here are two examples of robotics clusters in North America and Europe:

Denmark Robotics Cluster

Born from the hometown of the articulated robotic arm company Universal Robots, Odense Robotics is in Denmark which could be thought of as “Europe’s Gateway to Robotics” – it is a fitting location for a robotics cluster.   Odense was “named the No. 1 entrepreneur-friendly city in Denmark for 2015” and is home to academic centers such as University of Southern Denmark.  Odense Robotics notes that it is close to 40+ robot related education programs and has other clusters, education centers, companies and financing partnerships.  

Northern California

It’s not surprising that the San Francisco Bay area is a hotbed of startup companies as well as research and development.  Silicon Valley Robotics (SVR) is a not-for-profit coalition of robotics companies and startups launched in 2010 focuses on networking and facilitating research between different industries.  Networking consists of a range of formal as informal activities from Happy Hour meetups to forums.  SVR also has a job section to connect robotic and AI startups with their next employees. 

The large demand for cobots, robots and robotic professionals is inspiring co-located robotics clusters to develop across the globe.  As we aspire to take artificial intelligence and collaborative robotics to the next level, no one group can do this alone – making information sharing critical to technology advancement.  This is what makes groups like Odense Robotics and SVR so beneficial to the cause.

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