The euROBIN Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) provides a roadmap for advancing embodied AI and robotics in ways that align with Europe's broader goals of sustainability, equity, and economic growth. By addressing immediate challenges and laying the groundwork for future innovation, the agenda ensures that robotics and AI can be pivotal in tackling pressing societal, economic, and environmental issues. This unified approach positions the EU as a leader in shaping technology for the public good while fostering ethical and sustainable development.
Societal Impact
Improved Quality of Life
- The euROBIN SRA emphasizes the development of robots capable of assisting with aging populations and disabilities. This aligns with societal needs for enhanced eldercare, rehabilitation, and disaster response.
- Human-centered robotics ensures closer collaboration between robots and humans, supporting shared spaces and tasks in homes, workplaces, and public areas while maintaining privacy and autonomy.
Ethical and Inclusive AI Development
- Research in human-robot interaction and ethics fosters trust in robotics, addressing cultural and psychological attitudes toward automation.
- The focus on safety, transparency, and regulatory frameworks ensures societal benefits while minimizing risks of misuse.
Skill Transfer and Lifelong Learning
- Robots equipped with lifelong and transferable learning capabilities can adapt across domains, making them effective tools for education, healthcare, and social services.
Economic Impact
Enhanced Productivity
- Robotics advancements support automation in sectors like textiles, agriculture, and logistics, unlocking growth in traditionally low-automation industries.
- Collaborative robots (co-bots) provide adaptable solutions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), boosting European industry competitiveness.
Circular Economy Enablement
- By incorporating robots into material recovery, sorting, and recycling, the agenda directly supports a circular economy, reducing waste and conserving resources.
Innovation Ecosystems
- The agenda promotes collaboration across academia, industry, and policymakers, fostering innovation ecosystems. Digital twins and simulation technologies further accelerate technology transfer and commercialization.
Environmental Impact
Climate Change Mitigation
- Robots designed for environmental monitoring and precision agriculture enable more sustainable practices. For instance, drones can monitor crop health, optimize resource usage, and reduce emissions.
Disaster Management
- Robotics applications in search and rescue, environmental remediation, and infrastructure inspection after natural or man-made disasters directly aid in building climate resilience.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Hardware innovations like artificial muscles, tactile skins, and neuromorphic computing promote energy-efficient robotics systems. Morphological computation further reduces energy demands, contributing to sustainable design principles.