Brussels, 12 November 2019 – The European Robotics Week (ERW) offers one week of hundreds of interactive robotics related events across Europe for the general public. Via the organisation of over 1000 events, European citizens get the opportunity to have their questions answered and glimpse how robots will impact the way we work, live, and learn both now and in the future. Every year the ERW changes the central event and hosts an eco-system of various engaging activities in the chosen location. Titled “Robotics and AI Odyssey” the official opening for this year is in Poznan, Poland.
The Opening: Robotics and AI Odyssey – Poznan, Poland
The Opening on 14 November will feature dignitaries from Poland and the European Union, who will welcome and present ERW2019 to the Polish audience at the Poznan University of Technology conference & lecturing centre.
Two public talks are planned for 15 November. The first talk focusing on Women in Digital and Robotics, will look into how to build a digital and technological future in which women have a strong presence and involvement.
“Women should step forward and be more actively involved in product and services design, to ensure that the new, smart, connected world is inclusive and designed for all citizens’ wellbeing. That is why we believe women are a must, not only in robotics, but in other technologies as well”, says Ana Maria Stancu, Board member of euRobotics aisbl.
“I have a dream that in 3 years’ time we won’t still be having a debate about women in technology and robotics. Because by then I hope it will be normal for people, no matter what their gender or background, to follow their dreams and develop careers based on their skills and the value they can add. The huge challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow are so important that we must ensure we have the best minds working on them, regardless of gender”, says Marina Bill, Global Head of Marketing and Sales for ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business, Platinum sponsor of the event.
The second workshop, Robots at school, will present pan-European robotics projects with an impact on culture, ecology, history, and economy, designed to make STEM education attractive.
From 14 to 16 of November, an exhibition with robots and various robotics activities for children and students will take place at the Poznan University of Technology conference & lecturing centre.
Check the programme of the Central event in Poznan
What is happening in Europe?
Since 2011, the European Robotics Week has been encouraging robotics researchers, universities and industry to open their doors to the public to raise awareness of impact that robots can have in our society. Some 1,000 activities have already been announced Europe-wide, and beyond:
- Italy is a leader in number of events with over 300 activities announced. Fiorella Operto from Scuola di Robotica has coordinated more than 100 teams from all over Italy committed to using a humanoid robot to promote the Italian Cultural Heritage. The upcoming NAO Challenge is devoted to “Arts&Cultures”, asking robotics to improve the knowledge of and to promote beautiful Italian art.
- Spain is following closely, with over 260 activities announced, out of which 200 will be organised in schools and high schools in Catalonia. Hisparob announced this year's motto for ERW in Spain: Robotic Thinking and Inclusion, focusing on how robotics and computational thinking can help inclusion of groups with different abilities, social, and economic backgrounds, and genders.
- In Germany, +120 events are taking place across the country. A large majority of the events are driven by the First Lego League which is a focal point also for events in the surrounding countries: Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.
- Romania is launching the White Night for Robots on 23 November, hosting several activities for the public organised by E-Civis (the initiator of the initiative), the Faculty for Mathematics and Informatics at Bucharest University, Panait Istrati County Library in Braila and Qube.
- Companies around Europe such as ABB, KUKA and Schunk open their doors to robotics enthusiasts.
- ERW2019 is seeing an internationalisation beyond Europe, with events organised also in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and the Russian Federation or Korea.
Additional Information
Article: 11 ways to engage with #ERW2019
Website: www.robotics-week.eu
European events: old.eu-robotics.net/robotics_week/events/
Social Media
Hashtag #ERW2019
Twitter: twitter.com/eu_Robotics twitter.com/SPARCrobotics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/euRobotics www.facebook.com/SPARCrobotics
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/eurobotics-aisbl
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/euRobotics
Photo credit: @SPECS_lab
Tweet: Over 1000 events expected during European Robotics Week 2019 #ERW2019. Find an event near you: https://goo.gl/jrGQyh
Contact: media@roboticsweek.eu
Background of the European Robotics Week
ERW was conceived with the desire of the European Robotics community to bring robotics research and development closer to the public and to build the future Robotics Society. Many more than 550,000 people across Europe have been part of ERW since its first edition in 2011. The European Robotics Week is organised under SPARC, the public-private partnership for robotics between euRobotics and the European Commission.
European Robotics Week 2019 (ERW2019) will take place around Europe on 14-24 November 2019.
For national coordinators and local events organisers
National coordinators actively promote the Week in their country among robotics organizations, research institutes/universities and encourage them to open their doors, and sponsor or organise various robotics events for the public.
Check your country page! euRobotics has an extended page on the website to promote the national coordinators and show gratitude for their involvement. We encourage national coordinators to send their own pictures, organisation's logo, and description of their local activities or a quote.
Register your event! Registration is easy. Make sure to pick a topic, describe your event and it will be accessible from the brand new heated map of events.
Spread the word! Forward this press release to your local media and add a short description about your regional events. You can translate and tailor your press release to give it a local touch.
We also welcome any pictures, blog posts, and videos during the week. Simply send them to media@roboticsweek.eu by email or tweet them using the hashtag #ERW2019. We’ll make sure it gets posted on social media and on our website.
About euRobotics and SPARC
SPARC is the public-private partnership between the European Commission and euRobotics to maintain and extend Europe’s leadership in civilian robotics. Its aim is to strategically position European robotics in the world, thereby securing major benefits for Europe’s economy and society at large.
SPARC leads the driving strategy behind the largest civilian robotics research and innovation programme in the world, with €700 million in funding from the European Commission from 2014 to 2020 and triple that from European industry, to yield a total investment of €2.8 billion. SPARC will stimulate a more vibrant and effective robotics community that collaborates in development and commercial exploitation in all regions.
euRobotics is a non-profit organisation based in Brussels with more than 250 members, representing the Robotics community in Europe.