The European Robotics Week 2018 (#ERW2018) is on its way. 

euRobotics invites National Coordinators and event organisers to start organising #ERW2018, and already sign-up their events on the dedicated map. National coordinators actively promote the Week in their country among robotics organizations and encourage them to organise various robotics events for the public. euRobotics has an enhanced page on the website to promote the national coordinators and show gratitude for their involvement. Suggestions for coordinators at national or regional levels can be sent at secretariat@eu-robotics.net.

To ensure a smooth preparation, euRobotics drafted the report of ERW2017 and a set of recommendations following the National Coordinators Meeting 2017, held in Brussels. The ERW2018 National Coordinators Meeting is taking place on 13 September 2018, in Gent (Belgium). Taking the key points identified by delegates under the three themes of the National Coordinators Meeting 2017, Outreach, Sponsorship and Education, together with subsequent discussion, the following recommendations can be drawn (based on summary prepared by Stephen Doswell for euRobotics).

Let’s make #ERW2018 an even greater success and get to 1000 events organised all over Europe this year!

National coordinators can:

Develop a standard sponsorship protocol and package to set out a process for sponsorship and the forms it can take, to provide clarity and guidance to ERW event organisers and, of course, to potential sponsors, with tips for sponsors on how to make the best use of sponsoring ERW. See example of the #ERW2018 Central event (16-18 November 2018, in Augsburg, Germany) Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsoring packs, as well as standalone options, such as booth only.

Develop a standard approach for ERW event organisers to form and pursue links with universities.

Use the potential of ERW to forge cross-sector collaborations and alliances between commercial organisations, universities, NGOs and other interested parties and develop an activity programme based on these alliances, such as school and company exchange visits.

Target each stratum of society from children to politicians to ‘third age’ senior citizens to create a robotics engagement strategy, using ERW as its focus.

Explore the availability of discretionary budgets at regional or national government level or through private foundations, to increase funding available for ERW and disseminate it to local event organisers.

Develop scalable kits to meet a range of budgets.

Build interest in ERW by taking part in technology festivals and related events.

Pursue the creation of robotics clubs targeted at disadvantaged areas and attract funding allocated for economic stimulation and skills training within communities.

Create networks of contacts for ERW using existing networks, such as multinational company subsidiaries.

Make use of euRobotics as an advocate, broker and source of expertise about communication for the robotics sector, including some standard rules of engagement for optimising communication opportunities.

Create branded certificates or online badges for universities, schools, companies and other ERW participants to confer identity, status and recognition as well as promotional benefits.

Leverage the energy and enthusiasm of the other movements such as Code Week to provide another battalion of support for ERW.

Event organisers can:

Develop relationships with target media outlets, including local newspapers and sector-specific media both to gain coverage for ERW events and to build a sustained media presence for topics around the broad theme of robotics.

Develop a speaker programme to talk externally about ERW, identifying conference and other platform opportunities, making systematic use of these to promote ERW and robotics.

Seek out organisations accessible to the public (museums) to showcase robots and robotics.