27/01/2021

“What future for European robotics?” – A Science for Policy conference

Date/Time
Date - 27/01/2021 - 29/01/2021
15:00 - 17:30


 Europe’s tech sector is coming of age. Europe has all the potential to be a global leader in the next wave of digital transformation.

 President von der Leyen at the Lisbon Web Summit, December 2020

Given the importance of robotics for EU economic growth and recovery, this science for policy conference, organised by the Joint Research Centre, provides a scientific, policy-oriented and EU-centred analysis of the state of this technology.

It covers the technical, economic and social angles, and aims at identifying the main policy challenges to be addressed in the short and in the long run in the light of the covid-19 crisis.

Progamme outline

Wednesday 27th January

  1. 15:00 – 15:15 Opening, Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education
  2. 15:15 – 16:00 Panel Discussion Economic impact of robotisation on employment, productivity and competitiveness 
  3. 16:15 – 16:45 Keynote The industrial perspective, Bernd Liepert, President euRobotics aisbl
  4. 16:45 – 17:30 Panel Discussion How the robotics industry can support the EU recovery
  5. 17:30 End of session

Thursday 28th January

  1. 15:00 – 15:30 Keynote The impact of robots on society Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
  2. 15:30 – 16:15 Panel Discussion Assessing the social impact of AI and robotics
  3. 16:30 – 17:00 Keynote Social Robotics: Research, Ethics and Education Carme Torras, Professor of Research, Spanish Scientific Research Council
  4. 17:00 – 17:45 Panel Discussion Human-Robot Interaction and Robotics in Education
  5. 17:45 – 18:00 Closing Chair: Stephen Quest, Director-General of the Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Friday 29th January

  1. 15:00 – 15:30 Keynote AI Robots and foresight Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
  2. 15:30 – 16:15 Policy Round Table What regulatory framework is needed for EU robotics?    

    Stephen Quest, Director-General, JRC

    Joost Korte, Director-General, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

    Maive Rute, Deputy Director-General, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

    Roberto Viola, Director-General, Communications Networks, Content and Technology

  3. 16:15 End of conference

Register for this conference here.

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