Strengthening strengths – the world's first 'coopetition' between Europe's most advanced robots
- Leading robotics experts from across Europe met in Nancy, France.
- In a spirit of 'coopetition', their robots not only competed against each other, but also demonstrated the potential for their systems to work together.
- euROBIN is the European Network of Excellence for AI-based robotics, which is coordinated by DLR.
- Focus: Spaceflight, robotics, artificial intelligence, assistant robots
Humanoid robots use artificial intelligence to collaboratively solve tasks that address major societal challenges, such as demographic change. The world's first 'Robotic Coopetition' took place in Nancy, France, from 25 to 28 November 2025, bringing together 150 leading robotics experts from across Europe and 20 robots. Their joint mission was to inspire new developments in robotics through 'coopetition' – a combination of cooperative work and competition. Teams from around the world worked on the most advanced robotic systems, including humanoids, industrial robots, centaurs and four-legged robots on wheels. The four-day event was part of the euROBIN project, coordinated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). euROBIN is the European network of excellence in AI-based robotics, bringing together centres of excellence and major European industrial partners.
The coopetition is a new competition concept designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Teams are judged not only on their technological solutions, but also on their flexibility in integrating functional software modules and data from other teams into their own systems. The goal is to create algorithms of the highest quality that other teams are keen to adopt. "The partners in excellence share their results on our platform, which includes data like maps of the environment, object models, execution plans and algorithms for perception, decision-making and cognition," explains Alin Albu-Schäffer, euROBIN coordinator and Director of the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics. "The researchers select the best and most useful solution in each case. In doing so, they try to contribute the most flexible and fastest way in any given application scenario. This way, small teams particularly benefit from the experience and cutting-edge research of others and can concentrate on their own expertise. 'Strengthening strengths' is the motto of the network, and we as a community are making progress together."
This open exchange shows what makes software or certain data sets flexibly applicable and thus particularly successful for the market. To date, it is still extremely difficult and costly to equip a robotic system with 'foreign' technologies and abilities, since components have to be coordinated with each other and specially reprogrammed.
The latest methods in artificial intelligence (AI), such as the large language models of ChatGPT and others, are now opening up completely new possibilities that are being explored through coopetition. The transferability of robotic approaches is an important factor in their further development – after all, robots must learn to find their way in a wide variety of environments in order to be beneficial to people wherever they are needed. The euROBIN network therefore aims to inspire new solutions that enable the joint development of cutting-edge technologies and further strengthen Europe's leading role in robotics.
A common goal: robotic assistance in everyday life
A total of 22 teams competed at the Prouvé Convention Centre in the categories of industrial robots, outdoor robots and assistant robots. The DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics participated with its humanoid robot Rollin' Justin. For the assistant robot category, a household environment with different kitchens was set up, in which Rollin' Justin had to perform various tasks as autonomously as possible with the help of his artificial intelligence.
These tasks are modelled on everyday support tasks. The assistant robots were given randomly selected and previously unknown tasks to perform in the kitchen by the referee. DLR’s Rollin' Justin had to find and grasp objects and place them on a table or work surface, open drawers or a dishwasher, or hand the objects over to a human – all in different kitchens. In the spirit of euROBIN, there were extra points for actions in which a robot used the software or previously provided data of a project partner.
The goal is to develop robots that can perform tasks in any household without being specifically programmed for each one. Although this may seem quite simple to humans, a robot must have an extensive knowledge of its respective environment and objects, or a high degree of transferability – which is made possible by AI. One challenge is the interaction between components from different systems. For example, if a robot rolls on four wheels, how can the acquired knowledge be transferred to a two-legged robot? Since the software cannot be adopted one-to-one and adaptations are limited, inaccuracies occur when the task is performed. These inaccuracies accumulate the more 'foreign' components are integrated and the more complex they are.
A pioneering role in AI-based robotics
euROBIN is Europe's answer to international challenges in AI-based robotics, which is rapidly developing and promises enormous growth potential. The project, funded by the European Union, brings together 31 renowned research institutions and companies from 14 countries. As the coordinator of the euROBIN network, DLR is driving forward cooperation between science and industry. The aim is for Europe to succeed in making the next technological leap in robotics and to further strengthen its pioneering role.
Collaboration among robots
Robotics has become indispensable in industrial manufacturing. In the future, it will also play an increasingly supportive role in our daily lives, for example in the form of humanoid robots that help people in their households and caregiving roles – and euROBIN has provided new impetus with the world's first coopetition. In recent years, it has become clear that the mere exchange of knowledge is not enough – research institutions and companies must also work together to solve problems.
"Germany and Europe are leading the way in the development of robotic assistance technology," emphasises Albu-Schäffer. "So-called co-bot technology – robots working directly with people – is based on European innovations. Now, we have to use this advantage to face major societal challenges such as de-industrialisation, environmental protection and demographic change, and not only to keep pace with competition outside Europe, but also to continue to help shape it together. With euROBIN, we have created a new, sustainable platform, built new methods of cooperation between top European institutes and industrial partners and thus jointly developed solutions and new approaches," the coordinator continues.
As a research participant, DLR is using the raw data obtained during the coopetition to create training data for AI learning programmes and is sharing it with network partners. In the future, robots should be able to solve tasks independently and learn from other robots. Different robots can then work together to complete a task, complementing each other with their respective strengths.
Related links
- DLR research in the field of terrestrial assistance
- Interesting facts about DLR's robot Rollin' Justin
- Website of the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
- Featured topic – AI research at DLR
- More about the euROBIN network's coopetitions
Contact
Bernadette Jung
Lioba Suchenwirth
Alin Olimpiu Albu-Schäffer