RM at the first German Robotics Conference: a guide for global robotics developments
Daniel Delang / RIG
Robotics is one of the most important technology trends worldwide. The first German Robotics Conference (GRC) shows just how strong "Robotics and AI made in Germany" is. From 13 to 15 March 2025, leading German robotics and AI experts will meet at the conference organised by the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) in Nuremberg. The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is taking part as a partner.
The conference will focus on the RIG research clusters, lectures and interactive presentations on the latest trends in robotics, high-calibre research and industry panels and robotics demos by RIG partners.
With over 1,200 scientific publications in the last five years, more than 70 major projects supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and 9 German universities among the top 100 in the global CS ranking for robotics, the location is ideally positioned. As a trend study by the consulting firm Capgemini shows, AI-based robotics and generative AI are among the top five technology trends worldwide in 2025. AI-based robotics is also becoming increasingly important for the industry: almost half of the companies surveyed worldwide (48%) are currently developing application scenarios and 89% of investors are convinced that AI-based robotics will be one of the top three technology topics in 2025.
At the GRC, leading researchers mainly from Germany, including RIG coordinator Prof Angela Schoellig from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), RIG spokesperson Prof Tamim Asfour from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Prof Wolfram Burgard as local host and RIG partner Technical University of Nuremberg (UTN), will for the first time jointly provide insights into current research into AI-based robotics in Germany.
The latest trends in AI-based robotics: Over 200 researchers will present the latest trends in AI-based robotics – such as robot design and learning algorithms for robot perception and interaction – in short talks and poster sessions.
Research clusters: Focus areas are currently being created in the field of research, the so-called research clusters. Various topics relating to robotics and AI are being discussed there, from multimodal learning in robotics, networked robotics, safety and reliability of AI-based robotics to robots with a sense of touch and AI-based industrial robotics. The aim is to define clusters and work together on these topics in the RIG network.
Discussion rounds: The first day of the conference will focus on research, the second on industry topics and the last day on AI robotics competitions and talent development. The panellists will include Prof. Oliver Brock from TU Berlin, Prof. Katherine Kuchenbecker from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the Chief Science Officer of Alphabet subsidiary Intrinsic, Dr Torsten Kröger, and Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director for Robotics and Automation at the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).
Robotics demonstrations: An interactive live demo area will showcase the latest robot technologies, including humanoid robots, new robotic hands, mobile robots and assistance robots such as a wheelchair with robotic arm support.
RoboCup: This year's Robocup "German Open 2025" will also be held at the same time as the GRC. Over 1000 participants from more than 40 "major teams" from universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions from Germany, Europe and overseas as well as 200 "junior teams" from German schools will take part in the competitions. The focus here is on intelligent robots in visionary scenarios such as autonomous football robots, rescue robots or intelligent helpers in the home and in industry.
Further information: https://robocup.de/
As a RIG partner, the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is responsible for technology transfer. As part of the conference, the Institute is participating with a demonstration of the care assistance system EDAN as well as specialist contributions and moderations and the organisation of a network lunch in collaboration with the association Women in AI & Robotics.