Following the launch earlier this year of a new robotics association in Slovenia, the association’s president Prof. Dr. Matjaž Mihelj offered the newsletter some background on this new entity and its significance for the robotics sector in Slovenia.
“Given Slovenia’s prominent position in robotics, ranking 11th worldwide and 4th in Europe for robot density in industry according to the 2022 International Federation of Robotics data, the establishment of the Slovenian Robotics Association (officially the Association for the Development and Promotion of Robotics in Slovenia) on April 24, 2024, marks a significant milestone. With 27 founding members from both industry and academia, the initiative underscores Slovenia’s extensive activities in robot development, production, and the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine vision into intelligent robotic systems. The association, founded in the robotics hub of Kočevje—home to the European branch of the renowned Yaskawa robot factory—aims to further advance the development and promotion of robotics across various sectors in Slovenia and beyond.
Built on principles of networking, representation, and education, the Slovenian Robotics Association serves as a bridge connecting industry, academia, and government, ensuring seamless knowledge and technology transfer. Its mission includes facilitating access to expertise, resources, and information through collaboration between scientific institutions and businesses, advocating for the robotics industry before government bodies, and participating in standardization committees. Additionally, it offers advice, training, and updates on new regulations to its members, develops accredited international study programs in robotics, and promotes practical knowledge through workshops and open days. The foundation of Slovenia’s progress in robotics lies in a well-educated workforce supported by strong research groups with notable international achievements, making robotics a crucial part of the country’s economic output and integral to the I4.0/I5.0 paradigm.
The association focuses on several key areas, including industrial robotics to enhance production processes and support startups, medical robotics to innovate healthcare, agricultural robotics to boost productivity and sustainability, construction robotics to improve safety and efficiency, mobile robotics, service robotics, and educational robotics to ensure a future-ready workforce. Promoting awareness and interest in robotics is a significant part of the association’s mission, achieved through organizing conferences, roundtables, robotic festivals, and engaging with the media to highlight member successes and innovations. Competitions and hackathons are also planned to inspire the younger generation and foster a culture of creativity and technical excellence.
The association values collaboration with stakeholders, including local governments, non-governmental organizations, related technical societies, and international robotics societies, aiming to create a robust ecosystem where research, industry, and education intersect, driving forward Slovenia’s position in the global robotics landscape. As the Slovenian Robotics Association embarks on this journey, it invites members from all sectors related to robotics to join and contribute to a future where robotics plays a pivotal role in economic and societal development.”
Prof. Dr. Matjaž Mihelj, President of the Slovenian Robotics Association