This short paper has been prepared to introduce the topic of Robotics and the Blue Economy: Sustainable Growth in the Ocean Space, which is the chosen theme of the 2026 European Robotics Forum (ERF). This large annual event brings together experts from research and industry from across Europe to share ideas, create new connections and celebrate the best of robotics, one of the most important technologies that will shape the future of society for generations to come. The chosen theme reflects the specific setting for ERF 2026. Stavanger, Norway has been shaped by its maritime position, developing from a Viking trading settlement to become a major centre for fishing and related industries, shipping and shipbuilding and today the onshore hub for North Sea oil and gas and a tourist destination. Stavanger’s links with robotics span more than half a century. The Trallfa robot was developed here during the 1960s and became the world’s first commercial, electrically-powered industrial spray-painting robot. Specific to our ocean theme, underwater robots and drones are commonly used for sustainable ocean management, such as monitoring aquaculture facilities, as this paper covers later.
Robotics and the Blue Economy: Sustainable Growth in the Ocean Space
