It’s official – Robotics & Innovation Magazine has launched a brand-new, first-of-its-kind awards ceremony to celebrate the latest innovations and highest achievements to be found across the world of robotics and automation – the Robotics & Automation Awards!
Organised by Robotics & Innovation Magazine, and in affiliation with Robotics and Automation exhibition, the inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards will highlight innovation demonstrated by both British and international organisations in the application of robotic or automated systems throughout the value chain of a range of prominent industries – including, but not limited to, logistics, manufacturing, retail, food and beverage, aerospace, cleaning and sanitation, construction, agriculture and more!
Announcements on some of the world-class judges set to decide the first-ever winners at the Robotics & Automation Awards will be coming soon…
The impressive line-up of 25 categories that will be celebrated by some 400 attendees on the night includes awards across the following areas:
- Cobotics
- Warehousing
- R&D*
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cleaning & Sanitation
- Food & Beverage
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Drones
- Best New or Small Company*
- Manufacturing
- Industrial Robotics
- Industry 4.0
- Transportation
- Sustainability
- Packaging Automation
- Young Innovator of the Year*
- Inspiring the Next Generation*
- Agriculture
- Extreme Environments
- Offshore
- Defence
- Aerospace
*Entrants do not need to apply with an end-user partner
How to enter
Those interested in entering the Robotics & Automation Awards can do so by filling out an entry form at www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk.
The entry criteria for the Robotics & Automation Awards varies slightly depending on the category, though most categories can only be entered by OEMs, suppliers, system integrators and other solution or service providers on the condition they enter with an end-user partner. End-user partners are customers or buyers of solutions with which a supplier has worked in the past two years.
Those entering must demonstrate how their implementation of a robotic or automated system has led to measurable organisational, sector or wider societal benefits. There are four categories to which applications can be made without an end-user partner: R&D Innovation, Best New or Small Company, Young Innovator of the Year and Inspiring the Next Generation.
A detailed list of entry criteria can be found on the official Robotics & Automation Awards website.
The first of its kind!
On the advent of the inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards, Ursula O’Sullivan-Dale, editor of Robotics & Innovation Magazine, said: “I’m very proud to announce the launch of this brand-new, first-of-its-kind event, which promises to be an unmissable celebration of the best of the best to found in these innovative industries.
“The Robotics & Automation Awards already has strong foundations through its affiliation with the industry-leading Robotics and Automation exhibition and Robotics & Innovation Magazine, and I can’t wait to see it grow independently, too.
“What’s unique about the Robotics & Automation Awards is that it will bring together a diverse array of businesses, organisations, institutions and professionals working with robotics and automation and highlight the hard work and dedication of end-users, solution providers and research institutions alike.
“I am especially excited about the Inspiring the Next Generation Award and Young Innovator categories, which will offer insight into the innovation happening behind the solutions themselves and those starting out in or aspiring to join the industry. These are the people that drive robotics and automation forward.”
Nominations for the first-ever Robotics & Automation Awards will open on 05 May 2023. The ceremony itself will be held this autumn at a to-be-announced venue in London, where the shortlisted finalists will gather for a drinks reception, three-course dinner and entertainment – followed by a dazzling ceremony where trophies will be handed out to the winners.
Making a difference
Preparations are already well underway to ensure a range of prominent sector professionals, academics and innovators are included on the judging panel, with the shortlisted finalists to be formally revealed to the public later this summer. The Robotics & Innovation editorial team is gathering professionals from across the industry to cast their votes on who deserves to win one of the trophies of the inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards.
As mentioned, this unique celebration of robotic and automated solutions, and those working in their development, deployment and integration, will benefit from its affiliation with the industry-leading Robotics and Automation exhibition and Robotics & Innovation Magazine. This year’s exhibition, which was co-located with the UK’s premier materials handling and warehouse show, IntraLogisteX, saw nearly 6,000 attendees over the course of two days in Hall 6 of the NEC Birmingham.
This associate event is expected to bring together 400 prestigious industry attendees, with representatives from leading organisations, businesses and institutions coming together to celebrate the innovation happening in the fields represented across the 24 categories.
Behind the event is a core ethos to celebrate and recognise innovation – but that’s not all the Robotics & Automation Awards will stand for. Other key considerations on the judges’ minds will include a commitment to identifying both the technology and individuals that are pushing the boundaries of their fields and challenging what is possible through robotics and automation.
What differentiates this event from others is the bringing together of academia and industry, with a diverse portfolio of categories promoting the differing parts of this broad industry: from c-suite staff from multinational OEMs to start-ups looking to disrupt the market and leading researchers working on the next-generation technology that will shape the future.
The Robotics & Automation Awards will also recognise trailblazing technology that can be of benefit to organisations today. Demonstrating efficiency gains has shaped the criteria for many of the categories, and a key part of recognising the best solutions on the market includes monitoring how they can deliver real-world benefits for buyers and drive a more productive sector.
Those honoured at the Robotics and Automation Awards will have the privilege of joining a community of innovators pushing the industry forward, with the ceremony this autumn offering a prime opportunity to network with those who are outstanding in their fields – and meet with end-users who could become future customers.
One of the most important contributing factors to ensuring research stays at the cutting-edge is to make sure all parts of society are included in the conversation. Recognising the opportunity and importance of diversity will be a central consideration of the Robotics & Automation Awards – from those on the judging panel to the finalists attending on the night. This underpins the ethos of the Robotics & Automation Awards as it strives to not only highlight the innovation of today but also lead the industry into tomorrow.
Stay tuned for updates on this year’s Robotics & Automation Awards and be sure to fill out an entry form now if you’re interested in being recognised at what will prove to be the leading event for those working in the robotics and automation industries.
Interested in sponsoring?
Are you interested in sponsoring an awards category for the inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards? If so, please contact Iain McLean at Iain.McLean@akabomedia.co.uk or on +4420 4558 0311 and get your name out there at this unmissable event for robotics and automation professionals.
Read the original article in the May 2023 issue of Robotics & Innovation Magazine.
