VDMA urges robotics plan for Europe to boost competitiveness

The largest networking organisation for robotics in Europe, VDMA Robotics + Automation, has set out key objectives in a call to action to stop the loss of global competitiveness of European economies.

The VDMA has addressed its Robotics Action Plan for Europe to policymakers across Europe, including national governments and EU institutions.

As supply chains come under threat due to tariffs and political uncertainty, Europe needs to boost its resilience to external shocks and focus on innovation and self-sufficiency. Dependence on external sources for critical technologies and resources exposes the continent to vulnerabilities.

Dr Dietmar Ley, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation, outlines the issue: “Europe's industries are falling behind in international competitiveness and urgently need to catch up. China, for example, has consistently shifted its focus to advanced technology and high-value manufacturing. The country's drive for automation has seen its robot density double in four years to 470 robots per 10,000 workers. This is twice the European Union figure of just 219. Robotics and automation are key technologies for the future growth of economies by increasing productivity, driving innovation and creating new opportunities.”

Some key recommendations of the paper include:

• Europe needs to drive competitiveness through robotics — as Europe is increasingly challenged by aggressive industrial policies in other countries, including the America First agenda in the USA and the 5-Year-Plan for Robotics from China, boosting robotics innovation and markets will enable Europe to revamp competitiveness and safeguard its sovereignty, counteract demographic decline, and successfully manage the transition to carbon neutrality.
• More venture capital is required for startups — Europe must urgently mobilise additional venture capital by updating the regulatory framework for institutional investors. For example, France’s Tibi Initiative has shown how capital can be successfully used for innovation.
• Competition roadmaps to help foster innovation — progress in robotics and AI needs to be benchmarked against developments in Asia and North America. Further, concrete national and European-wide technology roadmaps need to be created.
• Focus on economies of scale — Europe needs to move beyond its successful research and innovation landscape and bring ideas to market at scale, as is demonstrated by China’s approach. Policymakers in Europe need to provide an environment that is not only conducive to innovation but also conducive to transferring innovation into mass production and wide adoption in Europe.

The paper stresses the need for Europe to keep up with AI, particularly Generative AI, which is rapidly transforming robotics. AI-driven robots capable of learning from human behaviour, imitating tasks, and operating autonomously are becoming a reality. As robots increasingly integrate AI with the physical world, the innovation cycles of robotics and AI are becoming deeply intertwined. Success in robotics requires success in AI.

Strategy paper