A signpost for global robotics developments
The first German Robotics Conference (GRC) displays the strength of ‘Robotics and AI Made in Germany’. 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 focus will be on the RIG research clusters, lectures and interactive presentations on the latest trends in robotics, high-calibre research, 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 nine German universities among the top 100 in the global CS ranking for robotics, the location is ideal. A trend study by the consulting firm Capgemini shows that 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 industry: almost half of 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), Prof. Wolfram Burgard as local host, and RIG partner Technical University of Nuremberg (UTN) will jointly provide insights into current research on AI-based robotics in Germany for the first time:
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 (research clusters) are currently being established. Various topics relating to robotics and AI are being discussed there. These include multimodal learning in robotics, networked robotics, the safety and reliability of AI-based robotics, 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 panels: The first day of the conference will focus on research, the second on industry topics, and the final day on AI robotics competitions and talent development. The panelists include Prof. Oliver Brock from TU Berlin, Prof. Katherine Kuchenbecker from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Dr. Torsten Kröger, Chief Science Officer of Alphabet subsidiary Intrinsic, 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 alongside the GRC. Over 1,000 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 participate 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 industry.
Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Education and Research (BMBF), said: “Robotics is one of the key technologies of our time. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is driving forward AI-based robotics to ensure that Germany remains a leading industrial centre. With the Robotics Institute Germany, Germany’s cutting-edge research in robotics will be networked in a sustainable, future-oriented and internationally visible way, developing it into an international talent factory. It is thus making an important contribution to strong and internationally competitive robotics research throughout Germany.”
Dr. Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister President, said: “Bavaria is the land of cutting-edge research and excellent universities. The Nobel Prize winners of tomorrow are being trained here. With the RoboCup and the first German Robotics Conference in Nuremberg, the Robotics Institute Germany offers an important platform to ensure that companies, universities, and schools continue to provide innovations Made in Bavaria.”
Prof. Angela Schoellig from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), coordinator of the RIG and co-spokesperson of the RIG, said: “AI-based robotics is playing an increasingly important role – in industry, healthcare, and mobility. At the first Robotics Institute Germany conference, we will discuss current developments and showcase state-of-the-art robotics on-site. We are also making it impressively clear that we are at the forefront of science and talent development worldwide and that the transfer of research into practice plays a prominent role.”
Prof. Tamim Asfour from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, spokesperson of the RIG, said: “Pooling our research excellence in the Robotics Institute Germany is a decisive step towards strengthening and expanding Germany’s leading position in AI-based robotics worldwide. In the RIG research clusters, we address fundamental questions and challenges in AI-based robotics to develop the next generation of intelligent robotic systems for various applications. By combining basic research and innovation, the RIG creates a unique framework, contributing to and securing Germany’s technological sovereignty in this future field in the long term.”
Prof. Oskar von Stryk from the Technical University of Darmstadt and organizer of the RoboCup German Open 2025 said: “RoboCup offers a unique platform on which, parallel to the German Robotics Conference, top professional achievements in robotics and AI are achieved in visionary application scenarios through great commitment and high self-motivation of the participating interdisciplinary teams from universities, universities of applied sciences and schools to successfully master complex challenges in competition under time pressure.”
