Each year it is useful to reflect on the reasons why we formed Robotics Australia Group in May 2020 to facilitate the growth of a sustainable and internationally competitive national robotics industry. Some of the key issues we formed to address included:
- Visibility and brand issues --- robots ≠ job loss
- Capability and growth of a robotics industry for Australia
- Creation of connections to grow our robotics network
- Vibrant funding models to support growth and start-ups
To this end, our focus has not changed. We will know that we have met with success in helping to grow Australia’s commercial robotics industry when we see:
- More venture capital investment
- More people working in robotics
- More companies exporting and scaling
Engagement with Robotics Australia Group through multiple channels has increased. Robotics Australia Group has also hosted several online and in-person events, and we continue to expand activities as resourcing allows. As well as an increased number of community-building events, we are well underway in the process of putting together a third robotics roadmap to be launched in February 2025. We have made a lot of progress in terms of advocacy, contributing to thought leadership, white papers, and making submissions and representations to federal government. We have expanded our international partnerships and are recognised as the guiding force behind the development of Australia’s first national robotics strategy released earlier this year. We are sought after for advice, briefing the National Reconstruction Fund, AusTrade and numerous VCs on Australia’s robotics industry.
We held a Strategy Day in November 2023 to articulate how we could progress our 7-point action plan to develop a sustainable robotics industry.
With the release of the National Robotics Strategy, we need to build on momentum. We have a lot planned for 2025 with the launch of the Robotics Roadmap in Melbourne and our inaugural robotics awards. We continue to look for ways to expand our impact and support activities at the local level, hosting in-person events in most states. While we are not tracking media coverage and sentiment, the engagement and press that Robotics Australia Group has achieved, for such a young, small organisation, is impressive. With continued commitment, we can go a long way to achieving our goals and seeing the development of a sustainable robotics industry (and a thriving robotics ecosystem) in Australia
