Hearken to this text

Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics, greets world delegates at R-24. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre

ODENSE, Denmark — Final week, the R-24 convention for robots, automation, and drones demonstrated why the town of about 206,000 residents is without doubt one of the most vibrant for know-how in Europe and the world. The spirit of collaboration, from cobots to company partnerships, is vital, in keeping with Søren Elmer Kristensen. For the previous 12 months, he has been CEO of Odense Robotics.

One of many organizers of the occasion, Odense Robotics represents about 593 corporations throughout Denmark. The group works with native and nationwide business, academia, and the general public sector to share insights, speed up development, forge partnerships, nurture folks, and drive innovation, mentioned Kristensen in an R-24 keynote.

“Collaborative robots, versatile automation, and drones are altering how we dwell and work,” he mentioned. “We’re taking a look at agriculture, meals, building, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing — locations used to automation and never so used to it.”

Denmark turns business decline into a possibility

Odense’s robotics cluster has its roots within the metropolis’s metal working and shipbuilding business, defined Rasmus Torpegaard Festersen, funding supervisor for robotics and drones at Put money into Odense. By the early Nineteen Eighties, manufacturing had shifted to Asia, and AP Moller – Maersk determined to spend money on analysis into extra environment friendly technique of manufacturing.

“The shipyard needed robotic assist with welding, and it was the primary collaboration between business and the College of Southern Denmark,” Kristensen informed The Robotic Report. “Like different cities, we’ve been by powerful occasions, however visionaries from each events and the municipality acknowledged the necessity to shift the paradigm from manufacturing to know-how innovation.”

Though the shipyard nonetheless closed, the funding led to the founding of cobot chief Common Robots A/S (UR) and Cell Industrial Robots ApS (MiR), which Boston-based Teradyne Inc. acquired in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

“That actually put us on the map globally,” Festersen mentioned. “Expertise attracts expertise, and we now have a essential mass.”

Not solely have UR and MiR grown, with plans to open a collaborative robotics hub in Odense in Could, however Denmark is now house to 593 robotics corporations, famous Kristensen.

“Our ecosystem additionally acknowledged that to develop, we would have liked to construct belief,” he added. “Folks can freely transfer, however corporations can’t simply steal expertise from each other. We’re additionally taking a look at mentoring extra startups in our incubator.”

Be taught from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and plenty of extra.

Perception Report tallies development

Odense Robotics and its companions additionally final week launched its annual Perception Report, which described the rising sector but in addition famous challenges. Danish robotics, automation, and drone corporations make use of 13,700 folks in Denmark and 4,800 overseas, reflecting 9% development previously 12 months, it mentioned.

In 2022, the cluster had a complete turnover of DKK 27.5 billion (€3.7 billion or $4 billion U.S.), of which DKK 13.1 billion (€1.8 billion or $1.9 billion) got here from exports, mentioned the report. Nonetheless, provide chain constraints, market consciousness, and world financial hurdles have arisen, acknowledged Kristensen. A survey of greater than 300 Danish corporations discovered that:

• 91% face constraints associated to restricted time, sources, and funds for innovation and product improvement
• 82% wrestle with buyer consciousness relating to the applied sciences’ potential advantages
• 81% grapple with a scarcity of certified workforce
• 67% encounter difficulties due to a scarcity of capital

Nonetheless, the Danish robotics cluster expects the creation of 30,000 jobs within the subsequent decade, mentioned Peter Rahbæk Juel, mayor of Odense. He talked about that two startups had lately relocated from Finland to be a part of Odense’s ecosystem.

Peter Rahbæk Juel, the mayor of Odense, Denmark, on the opening of the R-24 convention. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre

Odense Robotics continues collaborative method

“Of our 350 members, 20% have been established since 2020, and 87% collaborate with different robotics corporations,” mentioned Kristensen. “We’re additionally engaged on coaching and delegation visits with different clusters in Europe and North America, akin to Pittsburgh.”

“Denmark punches above its weight,” mentioned Lars Appel Haahr, particular advisor to Denmark’s Ministry of International Affairs, which works with Put money into Odense. “It’s the best, least corrupt, and has confirmed resilience with dual-use and digitalized corporations.”

From 2015 to 2024, greater than €1 billion ($1.09 billion) has been invested in native robotics corporations, mentioned the Perception Report. Greater than 160 robotics organizations are within the neighborhood of Odense, making it one of many largest concentrations in Europe.

The Monetary Occasions lately named the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund as considered one of Europe’s greatest startup hubs. The cluster goes by the international ministry to work with worldwide companions, and the R-24 convention included delegations from Germany and South Korea.

The Robotic Report joined the delegations in visiting the Odense Port, the Danish Technological Institute, and the drone take a look at heart at Hans Christian Andersen Airport. Extra protection of those and the Investor Summit to return.