Kuka
Application phase for Innovation Award 2026 begins
How can robotics help to make packaging more sustainable? Kuka is looking for creative and innovative ideas in the new round of the Innovation Award.
The packaging industry is changing: the new EU packaging regulation and changing demands for efficiency and sustainability mean considerable changes for companies. This change can only succeed with modern concepts and solutions. That is why the motto of the'Kuka Innovation Award 2026' is 'Circular Packaging Challenge'.
"New technologies around robotics and artificial intelligence are opening up countless opportunities for the packaging industry, whether it's recycling or waste prevention, or completely redesigning the entire packaging process," says Volker Schmirgel, Head of the Kuka Innovation and Technology Center. "We are looking for bright minds and young talents to take a look into the future and present us with their ideas on how robots can be used in the packaging of consumer goods." We are looking for ideas along the entire life cycle, from the packaging of products in production to the recycling process.
Teams from all over the world can apply with their ideas until the end of August. An international jury will select the best concepts. These final teams can turn their ideas into reality with a Kuka robot provided free of charge, which can be expanded with a 'Roboception' 3D vision system and Kuka software. In addition, experts will accompany the finalists during implementation. The final teams will present their applications to an international trade audience at the 'interpack' packaging trade fair in May 2026. There, the jury will select the winner of the Innovation Award, which is endowed with 20,000 euros. The Innovation Award is aimed at developers, graduates and research teams from companies or universities.
You might also be interested in
Regulation and safety slow down robotics projects in Germany
QNX has published the study "Inside the Robot: Architecture Benchmark Report". The results of the global survey of 1000 robotics developers show that software and safety requirements are increasingly becoming the central bottleneck for innovations...
read more...Dr. Olaf Munkelt becomes new Chairman
Dr. Olaf Munkelt, co-founder and Managing Director of MVTec Software, is the new Chairman of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association. He succeeds Dr. Dietmar Ley, former CEO of Basler, who stepped down from the board for statutory reasons.
read more...Change in the VDMA Robotics + Automation Board
Dr. Michael Jürgens, CEO of Kuka Robotics, is a new member of the board of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association.
read more...International Federation of Robotics
10.7% more robots in the US car industry
The US automotive industry is investing more heavily in robotics and automation: the number of installations rose to a total of 13,700 units in 2024 - an increase of 10.7 %. This is according to preliminary results from the International Federation...
read more...'Roibot Award' goes to inclusion project
The Wittekindshofer Werkstätten are creating a disabled-friendly workplace with a low-cost robot. The foundation has now received the 'Roibot Award' from Igus for this creative inclusion project.
read more...Intralogistics Next Level
Logimat 2025 will occupy all ten halls of the Stuttgart exhibition grounds from March 11 to 13. Global players, medium-sized companies and start-ups will provide an overview of the current state of the art in the intralogistics sector.
read more...International Federation of Robotics
EU employment rises to 20-year high
Employment in the European Union has reached its highest level in twenty years across all sectors: the employment rate of 15 to 64-year-olds rose to 71.7%.
read more...Transformation hub wiring harness
Robotics Challenge 2025
Automation is becoming increasingly important in wire harness production: The Transformation Hub Wire Harness invites you to the second edition of the Robotics Challenge on November 1, 2024.
read more...International Federation of Robotics
World Robotics Association has a new president
The Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has elected Takayuki Ito as President. At the same time, Jane Heffner was appointed as the new Vice President of the IFR.
read more...