1,200 technology enthusiasts visited Odense during Week of Robotics
A total of 3 robotics conferences attracted no fewer than 1,200 international visitors to Odense in October. This paves yet another solid path toward fulfilling Odense’s ambition of becoming the world’s leading robotics city.
A Week of Robotics in Odense
On October 21, Week of Robotics kicked off with ROSCon, the largest of 3 conferences, where 90% of attendees held foreign passports and over half traveled from continents outside Europe.
The Week of Robotics offered 1,200 international guests — and a total of 1,500 conference participants—a unique opportunity to experience the innovative and vibrant robotics environment that has developed in Odense over the past 15 years.
“In Odense, we dare to say out loud that we want to be the world’s leading robotics city. By hosting ROSCon, we join the ranks of major international cities that have previously hosted this conference, giving us the chance to show no less than 1,200 leading researchers, experts, and enthusiasts in the robotics field that the robotics ecosystem in Odense is truly exceptional—a place they simply cannot ignore now or in the future.”
When ROSCon, contrary to tradition, chose Scandinavia and a relatively small city like Odense, it’s largely due to the prominent position that Odense is well on its way to establish.
“Odense’s reputation as a global hub for robotics innovation makes it the natural choice to host ROSCon 2024. The thriving ecosystem of leading research institutions, groundbreaking companies, and enthusiastic robotics advocates reflects our dynamic and passionate community.”
The companies play a central role
Especially the opportunity to get close to the city’s leading robotics companies through workshops and side events was an exceptional succes. On Monday, around 200 conference attendees participated in a series of workshops at the shared headquarters of Mobile Industrial Robots (MIR) and Universal Robots, and attendance at the week’s other events outside the conference venue was overwhelming.
After ROSCon, a new conference had already begun in the city focusing on social robots, namely ICSR, and then the German ROS Industrial started as the week’s final robotics conference.
“We welcome these conferences to the city very much. It is generally a great help in our quest for qualified labor that so many developers, researchers, and experts in the robotics field have the opportunity to visit us and experience what we can do in this environment in Odense and in Funen in general.”
The smaller and younger companies can also benefit from Odense hosting a series of robotics conferences:
“Networking is crucial for us, and these types of conferences help to expand that network and multiply it by ten. It is extremely important for us to tap into the international market, and it is vital for the growth of a company like ours that there is an ecosystem where knowledge can be shared and assistance can be obtained as efficiently as is the case at Funen.”
Additionally, the conferences and the unique side events also had the effect of making Funen more attractive for even more robotics-related conferences in the future. This is confirmed by Kent Kordt Röder, who is the business tourism manager at Destination Funen.
“A large portion of the conference guests arrived in Odense on Sunday, where they got a taste of the robot week at the international badminton tournament VICTOR DENMARK OPEN. Here they experienced how even a sports event can be invaded by robots when Odense is hosting. For example, it was a robot that handed new shuttlecocks to the players and transported their bags to the court during the tournament finals.”
Fact box
The robotics environment in Odense:
There are over 160 robotics, automation, and drone companies with 3,700 employees at Funen.
The world’s first commercially viable collaborative robot was invented here.
Odense is globally known as the capital of cobots.
More than 1 billion euros have been invested in the city’s robotics companies.
Further information
Rasmus Torpegaard Festersen
Investment manager - Robotics & drones
My drive is to help foreign companies in the robotics, drone, tech and automation industry to establish in Odense and connect them to relevant business partners and opportunities in the City of Odense. My background is within business, sports and leadership in tech – and my knowledge and network are there to help you.
+45 2492 0903
rasfe@odense.dk
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Mette Falk
Marketing Manager - Invest in Odense
As the Marketing Manager for Invest in Odense, I am passionate about showcasing the strengths and potential our city holds. With a background steeped in marketing and a deep affection for the city of Odense, I am excited to lead initiatives that position Odense as a global hub within our specific strongholds.
+45 2368 8982
mefal@odense.dk
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