Roadmap
How to get there
The role of SPARC
In a technology based economy the role of public bodies is to develop and implement policy that supports the creation of a viable and relevant science base, while the role of private industry is to transform the resulting technical advantage into products and services thus creating wealth and economic growth.
SPARC embodies this symbiosis.
SPARC joins together the European Commission, on the public side, and euRobotics AISBL on the private side. Where euRobotics AISBL represents the interests of the robotics community in Europe, SPARC disseminates its intentions through delivery of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) supported by the multiannual roadmap (MAR), and the updating of these documents to reflect new developments and markets.
The SPARC community constitutes the full spectrum of interest in robotics across Europe; On one side, the European Commission and, on the other, European researchers, industry and end users. euRobotics AISBL, led by industry, having equal representation from the industrial and research communities in its executive and a wide range of members also engages with end users and interested parties through associate membership.
Strategic Research Agenda (SRA)
The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) provides a high level strategic overview for the robotics community. It is also intended to act as an introduction to the European robotics community for non-robotic specialists, policy makers, entrepreneurs and industries intending to use or work within the robotics market.
Its companion document, the multi-annual Roadmap (MAR) is a more detailed technical guide identifying expected progress within the community and providing a detailed analysis of medium term research and innovation goals.
If you are a policy maker, investor, or entrepreneur trying to understand the robotics market in Europe you should read this document. It will give you an overview of the status and potential of robotics. Depending on your interests some parts of the companion document “Multi-annual Roadmap MAR”, particularly those relating to innovation and products, may provide a deeper insight.
If you are an innovator, technologist or researcher you may find the detail you are looking for in the “Multi-annual Roadmap MAR” document, and a higher level overview of robotics in Europe in this document.
Multi-annual Roadmap (MAR)
The Multi-annual Roadmap (MAR) is a companion to the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) providing a greater level of technical and market detail.
Download the H2020 Robotics Multi-Annual Roadmap ICT-2016.
It is updated annually as priorities, technologies and strategic developments shape European research development and innovation (R&D&I). The annual update will follow a process that utilises the expertise within Topic Groups formed by euRobotics AISBL and seeks open consultation.
The priorities for R&D&I funding, including near market activities, will be derived from the MAR as a part of the annual review cycle.
Robotics is a diverse field and the roadmap relies on expert opinion in each domain and technical field to provide and verify the information within it. The annual review process will examine each key technical and market area to ensure material is brought up to date at least once per annum. This document and its associated Wiki provide a framework through which this additional information can be accessed.
Topic Groups (and how to join)
Reader of the Multi-Annual Roadmap (MAR) are encouraged to engage with this process (described above) and to contribute your knowledge to the content of the document. It will then reflect and sustain a live discourse on the current state of robotics technology. You can do this by joining
euRobotics and then contributing to the Wiki and the associated Topic Groups.