In an industry characterised by technological disruption, fierce competition for talent, and harder access to capital, this year’s R-24 robotics event emphasised that there is still a need for physical events that bring people, knowledge and capital together. The next edition, R-26, is already in the diary.
Odense once again brought together the international robot and drone industry at this year’s R-24 robot event, which took place in Odense from Wednesday to Friday last week.
4,008 visitors made their way to Odense Congress Centre and the leading robotics event in the Nordic region, and Event Manager Morten Ihlow declares this to be satisfactory.
– It is gratifying that a physical event like R-24 is still being prioritised by the industry and therefore has its justification. We believe that there will only be a greater need for physical events that can bring people, knowledge and capital together. Not least in these years, when companies have to fight a little harder for both talent and capital than they might have had to just a few years ago, says Morten Ihlow.
AI
This year’s conference programme featured topics such as AI, the future labour market, cybersecurity, the green transition and other hot topics in the industry. There was a full programme on the five stages and the main stage all three days with more than 80 presentations, panel discussions and workshops.
– We know that nowadays people don’t just come to an event to fill their diary or order book. They also come to fill their heads with relevant knowledge, which is why this year we have had a really strong focus on ensuring a broad and interesting conference programme, says Morten Ihlow.
Delegation trip
With its three editions so far, the Funen robot event has become the leading event of its kind in the Nordic region, which also serves as an introduction to Odense’s internationally recognised robot and drone community.
This year was no exception, and in addition to the traditional Odense Investor Summit, R-24 offered a very well-attended international delegation tour the day before the event. Here, more than 100 guests – including international delegations from the USA, South Korea, Spain, Finland and Germany – had the opportunity to visit locations such as the Port of Odense, Universal Robot, the University of Southern Denmark, the Danish Technological Institute and the drone test centre at Hans Christian Andersen Airport.
– This year’s delegation trip was a real crowd-puller, and it just goes to show that Odense has become a very attractive city that many look to for inspiration. One of the distinctive features of the Danish robot cluster is the ability to collaborate, and from the event’s side, we would like to acknowledge another great collaboration with all our partners in creating the optimal framework for a top-class European robot event, Morten Ihlow concludes.
The next edition, R-26, will take place on 11-13 March 2026.
