Most of the existing accelerators are based fully on Digital technologies and few of them can give support in the IoT domain, but none of them has still shown the capabilities to deliver a LEAN Startup type of program adapted to the needs of the Robotic domain. In this regard, RobotUnion curated an all-in-one solution that can shape the piece of the puzzle that is missing by the Acceleration ecosystem. The pool of facilities, researchers, designers, entrepreneurs, investors and managers of corporations that were engaged during the project have shaped the fundamentals of a community network of experts that empowered a RobotUnion accelerator. In this sense, the project created a practical approach to prove the scalability of the model "as a service" through creating a 'plug&play' RobotUnion Toolkit that was promoted outside of the consortium.
All IMPACT KPIs achieved and actions taken by RobotUnion have contributed to the growth of SMEs targeting new robotics markets by conducting and utilizing research facilities. It has been possible by combining within the consortium all the key assets and resources for successful innovation: technical and non-technical support services and technology research, technical differentiation, entrepreneurial leadership, market access, productization, and access to funding.
The project created a unique value proposition by lowering one of the main technical barriers which Robotics SMEs face when developing their technology: limited access to technology services and research facilities in many regions.
Robotics-oriented support provided by RobotUnion helped to raise the TRL of the scaleups supported in 3 levels, as average, by providing them access to research services. It has contributed to increasing the competitiveness of the European robotics industry by increasing the value of the ScaleUps and improving their investment readiness to stimulate the European Robotics Ecosystem. The success stories generated through RobotUnion action will contribute to attracting more private investment in SME-based research disruptive robotics companies. The overall impression of accelerated companies about the program is 9.3 out of 10, which confirms the perceived impact of the support provided to these 20 companies in the sectors addressed by the project: Manufacturing. Agri-Food, Healthcare, and Civil infrastructure.
Robots developed by companies accelerated through the RobotUnion program had a significant impact on:
- Social environment: Tendo and Aether contributing to breaking the technology gap of people with disabilities
- Animal welfare: Faromatics and their robot that is improving farm productivity by monitoring chickens using sensors and AI
- Smart Sustainable Growth: Bin-e developed an IoT device that sorts and compresses the recyclables automatically
Beyond this, all supported projects contributed to creating jobs in the Robotics industry: 146 new employees were hired in 20 ScaleUps teams supported by the RobotUnion program.
