Web Summit 2023: United Robotics Group at the German Park of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

• United Robotics Group (URG) is a co-exhibitor at the German Park, presented by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK)
• The company gives new impetus to the discussion about the future of robotics in Germany and Europe
• Service robotics counteracts the global skills shortage and demographic change
• URG introduces CobiotX solutions for the healthcare, care and hospitality sectors
•  Experience humanoid robot Pepper (de:hub) and Cobiot Plato (BMWK) live

Lisbon/Bochum – October 30, 2023 – United Robotics Group (URG), the European market leader in service robotics based in Bochum, Germany, demonstrates the contribution of robotics to current societal challenges such as the global skills shortage and demographic change at the Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon from 13-16 November at the German Park. The focus is on solutions for the healthcare and hospitality sectors. In this way, the URG strengthens Europe as a business location and ensures more technological sovereignty. Initiated by the BMWK, Germany is appearing for the first time in Pavilion 2 as a partner of the leading international trade fair. URG will be present at the stand (E230). The German Park is a meeting place and platform for companies of all sizes that set sustainability and digitalisation as goals in equal measure and develop innovative ideas for a digital ecosystem. 

URG's motivation: By 2030, a staff shortage of up to 15 million people is expected worldwide in the health sector¹. In Europe alone, there is a shortage of more than four million workers², and 1.8 million in Germany by 2035³. In the hospitality sector, the shortage of skilled workers in the EU has risen to over one million in the last three years⁴, 65,000 of which are in Germany⁵. 

"With CobiotX, the new third generation of robots, United Robotics Group offers an effective solution to some of the most important global challenges of our modern society. The combined functions of industrial and service robotics offer valuable support and relief to workers in times of skills shortages," says Thomas Hähn, founder and CEO of United Robotics Group.

Robotics as a solution to staff shortages in the hospitality and healthcare sectors

URG's first service cobiot, Plato, was recently launched for the hospitality industry. Specialised for busy environments such as restaurants, it features a mobile autonomous platform and an intelligent navigation system designed specifically for indoor environments. As such, it assists service staff in the hospitality industry with a variety of routine tasks – from serving food and drinks to clearing dishes. In addition, Plato also ensures that healthcare workers can focus more on human interactions through activities such as medication and meal delivery, as well as support services for daily care and materials management.

The interactive humanoid robot Pepper will be exhibited at the de:hub partner stand of the BMWK (E230). Thanks to its special communication skills, it can be used in a variety of ways in the healthcare sector – both for information purposes and to teach learning content as well as to provide support in the treatment of trauma patients. In this way, it improves the quality of life of those in need of help as well as care and relieves the burden on staff.

 Data sovereignty, data security, and data rooms

URG's solutions offer maximum data security and integrity. The Plato service robot complies with the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC for operation in changing environments. It is also GDPR compliant, ensuring a high level of data protection. Users have full control over installed routes and access to daily analytics with key performance indicators stored in the cloud. The data is a valuable building block for innovations in the field of artificial intelligence, ensuring a sustainable European economy. 

 Discussing the future of robotics on stage

In addition to exhibiting its solutions, URG will also take part in the German Park stage programme:

•  On 14 November, Dr. Nadja Schmiedl, CTO of United Robotics Group, will give a keynote speech on "More Women in Tech" from 1.30 to 1.40p.m.
• On 15 November, Thomas Hähn, founder and CEO of the United Robotics Group, will take part in a panel discussion on "Talent Attraction" from 1.10 to 2p.m.

An exchange about United Robotics Group and CobiotX is possible from 13 to 16 November with Thomas Hähn (Founder and CEO) and on 14 November with Dr. Nadja Schmiedl (CTO) in Pavilion 2, Stand (E230).

Source reference

¹ Combating staff shortages in healthcare with digital solutions (healthcaretransformers.com)

² The shortage of skilled workers in Europe: its impact on geriatric medicine | SpringerLink

³ Shortage of skilled workers in the German healthcare system 2022 - PwC

⁴ Labour-shortages-in-the-hospitality-sector.pdf (hotrec.eu)

⁵ Shortage of skilled workers: 65,000 employees missing in the hospitality industry | ZEIT ONLINE

 About CobiotX 

While the first generation of robots were large, permanently installed industrial machines that automated individual, repetitive production steps and worked independently of humans, direct cooperation with humans became possible with the second generation cobots. Robots still perform their work statically in a defined environment by trained personnel. As the inventor of CobiotX, the new and third generation of robots, United Robotics Group defines the standard for service robots - the robot is mobile in use, easy to operate, and flexible with improved human-robot interaction and responsible design. 

 About United Robotics Group

United Robotics Group, founded by Thomas Hähn in 2020, unites nine service robotics companies into a unique ecosystem by bundling hardware and software expertise under one roof. Over 490 employees and 28 nationalities work at the company. Headquartered in Bochum, Germany, United Robotics Group brings together cutting-edge technology and robotic experts from both the social and industrial world. United Robotics Group shares the common ambition to empower humanity with technology, and lighten processes for humans, helping them focus on human interactions in a safe and secure environment.

As the CobiotX company who created this third generation of robotics – robots for humans, the United Robotics Group is committed to developing standardized and customized solutions to meet social and business challenges in the life science, health and care, hospitality, education, intralogistics, maintenance and surveillance sectors with quality, data protection and sustainability as key driving forces. All planning humans in the center of all.

RSBG SE, the investment entity of RAG-Stiftung, focused on technology and engineering driven companies is majority shareholder of United Robotics Group. SoftBank Robotics Group is minority shareholder of United Robotics Group. 

www.unitedrobotics.group 

Press contact: 

Sonja Wiesner
Corporate Communication & Public Affairs, United Robotics Group GmbH
s.wiesner@unitedrobotics.group | +49 173 7276566

Ewa Krzeszowiak & Betty Lauerbach, FleishmanHillard Germany

URG_Germany_Press@fleishman.com | +49 173 2674225