Robot Talk · 1 Jun 2026 · 34m
Claire Asher interviews Carolina Domation, Sanford Dickert, and Agatha Sua at the European Robotics Forum 2026, discussing the urgent need for resilient robotics supply chains in Europe. The guests highlight vulnerabilities in sourcing critical components like PLCs and motors, advocating for strategic reindustrialization, dual-sourcing, and government-backed demand to secure European technological sovereignty. They argue that Europe must shift from funding isolated pilots to supporting scalable integrators and certified deployment networks to compete with US and Chinese state-driven ecosystems.
early-stage companies and companies scaling up
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Host Chris Luecke recaps the 2024 Robotics Summit in Boston, featuring interviews with Jonathan Hurst of Agility Robotics, Joyce Sidopoulos of MassRobotics, and Scott Sizemore of Electrocraft. The episode explores the commercialization of humanoid robots, the shift from disjointed component sourcing to integrated motion systems, and the role of accelerators in scaling early-stage robotics startups.
Michael Velmenden of CMS Electronics and Michael Knöferle of BMK Group discuss the stalled nature of reshoring in Europe, noting that while supply chain security drove initial interest, actual volume shifts remain limited. They highlight severe supply chain opacity and the 'bullwhip effect' as major barriers to efficient inventory and cash flow management. The panelists also address the critical talent shortage in the EMS sector, arguing that automation cannot replace the need for highly qualified engineers and operators, requiring a strategic shift in how EMS companies market themselves as innovative employers.
Dr. Henrik Christensen, Qualcomm Chancellor's Chair at UC San Diego and co-founder of Robust AI, discusses the critical intersection of robotics and federal policy, arguing that robotics requires federal attention and coordination similar to AI. He highlights the challenges of reshoring manufacturing, the negative impact of potential tariffs on US robotics, and the necessity of immigration reform to address labor shortages. The conversation also covers the implications of the CHIPS Act, the need for independent semiconductor fabs, and the importance of international partnerships while managing geopolitical risks with China.
Xaver Feiner of Zollner and Thomas Michels of Ilfa discuss uniting Europe's PCB and EMS trade associations to advocate for industry resilience. They detail a collaborative effort involving IPC, ZVEO, and EIPC to produce a collective letter to the European Parliament and national governments. The advocates argue that supply chain fragility exposed by COVID and geopolitical tensions necessitates government subsidies, equipment support, and long-term OEM commitments to prevent the industry's collapse.
Dieter Weiss of in4ma, Dirk Stans of Eurocircuits, and Michael Müller of Polytron-Print discuss the collapse of Europe's PCB manufacturing share from over 20% to 2.2% of the global total. They argue for government intervention, including tariffs, tax incentives, and a unified component database, to stem the decline and reduce dependency on Far Eastern supply chains. The panel emphasizes the need for associations to unite and lobby Brussels to support critical infrastructure and education.
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