# Esben Østergaard:  EU AI Act will stifle robotics innovation

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-12-08
- Length: 1h 04m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/esben-ostergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation

## Summary

Esben Østergaard, CEO of Reinvest Robotics and co-founder of Universal Robots, argues that the proposed EU AI Act and Machinery Directive will stifle robotics innovation by imposing burdensome third-party certification requirements on AI-enabled safety systems. He contends that the current Machinery Directive is sufficient and that new regulations would disproportionately harm startups and flexible collaborative robots compared to established enterprise players. The episode also covers recent industry news, including DoorDash’s move to build its own delivery robots, MiR’s partnership with Logitrane for autonomous pallet jacks, and Knightscope’s IPO.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=8) Introduction and 2022 Robotics Summit Call for Speakers
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=189) DoorDash Building Own Delivery Robots
- [9:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=552) MiR, Serve Robotics, and Knightscope IPO News
- [17:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=1058) AWS and Mass Robotics Startup Accelerator
- [18:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=1091) Esben Østergaard on EU AI Act and Machinery Directive
- [38:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=2289) Impact of Regulations on Compliance and Market Dynamics
- [47:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=2853) Reinvest Robotics Investment Philosophy and Portfolio
- [53:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-08-esben-stergaard-eu-ai-act-will-stifle-robotics-innovation#t=3214) Future Frontiers: Agriculture, Construction, and Healthcare Robotics

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Reinvest Robotics (company)
- Universal Robots (company)
- DoorDash (company)
- Starship Technologies (company)
- Marble (company)
- Zook (company)
- MiR (company)
- Logitrane (company)
- Serve Robotics (company)
- Knightscope (company)
- Flytrex (company)
- Nuro (company)
- Waymo (company)
- AWS (company)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- Lifeline Robotics (company)
- Farm Droid (company)
- Tubo (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics, and Startups Across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-15-246-automatica-2025-exploring-innovation-robotics-and-startups-across-bavaria-ge) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 119: Robotics for small manufacturers - Will Kinghorn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 105: Working with robots in industry - Gianmarco Pisanelli](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-01-17-episode-105-working-with-robots-in-industry-gianmarco-pisanelli) (Robot Talk)
- [Leadership Perspectives on Robotics, Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-09-leadership-perspectives-on-robotics-highlights-from-automate-live-in-detroit-mi) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 142: Collaborative robot arms - Mark Gray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-01-30-episode-142-collaborative-robot-arms-mark-gray) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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