agROBOfood

New European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) to stimulate the implementation of high robotic technologies and Artificial Intelligence in the agri-food industry.

The AgROBOfood project develops a network, formed by universities, research centres and innovative companies with the objective of create innovation ecosystems at local and regional level in the field of robotics applied to agri-food sector. AgROBOfood network is oriented to foster the sharing of information facilities and best practices for an effective adoption of tech robotic concepts in the agri-food sector and demonstrating their applicability under practical circumstances, in order to increase the sector’s productivity and sustainability.

AgROBOfood will carry out pilots to demonstrate the effectiveness of robotics in seven regional groups, among which is Iberia Hub led by Eurecat. These seven groups will test robots designed to prevent operators from having to work at temperatures below zero, to guarantee proper fertilisation of the land or to improve the olive traditional cultivation, among other solutions. Eurecat participates in one of these project pilots which has the aim to create an automated data capture system using autonomous robots and merging this information into a global vineyard monitoring system.

Within the framework of the project, it will be organised different open calls for Innovation Experiments addressed to robotics and agri-food SMEs and it will be promoted the creation of a Marketplace at an European level with high added value services to help companies of the sector to accelerate the implementation of robotic technologies.

The project deploys €16M to connect the world of robotics and agriculture, R&D and companies, through the creation of a sustainable network of digital innovation centres to consolidate the current ecosystem and allow companies to find support for digitalisation, at a technical, human and financial level.

The AgROBOfood project, which counts with the participation of Eurecat through the Robotics and Automation Unit, the Smart Management Systems Unit and the Department of Technology Consultancy, is led by Wageningen Food & Biobased Research and includes a total of 49 organisations and companies specialising in innovation and robotics from 19 different countries.