The European Robotics Forum 2026, held in Stavanger, once again brought together the European robotics community, gathering researchers, companies, and innovation stakeholders to discuss the future of robotics across multiple sectors.
Among the key topics addressed this year, agricultural robotics and digitalisation played a central role, reflecting the growing need to develop sustainable, efficient and resilient agri-food systems.
A dedicated workshop on robotics, sensing and digital twins
As part of the programme, a workshop entitled “Advanced Robotics, Sensing and Digital Twins for Sustainable Agriculture” was organised to explore how cutting-edge technologies can be integrated into robust, field-ready agricultural systems.
The session gathered more than 30 participants from across Europe, including experts in:
- field robotics
- sensing systems
- artificial intelligence
- digital twins
- precision agriculture
Through a series of presentations and a round-table discussion, the workshop focused on key technological challenges such as:
- integrating robotics and multimodal sensing in complex environments
- transforming data into actionable insights for decision-making
- designing systems that are both robust and adaptable to real-world agricultural conditions
Showcasing Agrobotics-DITWINS
The workshop also provided an opportunity to present the Agrobotics-DITWINS project to a highly relevant audience of European stakeholders actively involved in agricultural robotics.
The project’s approach, combining robotics, sensing technologies and digital twins, directly resonates with the discussions held during the session, particularly regarding:
- the role of data in supporting decision-making
- the integration of heterogeneous systems
- the development of scalable and interoperable solutions
This visibility at ERF 2026 contributes to strengthening the positioning of Agrobotics-DITWINS within the European robotics ecosystem and fosters new opportunities for collaboration.
From research to real-world impact
Discussions during the workshop highlighted a key message: while technological progress is significant, the integration of these technologies into reliable, real-world systems remains a central challenge.
In this context, initiatives such as Agrobotics-DITWINS play a crucial role by bridging the gap between research and application, and by contributing to the development of data-driven, sustainable agricultural practices.
Strengthening the European ecosystem
By bringing together experts from different domains and countries, the workshop contributed to reinforcing collaboration within the European community working on agricultural robotics.
The exchanges confirmed the importance of:
- cross-disciplinary approaches
- collaboration between research, industry and end-users
- shared methodologies and best practices
These elements are essential to accelerate innovation and ensure that robotics and digital technologies effectively support the transformation of agriculture.