European Robotics Forum 2023 (ERF 2023)
- Date
- 2023-03-14
- Location
- Odeon, Odense, Denmark
- Host
- euRobotics
About this event
European Robotics Forum 2023 brought one of Europe’s most important robotics gatherings back to Odense, the city closely tied to the origins of euRobotics. This edition carried extra weight: it marked the 10th anniversary of euRobotics’ formation and was described at the time as the largest ERF in recorded history. For anyone serious about where robotics is heading in Europe, this was the kind of event that put the full ecosystem in one place. About the Event ERF 2023 was an in-person forum designed to connect the people shaping robotics across research, industry, and the broader innovation community. With a focus that spans industrial robotics, applied technology, collaboration, and network-building, the event created space for both big-picture discussion and practical exchange. Hosted at Odeon in Odense, Denmark, the forum returned to a city with deep significance for the European robotics community. Odense is not just a convenient host location; it is known as the birthplace of euRobotics, which made this edition feel especially timely and grounded in the field’s shared history. At its core, ERF is a meeting point. It is where technical experts, business leaders, researchers, founders, and ecosystem builders come together to discuss what is working, what is changing, and what needs stronger collaboration next. Rather than a narrowly defined trade event or a purely academic conference, it sits in the productive middle: serious, cross-sector, and built for conversation. That made ERF 2023 especially relevant for attendees who wanted more than surface-level networking. The forum’s scale and anniversary context gave it the feel of a milestone gathering, where the state of European robotics could be seen in a single venue through the people in the room, the themes being discussed, and the partnerships taking shape. What to Expect Attendees could expect a full forum environment rather than a single-track meetup. ERF is known for bringing together a wide range of voices across robotics, so the experience is best understood as a mix of conference sessions, ecosystem conversations, and real-world networking. Across the event, the emphasis would naturally center on topics relevant to the robotics sector, including industrial robotics, emerging applications, collaboration between research and industry, and the future direction of the European robotics landscape. In a gathering of this scale, the value often comes from seeing how these themes connect across disciplines rather than viewing them in isolation. You could reasonably expect the day to include activity such as: Forum-style talks and discussions focused on major themes in robotics Cross-sector conversations between industry, researchers, and community leaders Networking throughout the venue with people working across the European robotics ecosystem Opportunities to discover current priorities and challenges shaping the field Informal meetings and chance encounters that often lead to future collaborations Because this edition was described as the largest ERF on record at the time, attendees should also expect energy and density: more people to meet, more perspectives in the room, and a stronger sense of momentum around robotics in Europe. Large forums can be valuable simply because they compress a broad network into a short span of time, and ERF 2023 appears to have done exactly that. For those attending with specific goals, it was the kind of event where you could come prepared to learn, to reconnect, or to explore new opportunities. For those attending more openly, it also offered the chance to get a sharp read on the direction of the field just by listening closely and following the right conversations. Why Attend ERF 2023 stood out because it combined significance, scale, and relevance. The return to Odense gave the event a strong sense of context, while the 10-year euRobotics anniversary gave it a built-in moment of reflection. That combination made the forum useful not only for understanding where robotics is now, but also for seeing how the European community understands its own progress. If you work in robotics, industrial automation, innovation, research, or ecosystem development, the value of attending is straightforward: you get direct access to a concentrated network of people who are actively building, funding, studying, or deploying robotics. That kind of access is hard to replicate through online updates or fragmented one-off meetings. Key reasons this event mattered include: A major gathering point for the European robotics community A strong industrial robotics and innovation focus Meaningful in-person networking in a sector where collaboration matters A milestone edition tied to the 10th anniversary of euRobotics A chance to understand the field at scale, not just through individual companies or labs There is also a practical reason to attend an event like this: it helps shorten the distance between insight and action. You can hear what others are prioritizing, compare notes with peers, spot emerging themes early, and build relationships that continue after the forum ends. For founders, researchers, operators, and community leaders alike, that can be the difference between staying informed and actually moving forward. Practical Details Location: In person at Odeon, Odense, Denmark. This is a physical, venue-based event designed for face-to-face participation, making it especially relevant for attendees who value live discussion and real networking over virtual attendance. Date and time: Tuesday, March 14 at 12:00 AM UTC. If you plan to attend, it is worth converting the listed time to your local timezone and checking any registration, access, or session details through the official event page or organizer updates. A few practical things to keep in mind: This is an in-person forum, so plan travel and accommodation accordingly if you are coming from outside Odense The event is community-rich and network-heavy, so leaving room in your schedule for conversations is likely as important as attending formal sessions The venue setting supports broader interaction, which is part of the event’s value for people in robotics and adjacent fields For the right attendee, ERF 2023 was not simply another calendar item. It was a timely opportunity to be in the room with the European robotics community at a moment of scale, reflection, and forward momentum. If your work touches robotics in any serious way, this was the kind of forum where showing up in person could meaningfully expand your perspective and your network.
Who should attend
If you want a serious, high-signal view of where European robotics is heading, this forum is built for you. - **You work in robotics R&D or engineering** and want to compare notes with peers across industrial robotics, applied research, and real-world deployment. - **You lead product, innovation, or strategy** and need a clearer read on the European robotics landscape, including the people, priorities, and momentum shaping the field. - **You’re part of a manufacturing, automation, or industrial operations team** looking for practical insight into robotics technologies that matter beyond the lab. - **You’re building connections across industry and research** and value being in the room with a broad cross-section of the European robotics community. - **You care about the direction of euRobotics and the wider ecosystem** and want to be part of a landmark edition in Odense, marking 10 years since euRobotics was formed. - **You appreciate scale and substance** and want to attend a forum described at the time as the largest ERF in recorded history, with the energy and density of conversation that comes with it.