On 23 April 2026, the robotics community came together for another successful edition of Robotics Day, this year dedicated to Robotics for Food & Agriculture.
Researchers, students and industry partners gathered to explore how robotics and automation can contribute to more sustainable and resilient food production systems. The programme featured a compelling mix of inspiring keynote talks, interactive discussions and hands-on demonstrations, highlighting both cutting-edge academic research and real-world applications. The strong interaction between academia and industry created a lively exchange of ideas and underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing agri-robotics.
Celebrating education and talent
Education, mentorship and passion play a vital role in strengthening the robotics field. During the event, we proudly presented the Teacher of the Year Award, recognising outstanding commitment to robotics education. The 2026 award was presented to Stefano Stramigioli. We also warmly congratulate the nominees Arvid Keemink, Islam S. M. Khalil and Geert Folkertsma for their inspiring contributions to teaching and supervision.
In addition, we celebrated outstanding student achievements within the UT MSc Robotics programme. Congratulations to Jelle Idzenga, Stijn Kolkman and Lucas Dubois for their excellent work and dedication.
Inspiring contributions from research and industry
We thank our speakers Erik Pekkeriet, Cyrill Stachniss, Renske Landeweert, Mark Vlutters and Jan de Jong for their insightful and thought-provoking talks. Their perspectives offered valuable inspiration on the future of robotics in food and agriculture.
A special thank you also goes to all demo contributors and participants. The enthusiasm, engagement and collaborative spirit throughout the day clearly highlighted the strength and diversity of our robotics ecosystem.
We look back on Robotics Day 2026 with great pride and look forward to continuing these conversations and collaborations in the years to come.
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