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RoboGeorgia has helped arrange occasions reminiscent of June’s Atlanta Robotics Meetup. Supply: RoboGeorgia
What are the components for a profitable robotics cluster? A mixture of analysis, expertise, and trade. RoboGeorgia is a nonprofit positioning Georgia as a middle for expertise innovation, workforce improvement, and robotics startups and enterprise development.
The group has help from the Superior Know-how Improvement Heart (ATDC), the Georgia Institute of Know-how (Georgia Tech), the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), and company companions reminiscent of Intel Corp.
It begins with academic and analysis establishments, famous Ward Broom. He’s automation and robotics catalyst at ATDC and a member of RoboGeorgia’s founding committee, which was introduced in April.
“Atlanta has the Tech Sq. neighborhood, a middle of innovation constructed round Georgia Tech and different colleges with a whole lot of analysis,” he advised The Robotic Report. “Georgia Tech additionally has the Superior Manufacturing Pilot Facility.”
As a state-funded establishment, Georgia Tech has strict limits on commercializing mental property, Broom stated. Against this, the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how, Carnegie Mellon College, and Stanford College are all personal. Nevertheless, these limits are beginning to ease, he stated.
Atlanta already a enterprise hub
“We’ve an enormous density of Fortune 500 corporations, reminiscent of UPS, Residence Depot, Delta, and Georgia Pacific,” Broom added. “Atlanta is a beautiful place for folks to come back, with a giant airport. We’ve the large 3PLs [third-party logistics providers], automotive manufacturing, and healthcare programs.”
“Established robotics corporations are relocating or constructing a big presence right here,” he stated. “For instance, Intuitive Surgical does all of its manufacturing in metro Atlanta.”
Different corporations with Georgia headquarters embody Dematic, Exotec, Fortna, and Mujin.
“All the weather are right here, however what’s lacking has been a startup ecosystem for robotics,” stated Broom. “Atlanta has been an space of business-to-business and software-as-a-service innovation, however traders historically shied away from {hardware}. That’s beginning to change.”
RoboGeorgia builds group
ATDC is without doubt one of the oldest incubators and accelerators within the U.S., stated Broom. Whereas it doesn’t but have the established co-working services of MassRobotics, the federal funding of Pittsburgh, or the worldwide status of Silicon Valley, it does have proximity to academia and trade.
“My explicit operate is to help robotics and automation startups,” he defined. “Amazon Robotics is sponsor of that place. Inside ATDC, we’re working to increase our design studio and make it accessible to the general public.”
The Georgia AI in Manufacturing (AIM) grant has $65 million to advertise AI and automation within the state, presenting a possibility to construct up the group, Broom stated.
“Enterprise capitalists and angel traders have turned their consideration to the Southeast, and the urge for food for automation {hardware} is increasing,” he asserted. “Robotics investing was democratized by COVID. At ATDC, we don’t make investments instantly in corporations, however I assist join corporations with traders across the U.S.”
In distinction with the most important U.S. robotics clusters, RoboGeorgia would like to fund its actions with trade sponsorships somewhat than authorities funding.
“We’re working with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, which has an Trade 4.0/superior manufacturing consultant on our committee to construct a robotics cluster,” stated Broom. “We’re additionally working with nationwide associations to get extra occasions within the Atlanta space.”
Amongst these occasions is the second annual Automating the ATL tomorrow on the Georgia Tech Analysis Institute Convention Heart. Editor Steve Crowe will likely be among the many audio system.