Global Robotics Industry Advocates for Common Automation Strategy
The Barcelona Declaration on Robotics and Automation 2026 hopes to establish as a common policy agenda with governments. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Robotics
BARCELONA—The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has joined with A3, VDMA Robotics + Automation and Spanish AER Automation to formalize a long-term commitment to promote public policies that accelerate automation, industrial competitiveness and talent development.
The four leading organizations signed the Barcelona Declaration on Robotics and Automation 2026, an agreement that consolidates a global initiative to advance a common policy agenda with governments and position robotics as a strategic priority for economic, industrial and social development.
"This Declaration represents an international commitment to work hand in hand with governments in building a policy framework that enables robotics to reach its full potential as a driver of competitiveness, sustainability and social well-being," says Carlos Méndez, president of AER Automation.
The Barcelona Declaration on Robotics and Automation 2026 sets out 10 priorities for policymakers, regardless of their country's industrial structure or level of automation maturity:
Adopt a National Robotics Strategy
• Improve general investment conditions through tax policy.
• Governments should use robots, not only regulate them.
• Bring robotics into schools.
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• Communicate the real impact of automation and robotics on jobs.
• Invest in assistive and care robotics.
• Make robotics accessible to everyone.
• Regulate smartly and keep up with technology, avoiding unnecessary costs.
• Back international standards, not regional ones.
• Close the gap between innovation and scale.
The organizations have agreed to maintain a permanent dialogue with governments and public institutions, provide technical expertise and industry data to policymakers, publish regular progress reports on the implementation of the Declaration's priorities, and progressively open the initiative to additional robotics and automation associations worldwide.
“Through this ongoing collaboration, the Barcelona Declaration aims to establish itself as an international reference framework for shaping public policies on robotics and automation in the years ahead,” explains Méndez.
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