Sutter supports the Robotics Foundation in robotics, cobotics, and technology transfer
As a partner of the Robotics Foundation, Sutter works together with the Work-Life Robotics Institute at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences to promote applied robotics, cobotics, and the transfer of knowledge between research and industry.
- Published:
- Author: Sutter Medizintechnik GmbH
- Category: Inside Sutter | What's happening here
Innovation and responsibility go hand in hand at Sutter. That is why the company is committed as a founding partner of the Robotics Foundation. Together with the Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, the foundation promotes applied robotics, cobotics, and the transfer of technology between academia and industry. Its aim is to develop practical solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), unlock new opportunities for industrial and medical applications, and inspire the next generation of technology professionals to engage with future-oriented fields.
Shaping robotics for the benefit of society
The Robotics Foundation is committed to strengthening the connection between research, education, and industrial application. Its focus is on robotics and cobotics solutions that help companies enhance their processes efficiently and responsibly.
As a foundation partner, Sutter contributes its industrial expertise to this network and supports the exchange of knowledge and experience between research institutions and businesses.
Collaboration with the Work-Life Robotics Institute at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
A key partner of the Robotics Foundation is the Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences. The institute develops robotics applications that enable purposeful collaboration between people and technology. Its focus is on solutions that are economically viable and can be readily transferred into real-world practice.
The WLRI’s research activities span collaborative robotics and applied industrial robotics, additive manufacturing components, as well as assisted living and care robotics. As a result, the institute addresses both current industrial applications and emerging opportunities in the healthcare sector.
For Sutter, this combination of scientific research and practical applicability is a key aspect of the partnership. The Robotics Foundation provides a framework for translating research insights into concrete applications and new approaches to innovation.
Supporting the Next Generation of Robotics Talent
The Robotics Foundation is built around a privately funded professorship in “Cobotics and Socio-Technical Systems.” What began as a focused academic initiative has quickly evolved into a dynamic network that connects research, education, and industry.
This ecosystem creates opportunities for knowledge transfer, collaborative development projects, and the training of future robotics professionals. In addition to advancing research and technology transfer, the Robotics Foundation is committed to inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Together with its partners, the foundation supports the development of the skills and expertise needed to drive the future of robotics, automation, and digital technologies.
Technology Transfer for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Another example of the WLRI’s practice-oriented approach is its cross-border Robot Hub initiatives in the Upper Rhine region. Through these projects, the institute supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in evaluating and implementing robot-assisted automation solutions.
Its activities include analyzing existing processes, developing tailored solution concepts, and assessing technical and safety-related requirements. At the same time, the institute is actively involved in educating the next generation of robotics professionals, thereby strengthening knowledge transfer between academia and industry.
The Robotics Foundation builds on this approach by fostering an ecosystem in which research, education, and industrial application are closely interconnected.
Sutter would like to thank the Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) and Offenburg University of Applied Sciences for their valued partnership and collaboration. Together, the partners are helping to strengthen the exchange between academia and industry while creating new opportunities for the adoption and advancement of robotics and cobotics in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Partnerships that Connect Science, Industry, and Talent
Shaping the Future Together
The Robotics Foundation brings companies, academic institutions, and educational organizations together in a shared innovation ecosystem. In collaboration with the Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, it fosters new momentum in collaborative robotics, industrial automation, assisted living technologies, and emerging healthcare applications. Its goal is to accelerate the transfer of research outcomes into real-world practice while supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in leveraging modern robotics technologies to enhance innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
FAQ on Robotics, Cobotics, and the Robotics Foundation
The Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) is a research institute at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences that focuses on practical robotics applications and the transfer of scientific knowledge into industrial and societal use cases.
Its areas of focus include collaborative robotics, applied industrial robotics, additively manufactured components, robot safety, shopfloor simulation, Lean Robotics, as well as assisted living and care robotics.
Human-robot collaboration (HRC), also known as cobotics, refers to a form of cooperation in which humans and robots work together within a shared workspace.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefit from practice-oriented research projects and the development of economically viable automation solutions.
Robotic technologies may be used in a variety of medical and care-related applications in the future. Research partners such as the Work-Life Robotics Institute (WLRI) explore these opportunities from technical, economic, and societal perspectives.
- Inside Sutter | What's happening here
Ready to recharge!
Sustainable travel: Four new electric charging stations are now available on our company premises – powered by 100% green electricity from Naturenergie. This is another step on our path to greater sustainability in our everyday work.
- Inside Sutter | What's happening here
Sutter among top employers of German mid-sized companies 2023
For the sixth consecutive year, FOCUS magazine, in collaboration with its research partner FactField GmbH, has published its list of the best employers among small and medium-sized enterprises – and we are delighted that Sutter Medizintechnik has made it onto the 2023 top list*!