Circular Robotics: Designing Sustainable Autonomy for a Finite World at ICRA 2026

We are pleased to invite researchers, academics, and industry professionals to attend the workshop on "Circular Robotics: Designing Sustainable Autonomy for a Finite World" which will be held in conjunction with the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 2026 to be held from 1-5 June 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Date: To be confirmed

Time: To be confirmed

Workshop Abstract

Robotics is rapidly advancing and becoming a cornerstone of modern societies, yet its environmental footprint and societal integration remain underexplored. With the urgency of the climate crisis and growing awareness of planetary boundaries, now is the right time to ask: what kinds of robots are we producing, and how are we producing them?

This workshop brings together robotics and sustainability communities to examine the intersection of technology, environmental responsibility, and social relevance. We will focus on innovative approaches in robotics and resource efficiency, drawing on perspectives from beyond the robotics field to highlight the challenges of unsustainable systems and the opportunities for rethinking materials, supply chains, and their social and environmental implications.

These perspectives will frame discussions on how robotics can contribute to sustainable solutions, using tools such as life-cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy practices, material flow analysis, and sustainable design principles. The workshop will also foster interdisciplinarity, bridging natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences to align robotics with long-term societal and ecological priorities.

It will serve as an umbrella forum for emerging initiatives, fostering collaboration across research groups and disciplines. Together, we aim to create a shared roadmap to ensure robotics evolves not only as a driver of innovation but also as a contributor to planetary well-being and societal resilience.

The workshop serves as an umbrella forum for emerging initiatives, fostering collaboration across research groups and disciplines

Goals and Output:

• Create a roadmap for sustainable robotics, capturing joint actions and priorities.

• Foster networking and collaboration between robotics, sustainability, and related initiatives.

• Highlight opportunities for cross-disciplinary innovation, bridging engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences.

• Encourage international participation beyond Europe to build a global perspective.

Agenda:

Total Duration: 4 hours. Half-day (exact times to be confirmed)

08:30 – 08:40	Welcome, opening statement, ground rules
08:40 – 09:20	Keynote #1: Building Sustainable Supply Chains in Robotics: Learning from the Electronics Sector – a. Prof. Dr. André Martinuzzi, Institute for Managing Sustainability, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
09:20 – 10:00	Keynote #2: Robots as endangered species – Prof. José HALLOY, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
10:00 – 10:30	Panel discussion with keynote speakers and panelists
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee break & informal networking (optional poster viewing)
11:00 – 11:30	Short pitches (5 min each) from initiatives/working groups
11:30 – 12:30	Collaborative roadmapping session – defining shared actions and next steps

Keynote Speakers

• André Martinuzzi, Institute for Managing Sustainability, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria

• José Halloy, University of Paris Cité, France

Panelists

• André Martinuzzi, Vienna University of Economics and Business

• José Halloy, University of Paris Cité

• Ludovic Righetti, New York University

• Corina Barbalata, Louisiana State University

• Malika Meghjani, Singapore University of Technology and Design

Organizers

• Sharath Chandra Akkaladevi, Profactor GmbH

• Dr. Patrick Courtney, DroneMatLab / King’s College London

• Fausto Ferreira, University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing & Centre of Excellence MARBLE

• Franziska Kirstein, Three Robotics

• Dr. Shirley A. Elprama, imec - SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brubotics & FARI

• Dr. Carl Maria Mörch, FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles

• Dr. Adrien Escande, Inria Center at University of Grenoble Alpes

• Dr Ludovic Righetti, New York University

• Prof. Luisa Damiano, IULM University

• Dr. Ilaria Alfieri, IULM University