Robotics

Robotics and automation technologies have the potential to provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits for Australia.

These technologies can help:

address national challenges
revitalise Australian industries and manufacturing
provide safe and fulfilling opportunities for Australian workers.

National Robotics Strategy

We are developing a National Robotics Strategy to promote the responsible production and adoption of robotics and automation technologies. We held public consultation to inform the strategy.

National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee

The minister appointed the committee to guide strategy development.

The committee includes a wide range of people with:

technical expertise and industry experience relating to robotics and automation
perspectives on diversity and inclusion
ethics and social impact
experience addressing skills, investment, and adoption.

Committee members

Professor Bronwyn Fox

Chief Scientist, CSIRO (Chair of the committee)

Dr Catherine Ball

Associate Professor, School of Engineering, Australian National University

Mr Andrew Dettmer

National President, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union

Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte

NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer

Dr Sue Keay

Founder and Chair, Robotics Australia Group

Professor Simon Lucey

Director, Australian Institute of Machine Learning

Associate Professor Julia Powles

Co-Director, Minderoo Tech & Policy Lab

Mr Mike Zimmerman

Partner, Main Sequence Ventures.

Terms of reference

Committee terms

The terms of reference outline the committee’s role, operations and deliverables.

Australia’s critical technologies

The Australian Government identified robotics as a critical technology in the national interest.

List of Critical Technologies in the National Interest

Find out more about the technologies on the list.

Robotics news

Apr 2023

National Robotics Strategy discussion paper: have your say

Help shape Australia’s robotics future through the National Robotics Strategy. Submissions close 7 May 2023.

Dec 2022

New committee to help shape Australia’s robotics sector

The newly appointed National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee will support our department to develop a national robotics strategy.