A new Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Robotics has been agreed to be launched by the European Commission, industry and academia, to help Europe-based companies take a larger share of the €15.5 billion annual global robotics market. The European Commission stressed that robotics is a key driver for Europe's growth and competitiveness.

The European Commission, industry and academia have agreed to launch a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Robotics. The main objective of this partnership will be to help Europe-based companies take a larger share of the €15.5 billion annual global robotics market. The Commission believes that the future PPP will strengthen the EU robotics sector. For example, in January 2012, EU-funded researchers developed a robot able to help neurosurgeons in performing keyhole brain surgery.

In particular, the PPP in Robotics aims to develop strategic goals for European robotics and foster their implementation; Improve the industrial competitiveness of Europe through innovative robotic technologies; Provide robotic products and services as key enablers to help solve Europe‘s societal challenges; Strengthen the networking activities of the European robotics community; Promote European robotics; Reach out to existing and new users and markets; and Contribute to policy development and address ethical, legal and societal issues.

Europe's robotics industry accounts for about a quarter of the global production in industrial robotics and a 50% market share in professional service robotics. The domestic and professional service robot markets are expected to grow by 40% in the coming years with the strongest growth in rescue, security and professional cleaning applications. By 2020, service robotics could reach a market volume of more than €100 billion per year.