2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards open for nominations
The Robot Report is seeking nominations for its 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards. The RBR50 has recognized the most innovative organizations and robots since 2012. Here are the winners from 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Each year, The Robot Report selects the most interesting and important robotics innovations from around the world. The deadline for submissions is Monday, December 22, 2025. Submit your nomination(s) below.
The RBR50 winners will be celebrated at an awards gala during the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be held on May 27-28, 2026 in Boston. Some of the winners will also be demoing their robots on the Robotics Summit expo floor in the RBR50 Pavilion.
RBR50 Awards categories
To be eligible, all nominations must be for innovations that were initiated, released, or executed between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025. The RBR50 is looking for submissions in the following categories:
Startup of the Year: The nominee must be less than five years, and it must be already testing its innovation with customers. Electric Sheep won the inaugural RBR50 Startup of the Year Award, while Mytra took home the honors in 2025.
Application of the Year: The winner will be a use case that has previously been difficult to automate and where robotics and automation have demonstrated a clear benefit over previous processes. In 2024, Brightpick won the inaugural RBR50 Application of the Year Award. TEPCO won in 2025 for its work to remove radioactive fuel from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Robot of the Year: The RBR50 awards are seeking a robot that is a game-changer in terms of technology innovation, use case, and industry influence. In 2024, Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid won the inaugural Robot of the Year Award. Robotaxi developer Waymo won in 2025 for surpassing 150,000 paid trips per week across its fleets in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
Robots for Good: The RBR50 Robots for Good Award honors a robot that make a positive impact on society by addressing social challenges, improving quality of life or work, or promoting sustainability. Hello Robot’s Stretch 3 mobile manipulator won the inaugural Robots for Good Award for advancing in-home assistive robotics.
Products: This category honors new robots, enabling technologies, and research.
Business: This category honors major milestones, unique business models, and other initiatives positioning a company as a market leader.
Applications: The RBR50 will also recognize innovations that improve productivity, quality, and cost-effectiveness, as well as those that automate new tasks.
For any questions related to the 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards, please contact Steve Crowe.
Submission Form for 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards
Fill out the form to nominate your company for the 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Company*Website*
(www.yourcompanyname.com)
Contact name*Contact email address*Country*Logo (JPG, PNG)*Year Founded*Number of Employees*
1-1011-5051-100101-500500+
Which area(s) of innovation are you applying for? (2 categories max)*Please describe your innovation(s) (500 words or less)*What makes this innovation a contender for an RBR50 Innovation Award? For example, how does this innovation advance your company, deliver value, accelerate robotics sector growth, improve society, or provide other benefits? (300 words or less)*To be eligible, the submission must be for an innovation that was initiated, released, or executed between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025. Please add information (press release, announcement, website link) that confirms the innovation meets the eligibility requirement.*Hi-res Photo (JPG, PNG)*If your organization wins a 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, can you display your system at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which takes place in Boston on May 27-28, 2026?**If your organization wins a 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, will 2 company representatives be able to attend the awards gala on May 27 during the Robotics Summit & Expo? Tickets are free for winners.*Please provide additional links that would give additional information about your company or group.CAPTCHA
