CiTIUS takes part in ROBOTA-SUDOE, where robotics, digitalisation and automation come together

Juan Antonio Corrales and Saltanat Seitzhan, researchers at CiTIUS, a member of the CIGUS Network, an initiative launched by the regional government (Xunta de Galicia) that groups together centres of accredited scientific excellence, recently took part in the kick-off meeting for the ROBOTA-SUDOE project. The event, held at the CENTIMFE centre in Portugal, marked the start of a pioneering initiative aimed at modernising the economic sectors operating in Southwestern Europe, with a special focus on the agrifood industry and plastics. CiTIUS will be participating in this new and significant research challenge.  

The primary goal of the ROBOTA-SUDOE project is to drive the competitiveness and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through innovative collaborative solutions that integrate robotics, digitalisation, and automation. Leveraging the collective expertise and cooperation of all partners, the project aims to achieve significant technological advances that will benefit a number of industries. These solutions are designed to address local challenges and at the same time promote environmental sustainability. Through the use of advanced AI techniques and cutting-edge technologies, the project seeks to bring innovation to traditionally artisanal and less developed regions, thereby improving the quality of life and making the SUDOE area—particularly its rural regions—more attractive and viable.

Juan Antonio Corrales, the project’s lead investigator at CiTIUS, stressed the importance of this new joint project, stating that “the ROBOTA-SUDOE project represents a crucial step towards technological innovation in regions that have traditionally been overlooked. By harnessing advanced AI and collaborative robotics, our goal is not only to boost the competitiveness of SMEs but also to improve the quality of life in rural areas.” As for the role of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Corrales explained that “CiTIUS will contribute to the development and implementation of new robotic applications.”

The project aims to create a robust network for knowledge exchange and the transfer of technology to SMEs. “Transnational cooperation is a key element of ROBOTA-SUDOE, as the sectors and challenges we are addressing are shared across borders,” project representatives noted. “The diverse know-how and skills of the participating entities are complementary, which guarantees that our joint efforts will to more effective and innovative solutions,” they concluded. Expected outcomes include the development of collaborative robots for various applications, such as meat cutting, fruit packaging, and doll assembly. Additionally, the project plans to establish three “living labs” to showcase and promote these solutions across different sectors and SMEs in the region.