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Competence Centre on Foresight

We foster a strategic, future-oriented and anticipatory culture in the EU policymaking process.

  • Page | Last updated: 12 Jun 2019
Increasing robotisation

Rapid implementation of automation and robotics and the emergence of AI and IoT are radically changing the work environmnet. In 2016, the average of industrial robotic density was 74 robots units per 10,000 employees.

Foresight

Rapid implementation of automation and robotics and the emergence of AI and IoT are radically changing the work environment.

  • Smart homes, virtual secretaries, AI doctors, care robots, and flying warehouses and self-driving cars are among the technologies that will shape our future living and impact work.
    | Related Megatrends: Inequalities; Technology;
  • Around 2.6 million industrial robots will be installed worldwide by 2019 (a 1.4 million increase compared to 2016), with highest sales in China (40% of total), Republic of Korea and Japan. By 2020, more than 3 million industrial robots  are being expected to be in use around the world — more than double the stock of 2014. 
    | Related Megatrends:  Inequalities; Technology;
  • Investment in industrial robots will grow 10% per year in
    the 25-biggest export nations through 2025,
    compared to 2–3% growth in recent years.
    | Related Megatrends: Inequalities; Technology;
  • Robotics industry is growing more rapidly than initially forecasted. BCG (Boston Consulting Group) is projecting robots market to reach $87 billion by 2025, while Tractica — incorporating the robotic and AI elements of the emerging self-driving industry — is forecasting $237 billion by 2022.
  • Use of advanced ICTs (Information and communications technology) in industry could boost productivity by 5% to 8% in Germany. | Related Megatrends:  Work; Inequalities
  • China is the world's largest industrial robots market, expected to represent 40% of the worldwide robots purchases in 2019.
  • Globally, in 2016, the average of industrial robotic density was 74 robots units per 10,000 employees. Out of the 21 countries with an above-average robotic density, 14 are in the EU; Germany (309 units) is 3rd worldwide, after South Korea (531 units) and Japan (395 units).
  • Global assets managed by robo-adviser portfolio managers could reach $13 trillion by 2025 (up from $100 billion as of December 2016), according to a group of equity analysts at Morgan Stanley.
    | Related Megatrends: Inequalities; Technology;

The industrial revolutions in a snapshot

industrial_revolutions_and_industri_4
(© OECD)

Source: OECD, The Next Production Revolution. Implications for Governments and Business

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