On the 6th and 7th of January 2026, the UK robot manipulation community gathered in Scotland for the first time as the 7th UK Robot Manipulation Workshop took place at the University of Edinburgh. Hosted in the heart of one of Europe’s leading AI and robotics hubs, the fully in-person event welcomed around 250 researchers, students, and industry professionals for two days of intensive discussion, collaboration, and inspiration.
Since its launch in 2016 at the University of Birmingham, the workshop series has become a key fixture in the UK robotics calendar, previously hosted by Imperial College London, the University of Leeds, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the University of Oxford, and King’s College London. Bringing the workshop to Edinburgh marked an important milestone, highlighting Scotland’s growing role in robotics and AI research.
A Community Advancing the Frontiers of Manipulation
The 2026 programme (https://www.robot-manipulation.uk/programme) featured four thematic sessions:
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New Frontiers
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Learning and Control
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Dexterity
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Industrial Applications
Across these sessions, leading researchers from academia and industry shared advances spanning AI-driven manipulation, tactile sensing, compliant and soft robotic systems, dexterous hands, and deployment in real-world industrial settings. The talks reflected the field’s increasing convergence of hardware innovation and large-scale AI models.
A major highlight was the keynote address by Prof. Matei Ciocarlie (Columbia University), who shared his journey in designing and building robot hands while embracing modern AI models to enhance hardware capability. His perspective—grounded in hands-on hardware development yet forward-looking in its integration of foundation models—captured the evolving identity of the field: embodied intelligence at scale.
Beyond the Lecture Theatre: Labs and Ecosystem
The workshop extended beyond formal talks to showcase Edinburgh’s world-class robotics ecosystem. Attendees participated in guided tours of:
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The School of Informatics
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The Bayes Centre
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The National Robotarium
These tours provided insight into cutting-edge research facilities and strengthened connections between institutions, researchers, and industry partners.
Strong Industry Engagement
This year’s workshop was generously supported by Analog Devices, Humanoid, Amazon Robotics, Dobot, Haption, Kinisi, Ocado, and the IET. Their involvement underscored the growing industrial demand for robust, intelligent manipulation systems across logistics, manufacturing, humanoid robotics, and automation.
The presence of industry sponsors alongside academic leaders reinforced the workshop’s mission: bridging fundamental research and real-world deployment.
A National Platform with Growing Momentum
With approximately 250 attendees, the 7th edition once again demonstrated the strength and cohesion of the UK robot manipulation community. From early-career researchers presenting emerging ideas to senior academics and industry leaders shaping the next decade of embodied AI, the workshop provided a platform for open exchange and new collaborations.
As robotic systems move from controlled lab settings into dynamic, unstructured environments, advances in dexterity, tactile perception, and AI-driven control are becoming increasingly critical. The discussions in Edinburgh made clear that the UK continues to play a leading role in this transformation.