SURVEY TOUTS FIVE YEAR ROBOTICS COMPANY GROWTH AND JOB IMPACT

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a community of robotics companies, hosts the first ever RoboPGH Day to showcase the great success and growth of robotics since the 2011 visit of President Obama visit to Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center.  Robotics companies were joined by U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and City of Pittsburgh officials to highlight the company expansion and job growth and economic development impact over the last five years. 

In 2011, President Barack Obama selected Pittsburgh as the city to announce the National Robotics Initiative, a multi-agency effort to accelerate the development and use of robotics in the larger effort to promote the American Manufacturing Partnership. Since the announcement, Pittsburgh has unleashed a new generation of robotics companies.  

In a recent survey conducted by the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, since 2011, Pittsburgh has generated 19 new businesses that are providing robotics solutions to a wide variety of industries such as agriculture, defense, mining, health care, industrial inspection, transportation, and warehouse automation. Of the 40 robotics companies and research institutions associated with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, over 1,500 new jobs have been added to the economy, a 300% growth in employment over a five-year period.   

“Robots play an important role in the local economy. In fact, we’ve experienced remarkable growth in this field since President Obama announced the launch of the National Robotics Initiative here five years ago. Over that short time, we’ve seen employment in local robotics companies skyrocket from 250 to more than 1500,” says Congressman Mike Doyle. “Robotics has become an important contributor to the economic resurgence of Pittsburgh – with one of the latest and largest developments being Uber’s establishment of an advanced technology center in Pittsburgh to develop self-driving vehicles. I believe that robotics and advanced manufacturing technology is critical for our region’s future economic growth. As a result, I have been a strong supporter of local efforts to support and promote Pittsburgh’s growth as a world leader in this field.”

“RoboPGH Day is an opportunity to highlight Pittsburgh’s emerging robotics ecosystem,” says Chris Osterwood, CTO of Carnegie Robotics and Founding Officer of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network.   “The companies represented today strive to challenge the status quo and are dedicated to driving innovation, growth while providing real world solutions.  The robotics companies of Pittsburgh will lead the advancement and innovation of industries across every sector today, and for generations to come. “

RoboPGH Day, was held at Carnegie Robotics, a spin-out from CMU’s National Robotics Engineering Center that reinvigorated an abandoned steel mill and is now an innovative robotics manufacturing hub. In the Carnegie Robotics high bay, twenty robotics companies from across the Pittsburgh area provided demonstrations ranging from autonomous solutions for ground and aerial vehicles, to autonomous warehouse logistics, dual robotic arms and robotic car seats.  RoboPGH Day is the first event to highlight the successful robotics industry growth and impact on the Pittsburgh economy.