World Leaders in Robotics Gathered in Bratislava for the 35th RAAD 2026 Conference
From June 17 to 19, 2026, Bratislava hosted the 35th International Conference on Robotics in the Alpe-Adria-Danube Region (RAAD 2026), held under the auspices of the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM). The annual event brings together leading researchers and experts in academic and applied robotics from around the world.
The conference provided an outstanding platform for exchanging knowledge and experience in modern robotics and related scientific disciplines. It returned to Slovakia for the first time in twelve years. Hosting this anniversary edition reflects international recognition of Slovakia’s achievements in robotics research and technological development. The event also served as an important showcase for domestic research through scientific publications, presentations of innovative technologies and research outputs, while strengthening Slovakia’s visibility within the global robotics community.
Nearly 60 researchers presented their work during the conference. Speakers included experts from Japan, Canada, Cyprus and numerous European countries, as well as participants from beyond Europe. The conference proceedings have been published by the international publisher Springer under the title RAAD 2026 as part of the Advances in Service and Industrial Robotics series.
The scientific programme featured two keynote lectures. Professor Eduardo Bayro-Corrochano from Poznań University of Technology (Poland) opened the conference with a presentation on Geometric Algebra and Quantum Computing for Robot Modelling and Control. The second keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Hung-Yin Tsai, Director of the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) in Taiwan, who presented the latest developments and future trends in robotics research in Taiwan.
Alongside the technical and scientific sessions, the programme included a special section highlighting the major milestones in Slovak robotics research, from the pioneering work of Wolfgang von Kempelen and Aurel Stodola to historical technological achievements, such as Potter’s fire engine, and the latest innovations developed at the National Centre for Robotics.
The conference also offered a dedicated programme for students and early-career researchers, allowing them to participate even without presenting their own research. This provided a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insights from internationally renowned experts and establish new professional connections.
RAAD 2026 was organised by the Institute of Informatics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Slovak University of Technology, the Slovak Society for Cybernetics and Informatics at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the National Centre for Robotics.
The conference was supported by the Ministry of Education and held under the Minister’s auspices.
More information: https://raad2026.sav.sk/
Prepared by: Róbert Sabo, Institute of Informatics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Photo: Conference archive