Robots to improve Danish competitiveness?

Research project on the introduction of robots in Danish manufacturing businesses

A group of researchers and practitioners is going to examine whether robots and other types of automation technology may improve the productivity of Danish businesses, thereby ensuring future Danish competitiveness.

Not just another machine

- When introducing a robot to a manufacturing business, it is not just a matter of new machinery that is to be run in. It may require a change in management and organisation. You may need new staff members with a completely different set of competencies, and they may need to be placed somewhere else, says Professor and Director of Centre Jan Rose Skaksen, who is involved in the research project.

A group of researchers from Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) at CBS is working on the project together with researchers and practitioners from the University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, the Danish Technological Institute and Eltronic A/S.

An advantage to certain businesses

It is important to examine which types of businesses that have benefited from introducing the new technology and the kind of changes that are required in terms of management and organisation to ensure successful implementation. Another objective is to develop an interactive benchmarking tool, which the businesses may use to estimate the value of introducing robot technology, for instance.

The project has been granted DKK 12 million by the Danish Industry Foundation, out of which CEBR administrates DKK 6.5 million.