Sydney has won the bid to host a major international robotics conference – the IEEE/Robotics Society of Japan International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) in 2028. IROS 2028 is one of the largest global robotics research conferences.
The 2028 edition is expected to attract 7,000-10,000 delegates and generate an estimated $31m in direct expenditure for the local economy. It will be taking place at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) from 2-6 October 2028.
IROS 2024 was held in Abu Dhabi and received 3,753 paper submissions from 60 countries. China lead in contributions.
2028 will mark the first time the event will be held in the Southern Hemisphere in its 30-year history. IROS 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, China and IROS 2026 will take place in the Americas.
IROS 2028 bid co-chair, University of Technology Sydney professor Dikai Liu credited Sydney’s bid success to the growing reputation of Australian robotics researchers – professors Dana Kulic, Peter Corke, Denny Oetomo and Hanna Kurniawati. The bid was led by BESydney.
NSW minister for jobs and tourism, John Graham, also welcomed the announcement: “This is a big win for Sydney and the NSW visitor economy. Hosting a world-leading robotics conference puts Australian experts at the forefront of global discussions in this rapidly evolving field.”
BESydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, said hosting IROS will enhance global research collaboration and spotlight Australia’s expertise in AI, robotics and quantum computing. “New South Wales is a leader in digital and intelligent technologies. Initiatives like Sydney Quantum Academy and Tech Central’s innovation hubs drive the state’s competitive edge and attract international conferences that strengthen its global position,” she said.
For more details on Sydney’s AI and robotics sector, visit www.besydney.com.au.
