Brisbane has been hosting 3,000 of the world’s leading robotic experts for the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) being held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, 21-25 May. It is the first time this international forum for the robotic sector has been held in the Southern Hemisphere. Team Brisbane, including Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and Brisbane Marketing collaborated with Australia’s world leading experts in robotics and automation to bring the event to the city. The six-day event attracted record delegate numbers and papers submitted and is expected to result in a A$10.5m (US$7.98m) boost for the Queensland economy. Queensland innovation and tourism Industry development minister Kate Jones said Queensland was the perfect host for business events like ICRA 2018. She noted: “Being the first city in Australia to host the world’s peak robotics and automation conference is recognition of the fact that Brisbane is leading the way when it comes to innovation. This is thanks to our record investment and great work being done by local innovators and academics. “The Queensland Government is a proud supporter of ICRA 2018 through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Business Events Acquisition and Leveraging Fund.” Conference chair, professor Peter Corke, director of the Centre for Robotic Vision at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) cited a number of reasons for the success of the event: “Brisbane’s strong reputation in robotics internationally, the acceleration of the technology worldwide, the appeal of Australia to the international community and the innovative approach we have taken for the conference programme.” Contemplating the rapid advance of robotic technology and artificial intelligence since Brisbane secured the conference in 2016, professor Corke said the conference would stimulate discussion around ethical and social concerns associated with these technologies and hoped the conference would cement people’s vision of the future of robotics in Australia and put Brisbane and Australia on the map for the technology revolution. BCEC general manager, Bob O’Keeffe said the record attendance for ICRA 2018 demonstrated Brisbane and Queensland’s strong appeal for the science and technology sectors and the Centre’s experience and expertise in hosting events of this calibre. “The Centre has a strong research and scientific focus working closely with Brisbane’s local academic and scientific community through our very successful Convention Advocates Partnership.”
ICRA registration desk – main foyer Brisbane
