As a global leader in robot-based automation, KUKA has a close cooperation with universities and R&D partners worldwide on various scientific and technical topics. To take this collaboration to the next level, KUKA launched the Innovation Award in 2014. The competition aims to accelerate the pace of innovation in the field of robotic automation and improve technology transfer from research to industry. It is addressed to developers, graduates and research teams from universities or companies, who can submit their ideas on a task specified by KUKA. Each year, the focus is on a different technology.

An international panel of expert judges selects the finalists from all submissions. These finalists are able to implement their ideas with KUKA robots and other technologies, and finally present their results at a major trade fair to a broad audience of representatives from industry, research, the media and interested visitors. At the end of the trade fair week, the panel of judges selects the winner of the award, who will receive prize money of €20,000.