The brightest minds in the robotics industry will descend on Sydney in 2012 for the international Robotics Science and Systems (RSS) Conference. During the five-day conference in June, Sydney will be a hotbed of discussion, ideas exchange and international collaboration for the booming robotics industry.
The RSS Conference is expected to attract 400 delegates to Sydney to explore the latest developments in the robotics field, particularly the algorithmic or mathematical foundations of robotics, robotics applications, and the analysis of robotic systems. The event will generate an estimated $1.7 million for the New South Wales (NSW) economy.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney), Australia’s leading convention bureau, worked with local bid leader Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte from late 2010 to secure the conference for the harbour city. Last year Professor Durrant-Whyte was named the NSW Scientist of the Year, and he is internationally recognised for his work in robotics and automation projects that span cargo handling, surface and underground mining, defence, unmanned flight vehicles and autonomous sub-sea vehicles.
Combining Professor Durrant-Whyte’s industry connections and expertise with BESydney’s expertise in promoting Sydney’s as Australia’s business event capital, was key to securing the RSS Conference for Sydney. This will be the first time the event is to be held in the Asia-Pacific region and the conference is being organised by a committee from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney, comprising of Dr. Stefan Williams and Dr. Fabio Ramos.
“The expertise of our Asian neighbours in information and communication technology sectors such as robotics is well profiled. Securing the RSS Conference for 2012 is a great acknowledgment of the wealth of our local talent and intellectual capital in Sydney. Our city not only has the beauty, but it also has the brains to deliver the ideal conference environment for high-profile events such as the RSS Conference,” says Lyn Lewis-Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer, BESydney.
“The business tourism revenue that will be generated by this event is noteworthy, but so is the legacy of events such as the RSS Conference. Business events such as this are vital to growing the potential of New South Wales and a knowledge-based economy”
Professor Durrant-Whyte adds, “The event will offer local thought-leaders such as the researchers at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, the opportunity to showcase their strengths and share knowledge. We hope the RSS Conference being held in Sydney will lead to international collaboration, greater funding for research projects and industry profiling both in Australia and overseas.”
The bid highlights BESydney’s strategy to support the NSW Government’s Business Sector Growth Plan, through researching and bidding for industry events that encourage development, innovation and investment in priority sectors. Robotics is an area that falls within the targeted information and communication technologies sector and is the one of six* events to be secured by BESydney in this sector, between now and 2017.
