As the field of robotics accelerates under the banner of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the World Robot Cooperation Organization (WRCO) has firmly established itself as a global nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration, technology advancement, and policy shaping in robotics. Formed by a broad coalition of universities, research institutes, companies, enterprises, and international bodies, WRCO is a non-profit, academic, and international social organization that aims to promote the sustainable and ethical development of robotics for the benefit of humankind. This article presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review of WRCO’s mission, history, organizational structure, key programs, recent milestones, and its wide-reaching global impact, setting a benchmark for understanding how robotics governance and cooperation are evolving in the post-pandemic era.
WRCO Mission and Vision
At the core of WRCO’s operations is the vision of “Robot for Good.” This guiding principle embodies the organization’s overarching aim: “to promote international exchange and cooperation in robotics; facilitate information sharing and open science; and ensure robots better benefit humankind”. WRCO places a strong emphasis on the responsible advancement of robotics, collectively harnessing global knowledge and resources to address technical, ethical, and societal challenges. The organization’s mission crystallizes around several key goals:
- Promoting international exchange and cooperation in robotics
- Facilitating information sharing and open science
- Empowering robotics to benefit global society
- Driving ethical, technical, and industry standards
- Cultivating talent and expertise worldwide
These goals position WRCO as an essential mediator in ensuring that the proliferation of robotics does not occur in a vacuum but, rather, operates for the collective, inclusive betterment of societies around the world. The clear social orientation distinguishes WRCO from many industry-specific organizations, rooting its work in both technological progress and humanistic values.
Founding and Historical Development
The roots of the WRCO are deeply intertwined with the World Robot Conference (WRC), a landmark event initiated through collaboration between the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). This international event, held annually since 2015, rapidly evolved into a premier global convening for robotics practitioners, policymakers, and leaders. The 1st General Assembly of WRCO was convened online and onsite in Beijing, China on October 25, 2022, formalizing its organizational structure, ratifying its constitution, and electing foundational leadership.
During this inaugural session, three cornerstone executive positions were established:
- President: Qiao Hong, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and robotics expert
- Vice President: Yael Edan, Vice President of the Israeli Robotics Association (IROB)
- Secretary-General: Wang Huan
The leadership selection mirrored WRCO’s commitment to internationality and interdisciplinary excellence, with figures at the helm who have advanced the global frontiers of robotics theory, design, perception, and human-machine decision-making.
Since its formal launch, WRCO has continued to build on the legacy of the WRC, advancing its role from conference convener to a year-round engine for international cooperation and standard-setting in robotics.
Organizational Structure
To achieve its ambitious vision, WRCO employs a multi-tiered governance system, designed for transparency, inclusivity, and efficacy:
| Structure Level | Role and Function |
|---|---|
| General Assembly | Supreme decision-making body; shapes overall direction, strategy, and governance |
| Board of Directors | Executive body responsible for policy, major decisions, and supervision |
| Secretariat | Day-to-day administration and coordination |
| Working & Technical Committees | Focused on specific domains such as standards, ethics, education, and industry |
The structure is designed not only to foster efficient and accountable governance but also to ensure broad stakeholder participation from diverse sectors: academia, industry, and policy. The Working and Technical Committees, still under formation, are expected to play an increasing role in setting standards, reviewing ethics frameworks, and steering thematic initiatives.
This framework is complemented by an expert leadership group, including high-caliber researchers and practitioners like President Qiao Hong, whose contributions to robotics decision-making and embodied intelligence are internationally recognized. The presence of top experts across continents guarantees WRCO’s policies and programs benefit from both global breadth and subject-matter depth.
Membership and Partnerships
A cornerstone of WRCO’s strength is its broad-based and continually expanding membership network, which is open to organizations and individuals worldwide that are dedicated to the robotics cause. Membership is conferred through a structured application process, subjected to vetting and approval by the Board of Directors, and formalized via certification by the Secretariat.
Membership spans several categories, ensuring inclusivity across:
- Universities and Research Institutions: Leading technological universities and scientific labs globally.
- Industry Members: Robotics manufacturers, software companies, and AI startups.
- Enterprises: End-use enterprises implementing robotic technologies across sectors (manufacturing, logistics, health care, etc.).
- International Organizations: Bodies engaged in global standardization, policy, and advocacy.
- Governments and Regulatory Agencies: Cooperative partnerships for policy development, standards, and public benefit programs.
These partnerships are further amplified by WRCO’s direct collaborations with regulatory authorities such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and by its co-organizing role with bodies like the Chinese Institute of Electronics. The diversity of members and partners ensures WRCO stays at the nexus of cutting-edge research, industrial deployment, and global policy.
Key Initiatives and Activities
WRCO’s operational initiatives are as diverse as its membership, but all are underpinned by its six major pillars of activity:
International Cooperation
WRCO operates as an international platform to match partners, identify shared challenges, and promote cross-border exchanges. Its initiatives include:
- Global matchmaking events (e.g., China-UK, China-Switzerland, China-Israel robotics cooperation)
- Institutional partnerships with organizations such as the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, IFR, and euRobotics
- Advancing work on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within robotics contexts
These fora foster opportunities for governments, companies, and researchers to jointly tackle technical, social, and ethical challenges, while activating new market and research opportunities.
Academic Exchange and Research Support
WRCO heavily invests in academic exchange, supporting:
- Symposia, workshops, and annual conferences (notably at the World Robot Conference)
- Sponsorship and management of peer-reviewed journals in robotics
- Joint research initiatives and open-access knowledge platforms
This commitment supports a virtuous cycle where academic insights rapidly inform industrial innovation, policy, and global standards.
Industry Promotion
Recognizing the pivotal role of commercialization and adoption, WRCO drives actions to:
- Open investment and financing channels to startups and mature robotics ventures
- Bridge innovators with deployment partners across logistics, automotive, health, and energy
- Stimulate eco-system growth through showcases and international expos
This proactive role is particularly evident at the WRC annual exhibitions, where hundreds of firms unveil technological breakthroughs and crowdsource solutions to global problems.
Standards Development
WRCO’s work on standards is multifaceted, covering:
- Technical standards development (hardware, interoperability, safety)
- Ethical and regulatory guidelines (including compliance with international frameworks)
- Cross-recognition and harmonization with ISO and IEC publications
By integrating with broader standardization work, such as ISO 37301:2021 for compliance management (see below), WRCO ensures new technologies are both safe and scalable internationally.
Education and Popularization
A vital social responsibility area, WRCO’s educational programs include:
- Robotics education for all ages: from K-12 outreach to advanced training
- Supporting national and international robotics competitions
- Promoting STEM and robotics literacy via digital resources and public events
These efforts bridge the “digital divide,” preparing a new generation of globally competent robotics leaders and practitioners.
Consulting and Talent Services
WRCO provides:
- Industry analysis, forecasting, and white paper publication
- Consulting for enterprises on technology strategy, product development, and regulatory compliance
- Talent development, career planning, and resource matching for emerging robotics professionals
Its consulting and talent services are tightly coupled to support both corporate members and individual practitioners, enhancing career mobility and knowledge transfer.
Major Events, Forums, and Conferences
WRCO’s name is now synonymous with international robotics forums—none more so than the World Robot Conference (WRC) series, which it co-hosts. WRC has become a massive annual event, with over 2,240 guests, 1,555 journalists, 1,240 exhibitors, and an audience surpassing 1.3 million in 2024.
World Robot Conference (WRC)
WRC’s accolades include being recognized as the “Olympics” of the global robotics ecosystem. Over ten years, participation has grown, with nearly 500,000 contest participants from over 40 countries. The event has evolved into a multifaceted platform comprising:
- Main Forums: Featuring Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, CEOs of prominent robotics companies, and government leaders.
- Technical Expos: Showcasing the latest advancements across industrial automation, service robots, medical robotics, and AI+Robotics integration.
- Networking and Industry Matchmaking: Including bilateral technology cooperation activities, detailed investor pitch sessions, and startup showcases.
- International Forums on Sustainable Development of Robotics: Tackling the intersection of robotics and the UN SDGs, underlining the governance and ethical challenges facing the sector.
At WRC 2025, WRCO’s focus will be centered on “Artificial Intelligence + Robotics”. The conference promises to address future trends, industrial development, real-world applications, standards ecosystem building, and talent development, all while facilitating international cooperation.
Other Key Events
WRCO is also directly involved in the Intelligent Robotics Salon at IROS (International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems) 2024 and runs year-round networking, technical workshops, and matchmaking events in partnership with international groups and national governments.
Standards Development and ISO 37301:2021 Certification
One of WRCO’s most significant recent achievements is its successful certification for ISO 37301:2021 (Compliance Management Systems). This milestone, awarded in August 2024 at the 2nd International Forum on Sustainable Development and Cooperation of Robotics (during the 2024 WRC), demonstrates WRCO’s rigorous commitment to governance, ethics, and risk management.
ISO 37301:2021, developed by ISO/TC 309, establishes requirements for a robust compliance management system, focusing on:
- Identification and management of compliance obligations
- Prevention, detection, and response to organizational risks
- Promotion of good governance, transparency, and sustainability
- Continual improvement through regular audits and stakeholder feedback
WRCO’s rapid deployment and successful audit by DNV, a global certification authority, set a global benchmark for other non-profit and intergovernmental organizations in robotics. Accreditation of this nature not only enhances confidence among members, partners, and donors but also positions WRCO as a responsible steward of global robotics standards.
International Cooperation and Government Partnerships
WRCO’s impact is especially pronounced in its ability to convene and align government, industry, and civil society resources. Its cooperation activities span:
- Policy collaboration with government agencies such as the Chinese MIIT and the Beijing Municipal Government.
- Joint committees on standards and ethical frameworks, especially for new and emerging fields like embodied artificial intelligence, collaborative robots, and autonomous vehicles.
- Co-organizing industry matchmaking sessions linking Chinese and international governments—resulting in new trade agreements, research exchange partnerships, and joint ventures.
Through these partnerships, WRCO plays a delicate role as both a policy influencer and a technical enabler. It is strategically placed to interpret the interests and regulatory needs of both established economies (EU, North America, East Asia) and emerging economies eager to leapfrog conventional industrialization models.
Academic Exchange Programs
Academic exchange is one of the most active sectors within WRCO. Its programs aim to break down silos and encourage mutually beneficial knowledge sharing by:
- Connecting early-career researchers across borders through workshops and grants.
- Sponsoring special issues in top robotics journals.
- Supporting international student competitions and mentorships.
- Hosting thematic symposia on topics such as embodied cognition, social robotics, and human-robot interaction—often in conjunction with major conferences like WRC and IROS.
A major achievement in 2024 is the announcement of the WRC Symposium on Advanced Robotics and Automation 2025, which will serve as a platform for sharing frontier research and building next-generation robotics leaders.
Industry Promotion Activities
To accelerate market adoption and industry growth, WRCO’s initiatives cover:
- Facilitating entry to investment and venture capital for early-stage robotics startups.
- Promoting demonstration projects, “living labs,” and pilot deployments across sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and smart infrastructure.
- Integrating robotics into the broader “AI + Robotics” paradigm, reflected in both its conference themes and technical showcase priorities.
High-profile companies (ABB, Boston Dynamics, Fanuc, Agility Robotics, etc.) often present at WRCO-affiliated events, reflecting a convergence of industrial and research leadership. As highlighted in recent global market reviews, the robotics sector is now seeing rapid transformation due to advances in artificial intelligence, with projected markets reaching as high as USD 178.7 billion by 2033.
Education and Popularization Programs
WRCO recognizes that robotics education underpins both innovation and public acceptance. Its educational and outreach strategy adopts a multi-segment approach:
- Primary and Secondary Education: Inclusion of WRC competitions in China’s Ministry of Education list of national contests; outreach programs bringing robotics to classrooms globally.
- University and Graduate Training: Partnerships with leading research universities, hands-on workshops, talent exchange, and internship pathways.
- Public Understanding: Engagement at massive expos (with 1.3 million visitors in 2024 alone), open lectures, and digital literacy campaigns.
WRCO further curates educational resources and supports STEM career visibility, seeking to break down accessibility barriers and fuel pipeline diversity.
Consulting and Talent Services
In the consulting arena, WRCO supports both organizations and individuals with:
- Market research and sectoral whitepapers
- Tailored advice on R&D, technology transfer, and compliance
- Career development, entrepreneurial assistance, and job matching services
This customer-centric model is aimed at building a “cozy and caring home” for both established and aspiring robotics professionals on a global scale.
Recent Key Events and Announcements (2024–2025)
ISO 37301:2021 Certification
The awarding of the ISO 37301:2021 certificate for compliance management has been the most transformative milestone for WRCO in the recent period. The achievement followed an intensive half-year of internal process review, benchmarking, and audit, culminating in successful validation at the 2024 WRC.
International Forums and Symposia
- WRC 2024 & 2025: Attendance exceeded 1.3 million globally; forums focused on AI+Robotics integration, standardization, and talent development.
- IROS 2024 in Abu Dhabi: WRCO held dedicated sessions, launched new research working groups, and spotlighted young scholars and sustainability-themed robotics innovation.
- WRC Symposium on Advanced Robotics and Automation 2025: Call for papers issued, aiming to set new research and application benchmarks.
Annual Outlook Reports
WRCO continues to issue the “Top 10 Frontier Technology Trends in AI” report, identifying next-wave opportunities and challenges at the intersection of robotics and intelligent systems.
Global Impact and Metrics
WRCO’s global impact is best understood through both quantitative and qualitative dimensions:
| Impact Area | Metrics and Evidence |
|---|---|
| Membership | Representation from leading research universities, corporations, and startups |
| Event Attendance | >1.3 million annual participants (WRC 2024); 2400+ guests and 1555 journalists |
| Exhibitor Base | 1240+ companies, including global giants and disruptors |
| Knowledge Exchange | 51,000+ press reports, hundreds of peer-reviewed papers |
| Contestants | >150,000 in robotics competitions annually; nearly 500,000 since inception |
| Industry Coverage | Sectors from information electronics, aerospace, and automotive to healthcare |
| Policy and Standards | ISO-accredited compliance management, technical/ethical standards, SDG impact |
Qualitative impacts include the shaping of international standards (e.g., ethical guidelines for embodied intelligent systems), facilitating investment flows into robotics startups, and directing global media attention to responsible and human-centered robotics.
WRCO and the Future: AI, Embodied Intelligence, and Beyond
The strategic focus of WRCO for the next phase is clear: Advancing the convergence of AI and robotics (AI+Robotics), and ensuring the responsible evolution of embodied intelligent robots. At the 2025 WRC, President Qiao Hong identified ten major trends: from embodied cognition and AI-powered robot design to swarm collaboration, ethical assessment, and the development of robust large-scale datasets.
Frontiers identified for 2025 and beyond include:
- Embodied cognition and multimodal AI that integrates perception, learning, and world modeling
- Software-hardware co-design for real-world reliability and innovative robot forms
- Human-robot collaboration and safety frameworks—critical for societal and industrial deployment
- Open and ethical robotics communities dedicated to transparency, inclusivity, and global standards
The upcoming years will see WRCO intensify cooperation with AI communities, support new ethical codes, and expand educational and economic inclusion in robotics transformation.
Conclusion
The WRCO stands at the confluence of technical innovation, ethical governance, and global partnership in robotics. In less than a decade, it has redefined the contours of international robotics cooperation, policy, and practice. From compliance management and standards leadership to ecosystem building and international convening, WRCO is not only a mirror of the dynamic robotics world but also its compass—orienting the field toward societal benefit, sustainability, and global prosperity.
As AI and robotics shape future industry, policy, and daily life, WRCO’s evolving agenda ensures that ethics, excellence, and shared prosperity remain at the center of global robotics development.
References
- “About-WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization”. WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization About Activities Membership News Contact NEWS Organization, 2023–2025.
- “Activities-WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization”. Activities-WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization, 2023–2025.
- “Organization || The 1st General Assembly & 1st Meeting of 1st Board of Directors-WRCO”. Organization || The 1st General Assembly & 1st Meeting of 1st Board of Directors, 26 Oct. 2022.
- “Organization || WRCO was Awarded the ISO 37301:2021 Certification for Compliance Management Systems-WRCO”. Organization || WRCO was Awarded the ISO 37301:2021 Certification for Compliance Management Systems, 23 Aug. 2024.
- “Membership-WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization”. Membership-WRCO-World Robot Cooperation Organization, 2023–2025.
- “Announcement || CALL FOR PAPERS – WRC Symposium on Advanced Robotics and Automation 2025-WRCO”. Announcement || CALL FOR PAPERS – WRC Symposium on Advanced Robotics and Automation 2025, 25 June 2025.
- “Announcement || Get Connected with WRCO during IROS 2024-WRCO”. Announcement || Get Connected with WRCO during IROS 2024, 9 Oct. 2024.
- “WORLD ROBOT CONFERENCE 10th 2025 Edition WORLD ROBOT CONFERENCE”. WORLD ROBOT CONFERENCE 10th 2025 Edition WORLD ROBOT CONFERENCE BEIJING, CHINA August 8-12, 2025.
- “English-2025世界机器人大会-2025世界机器人大会”. English-2025世界机器人大会-2025世界机器人大会 Main Forum Registration WRC SARA Registration World Robot Conference, 2024–2025.
- “ISO 37301 Compliance management systems – requirements with guidance for use”. ISO 37301 Compliance management systems – requirements with guidance for use, 2021.
- “ISO 37301:2021 – Compliance management systems — Requirements with guidance for use”. ISO 37301:2021 – Compliance management systems — Requirements with guidance for use, 2021.
- Kelly, Jack. “The Rise Of AI-Powered Robotics, And The Future Of Work”. Forbes, 15 Apr. 2025.
- “World Robot Conference unveils future trends of embodied intelligent robots”. Emirates News Agency, 9 Aug. 2025.
Get the URCA Newsletter
Subscribe to receive updates, stories, and insights from the Universal Robot Consortium Advocates — news on ethical robotics, AI, and technology in action.
Leave a Reply