{"id":578617,"date":"2024-04-08T14:48:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T18:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/?p=578617"},"modified":"2024-04-09T08:25:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T12:25:44","slug":"massachusetts-governor-visits-massrobotics-to-celebrate-national-robotics-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/massachusetts-governor-visits-massrobotics-to-celebrate-national-robotics-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts governor visits MassRobotics to celebrate National Robotics Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Massachusetts

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (blue jacket, center), with Lt. Gov. Kimberly Driscoll, MassTech CEO Carolyn Kirk, Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba, and MassRobotics’ team in Boston. Source: Office of the Governor<\/p><\/div>\n

To kick off National Robotics Week, Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey today continued her Mass Leads Road Show with visits to MassRobotics and the North Andover High School.  <\/p>\n

\u201cMassachusetts is proud to be home to one of the lead robotics hubs in the world, and it\u2019s essential that we continue to lengthen this lead through targeted investments like the Mass Leads Act,\u201d said Gov. Healey. \u201cIt was great to see the innovative work being done in robotics from high school students in North Andover to cutting-edge startups at MassRobotics.\u201d <\/p>\n

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The visits were part of the governor\u2019s Mass Leads Act Road Show<\/a>, during which she is traveling to communities across the commonwealth to highlight the ways in which her recently proposed economic development bill<\/a> would grow the state\u2019s economy, support businesses, and attract talent. The bill proposes<\/a> $25 million for a new Robotics Investment Program that would advance the state\u2019s leadership in the robotics sector through research, commercialization, and training.<\/p>\n

MassRobotics supports local innovators<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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“We are excited to be joined by the governor, lieutenant governor, and staff members to celebrate National Robotics Week,” stated Tom Ryden, executive director of MassRobotics. “Robotics is an important industry in the state, employing over 5,000 people and shipping thousands of robots every month.”<\/p>\n

\u201cMassachusetts is truly the hub of robotics and recognized as a world leader,” he added. “With the continued support in the Mass Leads Act, this exciting industry will continue to grow in size and impact throughout the state.”<\/p>\n

MassRobotics<\/a> describes itself as “the largest independent robotics hub dedicated to accelerating innovation and adoption in the field of robotics.” The Boston-based organization recently kicked off Mass Robotics Accelerator, powered by Mass Tech Collaborative, to support 10 startups<\/a> through an intensive 13-week program.<\/p>\n

During their visit, Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov.  Kim Driscoll toured a lab space and met some of the startups housed at the facility. They also saw a classroom that is used for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. <\/p>\n

\"Massachusetts

Lt. Gov. Driscoll and Gov. Healey with CEO Ian Goodine and CTO Ethan Walko, co-founders of Accelerator startup rStream. Source: MassRobotics<\/p><\/div>\n

See Accelerator startups at Robotics Summit & Expo<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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MassRobotics will host a pavilion with the startups in its accelerator program at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo<\/a>, which will be on May 1 and 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The startups will exhibit on the show floor and discuss their experiences in a session on Wednesday, May 1, at 4:15 p.m. EDT.<\/p>\n

MassRobotics, a strategic partner of WTWH Media, which produces The Robot Report <\/em><\/a>and the Robotics Summit, will also host an Engineering Career Fair<\/a> and announce<\/a> its Form & Function Challenge<\/a> winners. Registration is now open<\/a> for the Robotics Summit & Expo.<\/p>\n

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\"SITELearn from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and many more.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Massachusetts invests in robotics leadership<\/h2>\n

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) launched a new $5 million initiative<\/a> to boost the robotics sector across the state. The new department, established within the Innovation Institute at MassTech<\/a>, is focused on supporting robotics research and development, testing, and workforce<\/a> development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe investments proposed in the Mass Leads Act will help Massachusetts secure our leadership in the robotics sector,\u201d said Yvonne Hao, secretary of economic development for Massachusetts. \u201cThe proposed robotics capital program at MassTech and reauthorization of the R&D Fund will drive innovation by funding research, commercialization, and training across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMassTech\u2019s mission is to create opportunities for growth in the Massachusetts innovation economy, and that definitely includes robotics,\u201d said Carolyn Kirk, CEO of MassTech. \u201cOur Innovation Institute implements a unique model for the state that spurs economic growth — together with industry leaders, academic researchers, and policymakers. MassTech is proud to help drive the competitiveness of tech and innovation through strategic investments and partnerships.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The

The Innovation Institute has received state funding. Source: MassTech Collaborative<\/p><\/div>\n

Governor visits North Andover High School, new Amazon warehouse<\/h2>\n

In North Andover, Gov. Healey met with the high school robotics club and congratulated the team ahead of the Vex Robotics World Championships<\/a>, which they will compete in later this month. She saw its robotics projects and presented a proclamation for National Robotics Week.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a reason why 1 in 4 robotics patents are earned by Massachusetts inventors \u2013 it\u2019s because we prioritize giving this industry the tools it needs to thrive,\u201d said Driscoll. \u201cOur administration is excited to continue supporting robotics entrepreneurs, as well as expanding opportunities for students to participate in STEM education and see themselves in a future career like robotics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Healey and Driscoll also visited a new Amazon warehouse in North Andover with 4 million sq. ft. of space. It cost $400 million to build and will employ 1,500 people, according to Amazon. The facility will also include thousands of robots, reported<\/a> The Boston Globe<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s applied robotics,\u201d said Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon. \u201cThey\u2019re not doing backflips or dances out there on the floor — I love those, I get it — but they\u2019re doing the job of moving goods on time and very reliably.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Brady will deliver a keynote<\/a> on Amazon’s robotics strategy on May 1 at the Robotics Summit & Expo.<\/p>\n

Massachusetts is committed to continuing its leadership in artificial intelligence and robotics and to retaining more of the talent that comes out its many educational institutions, the governor told The Robot Report<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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North Andover is off to Dallas!! Huge congratulations to 8568A Knights (consisting of Jack, Noah, Ajaya, Niko, Sam, and Grant) and 8568C Cowboys (consisting of David, Alex, Nik, Soham, and Ellis) on qualifying for the World Championship! @NASupt<\/a> @chetjackson22<\/a> @NA_Athletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pNgaYrYVvz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Knights Robotics (@Knights_8568) February 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n