Global Research and Development Spending in the Robotics Industry 2016-2020

Outlook of the global R&D spending in the robotics industry

Technavio’s market research analyst predicts the global R&D spending in the robotics industry to grow at a CAGR of around 17% during the forecast period. Recently, it has been observed that robots have become necessary in every industry that uses production processes and systems. Consequently, government and manufacturers from across the globe are increasing their R&D spending to develop technologies that will enhance the functionality and efficiency of these robots. In the healthcare and defense sectors, the demand for sophisticated robotics technology is rapidly increasing. This increase in the demand for sophisticated robotics technology will augment the total R&D spending, which in turn will result in market growth during the forecast period.

In terms of geography, the APAC region dominates this market and is envisaged to grow at a CAGR of around 5% during the forecast period. The high adoption rate of robots in industries like automotive, electricals and electronics, and food and beverage will bolster the overall R&D spending in this region.

Segmentation by vendor type and analysis of R&D spending in the robotics industry

• Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
• Venture capitalist

In this market study, analysts have estimated the OEM segment to account for more than 60% of the total market share during the forecast period. The OEMs invest about 4%-12% of their overall sales revenue in R&D for specific or generic research. The extensive use of robots in various industries has pushed manufacturers to invest extensively in the R&D of application-specific products.

End-user segmentation of R&D spending in the robotics industry

• Defense
• Healthcare
• Automotive
• Domestic
• F&B
• Electricals and electronics

In 2015, the defense sector accounted for around 28% of the total market share. Increasing funding from countries such as the US, Germany, Russia, and China will drive R&D investments in the defense sector during the forecast period. In this sector, a major part of the total R&D investment is used for the development of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, as there is a high demand for these vehicles for military and commercial applications.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

Since the field of robotics technology demands continuous exploration and innovation, there are a lot of untapped opportunities, especially in the field of healthcare and defense. This prompts many robot OEMs and new start-ups to innovate and invest in this technology. The major vendors such as ABB, iRobot, and KUKA are investing heavily in R&D to remain ahead in the market. Similarly, new start-ups such as Airware and Medrobotics are focusing on the development of healthcare and defense robots. These new start-ups are being funded by venture capitalists such as Fenox Venture Capital.

Leading vendors in the market are -

• ABB
• iRobot
• Yaskawa Electric
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries
• KUKA

Other prominent vendors in the market include Yamaha Robotics, Staubli, Nachi Robotics, Honda, Adept, Rethink Robotics, Lockheed Martin, and Ekso Bionics.

Key questions answered in the report include

• What will the R&D spending in the robotics market size and the growth rate be in 2020?
• What are the key factors driving the global R&D spending in the robotics industry?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the R&D spending in the robotics industry?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in this market space?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the robotics industry?
• Trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.

Technavio also offers customization on reports based on specific client requirement.

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