While the dust had barely settled on ERF 2026 in Stavanger, Norway, euRobotics was already setting its sights on next year’s edition, and the destination is a fitting one. The European Robotics Forum 2027 will be held in Birmingham, UK, and we caught up with Karol Janik from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to find out why Britain’s second city is the perfect host.
“Birmingham is quite a unique city,” Janik explained. “It’s fairly young for Europe — about 200 years old — but the West Midlands region has been a very heavy industrial heartland, not only for the UK but for Europe. This is really where the industrial revolution started.”
That heritage hasn’t faded. Today, the region is home to household names in automotive manufacturing — Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Aston Martin all have a strong presence — and has transformed itself into what Janik describes as the fastest-growing deep tech and tech sector in the UK. Nine prestigious universities operate across the region, including the University of Birmingham, which will co-host ERF alongside the MTC.
UK Robotics
When asked about the state of robotics in the UK, Janik was enthusiastic. Research has long been a strength — “absolutely world class,” he said — but industrial adoption has historically lagged behind. That, however, is changing fast. “Over the last year, robotics has been having really strong momentum across the whole country. It’s been recognised as one of the frontier technologies by the government.” A buzzing startup scene is emerging too, with hardware companies and physical AI ventures springing up around the Midlands and London alike.
The timing, Janik argues, couldn’t be better: “The momentum is quite incredible.”
Advanced Manufacturing
ERF 2027 will lean into the region’s strengths. The event will carry a heavy focus on advanced manufacturing and deep tech, reflecting Birmingham’s industrial DNA and its ambitions to scale those capabilities globally. Details — including the official website — were set to launch during ERF 2026 week in Stavanger.
Expect site tours to industrial companies and research institutions to feature prominently on the programme, giving attendees a genuine taste of what the Midlands tech ecosystem has to offer.
Why You Should Go
Beyond the robotics, Janik made a compelling case for Birmingham as a destination in its own right. “Birmingham is a fun city,” he said with a grin, rattling off its cultural credentials: it’s the birthplace of J.R.R. Tolkien and the inspiration behind Lord of the Rings, the home of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, and the real-world backdrop for Peaky Blinders — whose big-screen adaptation had just premiered a few weeks prior. Add to that great museums, excellent transport links, a central venue surrounded by hotels and restaurants, and you have the makings of a memorable week.
“It should be a very exciting week for anybody who comes to Birmingham in 2027,” Janik said.
