SkillWaze and Amplibotics AI have formed a partnership with the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and Dynamic Athlete Placement (DAP) to recruit and train collegiate esports players as remote robot operators for industrial applications.
The program is designed to prepare student-athletes from more than 500 universities for work in robotics and physical AI systems by combining Amplibotics’ teleoperation technology with SkillWaze’s skill-verification platform. The companies said the initiative is intended to address workforce shortages in manufacturing, defense, healthcare, logistics, and other sectors.
According to the companies, participating students will use gaming controllers and flight sticks to operate industrial robots remotely while receiving training and compensation. SkillWaze said its AI-based assessment system evaluates skills including problem solving, analytical thinking, and adaptability to verify operator readiness for employers.
Amplibotics CEO James Wigglesworth said the partnership targets collegiate gamers because of their hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness, which the company views as transferable to robotic operations. NECC Commissioner Jacob VanRyn said the initiative connects esports competition with employment opportunities in emerging technology industries.
SkillWaze CEO Dan Benveniste said the training program will cover sectors including manufacturing, aviation, healthcare, retail, hospitality, transportation, aerospace, and defense. He added that the initiative will also include maintenance and repair training for robotic systems.
The partnership also aims to align with federal and state workforce development initiatives focused on skills-based hiring and artificial intelligence training programs. The companies cited workforce funding programs administered through the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as potential sources of support for state and local talent development efforts.
