Robots for America has launched as a national industry coalition focused on advancing federal policy to support robotics deployment across U.S. manufacturing and supply chains. The coalition brings together robotics companies, artificial intelligence firms, manufacturers and related industry organizations seeking to address barriers to automation adoption in the United States.
Its founding members include Formic, New American Industrial Alliance, Machina Labs, Standard Bots, Robot.com, Dexterity, Medra, Path Robotics, AMP Sortation, Chef Robotics, GrayMatter Robotics, Mytra, Mujin, MFR.IO, CreateMe, Viam and the Digital Manufacturing & Cybersecurity Institute.
Robots for America was formed following requests from U.S. officials, including representatives of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Senate, for the robotics industry to organize around a unified policy agenda for automation deployment.
“The U.S. has every ingredient it needs to lead the next era of manufacturing,” Saman Farid, chief executive of Formic and a founding member of Robots for America, said. “The companies, the technology, the facilities are all here. What has been missing is a coordinated policy framework that removes the real barriers standing between American manufacturers and the automation they need. That is what Robots for America exists to build.”
The coalition’s initial policy framework focuses on reducing the financial risk of robotic trials, changing how automation is treated under the tax code, streamlining permitting and regulatory approvals, supporting workforce development for deployment, and enabling autonomous logistics across supply chains.
Robots for America says its work is aimed particularly at small and mid-size manufacturers, which it says often face capital constraints, implementation challenges and limited representation in policy discussions related to industrial automation. The organization says its membership includes companies with direct experience deploying robotics systems in U.S. facilities.
The coalition’s launch was discussed at the SCSP AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., during a panel involving members of the New American Industrial Alliance, Formic, Machina Labs and GrayMatter Robotics.
“It is time for the government to step into the supply chain and set requirements for what manufacturing looks like in 10 to 20 years,” Edward Mehr, founder and chief executive of Machina Labs, said. “To say: I want manufacturing to be flexible, adoptable, deployable. They need to start thinking about what type of manufacturing we need in the future.”
Nick Ayala, director of strategy and operations at GrayMatter Robotics, said manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve delivery performance. “The days of being okay with missed deadlines are over,” Ayala said.
Robots for America plans to work from 2026 through 2028 on establishing robotics as a recognized element of U.S. industrial policy, representing factory operators in Washington, changing public discussion of automation, and widening access to automation technology for mid-market manufacturers.
The coalition is forming steering committees focused on policy, technology, narrative and operations, and is seeking additional founding members, manufacturing members and advisors.
