Nominations Open for 2027 TRR50 Robotics Innovation Awards
The Robot Report has opened submissions for the newly rebranded TRR50 Robotics Innovation Awards, recognizing global robotics achievements from throughout 2026.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
TRR50 Rebranding and Submission Guidelines
The Robot Report is currently accepting nominations for its updated TRR50 Robotics Innovation Awards. Formerly known as the RBR50, which has highlighted the most innovative organizations and robots since 2012, the program has been officially rebranded to The Robot Report 50 (TRR50). Review past honorees through reports from previous years like 2026 , 2025 , 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , and 2021 to see the evolution of the awards.
To qualify for consideration in the 2027 TRR50 awards, all nominated innovations must have been initiated, released, or executed between January 1 and December 31, 2026. The submission deadline is Friday, January 5, 2027. The selected winners will be celebrated during a dedicated awards gala taking place at the upcoming Robotics Summit & Expo.
Event Details and Showcase Opportunities
The Robotics Summit & Expo will be held on June 2 and 3, 2027, in Boston, serving as the official venue for the TRR50 awards gala. Beyond the gala celebration, a selection of winners will have the unique opportunity to demonstrate their robots live on the event's expo floor within the TRR50 Pavilion.
Questions regarding the nomination process or the event itself can be directed to Steve Crowe, Executive Editor of Robotics at WTWH Media, who also serves as chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness, and co-host of The Robot Report Podcast.
Startup of the Year and Application of the Year Categories
The TRR50 program features several prominent categories, including Startup of the Year. Nominees in this category must be less than five years old and actively testing their innovations with customers. Last year, Physical Intelligence earned the Startup of the Year award for offering AI models that change how robots learn, while Mytra took home the honors the year before.
Another major category is Application of the Year, which focuses on use cases that were previously difficult to automate and where robotics demonstrate a clear benefit over legacy processes. Notably, Harvard University won for its wearable robot aids designed to help stroke survivors and individuals with ALS, following TEPCO's prior recognition for its work removing radioactive fuel from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Robot of the Year and Robots for Good
The Robot of the Year award seeks entries that represent game-changers in technology innovation, practical use cases, and broader industry influence. Past winners include Amazon's Vulcan robot and Robotaxi developer Waymo.
Additionally, the TRR50 Robots for Good Award honors robots that generate a positive societal impact by addressing social challenges, boosting the quality of life or work, or promoting sustainability. Tatum Robotics previously won for its robotic hand facilitating tactile sign language communication, following Hello Robot's Stretch 3 mobile manipulator, which won the inaugural award.
AI, Products, Business, and Applications Categories
A new category introduced for the TRR50 awards is the Best Use of AI Award, which honors a real-world application of artificial intelligence in robotics and highlights how AI continues to reshape the field.
Other broad categories include Products, honoring new robots, enabling technologies, and academic or industrial research; Business, highlighting major milestones and unique business models that establish market leadership; and Applications, which recognizes innovations focused on improving productivity, quality, cost-effectiveness, and the automation of entirely new tasks.
Sources
- The Robot Report2027 TRR50 Robotics Innovation Awards open nominations
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