Industry Day

Industry Day

ICSR Industry Day on 3rd July 2026 will feature:

  1. Workshop by UKRI (morning)
  2. Panel debate on social robots in the home (afternoon)

(1) UKRI Innovate UK Workshop

Workshop title: Robotics & Advanced Materials in Artistic Innovation

Image Credit: Plato’s Prisoners, Cody Lukas.

Friday, 3 July 2026, 9.30-12

Conference Hall 2 (Chancellors Hall), Senate House. Venue

London, UK

Webpage and sign up webpage: https://robotsister.github.io/icsr_ukri

UKRI Organisers:

  • Agnes Wamagui, KTM Robotics, Innovate UK Business Connect
  • Jonathan Walker, Innovation Lead Electronic Systems, Innovate UK
  • Mili Tharakan, KTM Smart Materials and Textiles, Innovate UK Business Connect

Workshop Description:

As part of ICSR 2026 + Art, the global forum exploring the intersection of social robotics and creative practice, this two‑hour workshop hosted by Innovate UK brings together academics, government representatives, industry leaders and innovators to explore how robotics, advanced/novel materials, and artistic practice can converge to shape future UK creative and industrial capabilities.

This workshop provides a space for participants to:

  • Explore cutting‑edge applications of robotics and advanced materials within creative and artistic contexts.
  • Understand emerging opportunities across UK industry, culture, design, and manufacturing.
  • Build new cross‑sector partnerships aligned with ICSR’s emphasis on academia‑industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Contribute directly to UK government policy insights, supporting Innovate UK’s mission to accelerate innovation and strengthen national capabilities.

By combining creative robotics, material innovation, and interdisciplinary dialogue, this session aims to uncover new pathways for the UK’s leadership at the intersection of art, engineering, and technology.

Confirmed Speakers:

(2) ICSR + Art  – Industry Day Panel 

There’s No Place Like Home

Exploring The Next Frontier for Social Robots

ICSR + Art 2026

Friday, 3 July 2026, 2.30-4 pm

Debate Hall, Senate House. Venue

London, UK

Link to Industry Panel homepage: https://robotsister.github.io/icsr_industry/

This year’s ICSR will host an Industry Day panel debate with leading experts from industry on social robots in the home.

Robot companies are increasingly focusing on the home as the next frontier to tap into a massive, untapped consumer market for robots to help with daily chores, deliver personalized assistance, and support ageing-in-place and companionship. Unlike warehouses or factories, homes are chaotic and unpredictable spaces. They are also among the most intimate places, where privacy and trust are critical.

This panel explores the opportunities and challenges of introducing social robots into domestic life, and considers the messy realities of trust, surveillance, dependency, and failure inside the home. As we know from the challenges facing robot adoption in other sectors, technical capability does not necessarily equal social acceptance. The panelists have all successfully deployed consumer robots in the home, and tackled these challenges firsthand. The discussion will explore how a new class of home robots can earn their place in our homes and in our hearts, and why homes might present insurmountable challenges for humanoid robots. The discussion looks ahead to how thoughtful design, clear value, and human-centered boundaries can turn skepticism into trust and unlock a more meaningful future for consumer robotics at home. 

Panelists:

Ira Renfrew, Co-Founder and Chief People Product Officer at Familiar Machines & Magic

Ira Renfrew is Co-founder and Chief People & Product Officer at Familiar Machines & Magic, where he’s building the next chapter of consumer technology: emotionally intelligent physical AI. Over the past decade, Ira has led teams that design & ship robots, from category creation with smart lawncare at iRobot, to delivery innovation with last-mile delivery robots at Amazon, to automating global freight networks as Chief Product Officer at Outrider. A consistent throughline in Ira’s career is translating innovation into products & services that people trust and building the teams, culture, and operating systems that make that possible. He brings a global perspective shaped by work across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Ira holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Stanford University.

Craig Allen, former Chief Creative Officer at Embodied (now Moxie Robots)

Craig Allen is a veteran media and technology executive focused on bringing characters to life through innovation, storytelling, and interactive play. As the former Chief Creative Officer at Embodied, Craig led the development of MOXIE AI – a groundbreaking social robot featured on the cover of TIME and in the film M3GAN 2.0. Previously, Craig was a founding member of Disney Interactive (TOY STORY, HERCULES), led Jim Henson Interactive (where he pioneered an award-winning digital puppetry system), and co-founded Spark Unlimited (a video game studio notable for developing the first CALL OF DUTY game for consoles). Currently, Craig serves as CEO of Snackshop and advises companies working to create a more playful world for us all.

Shunsuke Aoki, Founder of Yukai Engineering

Shunsuke Aoki is the Founder and CEO of Yukai Engineering Inc. While studying at the University of Tokyo, he co-founded team Lab and served as its CTO. He later became CTO of pixiv, building his career at the intersection of technology and creative expression. In 2011, he founded Yukai Engineering, a robotics startup driven by the vision “Robotics for Fun Living.” Rather than focusing solely on functionality and efficiency, the company develops products that create emotionally engaging experiences. Yukai Engineering has continuously introduced a wide range of unique consumer robotics products to the market. In 2025, the company launched “Mirumi,” a bag charm robot that captured global attention with its charming behavior and distinctive world. It has since expanded into collaborations with fashion brands, opening up new possibilities for robotics. Aoki served as a jury member of the Good Design Award from 2015 to 2021. He is currently also active in education, serving as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts and as a professor at Musashino Art University.

Samuel Ader, VP Growth & Supply at Cera (Genie Connect)

Samuel Ader is the VP Growth & Supply at Cera, a leading digital-first home healthcare company that combines professional caregiving with AI-powered technology and the Genie robot to deliver care in patients’ homes. Cera serves over 30 million people in UK and Germany, partnering with the NHS and local governments. They have deployed 1000 Genie robots in private homes and assisted living communities.

Moderated by Elizabeth Jochum

Elizabeth Jochum (PhD) is the Director of Robotics and Automation at RA Capital Management, where she focuses on the impact of robotics on labor, with a focus on healthcare and beyond. Her mission is to help develop creative, value-sensitive, and human-centered solutions to ensure the technologies we build address the real needs of people. She also holds a research appointment as an Associate Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark.