Emerging robotic regions in the United States: insights for regional economic evolution

Abstract

Despite widespread speculation about the potential economic impacts of robotic technology, there has been little academic research on the topic. One barrier to this research is lack of data about the robotics industry or robotics employment. In light of this problem, the authors conducted a robotics ‘census’ designed to describe and map the US robotics industry. Several key robotic regions are identified, although they vary in the nature of the robotics industries they host. In addition to reporting the results of the census, it is discussed how the relational and knowledge-spanning qualities of the robotics industry can be important concepts for understanding and facilitating technological change and economic development at the regional level.