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What Does the Future of Industrial Technology Look Like? – Highlights from Automation Vista 2025

5/13/2025

“Automation Vista is a catalyst for collaboration—everyone is welcome to join this festival,” said Helena Jerregård, Vice President of Mälardalen University, as she and Johan Holtmann, Head of Product Development at ABB, opened the annual conference co-organised by MARC and Automation Region.

At Automation Vista 2025, over 160 participants from academia and industry came together to explore the future of industrial technology. Keynote speakers and panelists presented fresh insights and sparked dynamic discussions on innovation, AI, robotics, and education.

Rethinking Robotics: Social and Technical Perspectives

Katie Winkle, Assistant Professor in Social Robotics at Uppsala University, delivered a thought-provoking keynote on reliable and socially sustainable human–robot interaction. Her talk challenged conventional views of robotics by addressing three key questions: Why social robots? Why humanoids? And how can we design 'usefully social' robots with a human-centred approach?

Winkle also examined why some robotics applications fail in industrial contexts and argued that social robotics could be a potential solution. Her presentation offered a compelling new perspective on the evolving relationship between humans and machines in the workplace.

Jonas Larsson of ABB followed with an industry-grounded overview of humanoid robotics, highlighting development trends, application scenarios, body motion mechanics, cost implications, and the algorithmic backbone of humanoid intelligence.

From AI to Predictive Models and Physical Robotics

The future of automation was further explored through presentations by Erik Frisk of Linköping University, who focused on predictive models for decision-making in multi-vehicle environments, and Alexander Young of NVIDIA, who outlined emerging opportunities in robotics and physical AI.

An Engaging Panel on the Future of Collaboration

The event concluded with a high-energy panel discussion moderated by Minna Sandberg, Director at Sweden.AI. Panelists included:

  • Magnus Welén, CEO of Prevas AB
  • Anna Wenemark, Technology Office Manager at Alfa Laval
  • Elias J., Engineer at Saab
  • Robert Lidberg, Co-founder and CEO of Airon
  • Henrik Jensen, Managing Director of HARTING Technology Group

Topics ranged from industrial AI applications and the development of innovation hubs to green transformation and strengthening engineering education in Sweden.

In a closing exchange, audience member Per Erik Strandberg from Westermo Network Technologies posed a critical question: “What makes a collaboration truly successful?” Panelists agreed that the key lies in mutual benefit, transparency, long-term partnerships, competence building, and a focus on the bigger picture rather than getting lost in the details.

A Model for Collaboration

Automation Vista 2025 exemplified this spirit of effective collaboration. The partnership between MARC and Automation Region demonstrates how leveraging complementary strengths can drive innovation and shape the future of industrial technology.

The following research projects and other initiatives from Mälardalen University participated in this expo

  • AI@MDU, AI research programme – Christer Norström and Krister Landernäs, MDU
  • ARRAY, Indtech and RELIANT industrial PhD schools at MDU – Thomas Nolte, Mats Jackson and Kristina Lundqvist, MDU
  • Autobike research project – Niklas Persson, MDU
  • C2 collaborative center at Finnslätten – Henrik Falk, MDU
  • Circul8 research project on smart batteries – Koteshwar Chirumalla and Moris Behnam, MDU
  • CoDIG national competence center on continuous digitalization
  • ESCAPE-CD research project on mining automation – Hans Hansson, MDU
  • FLEXATION research project on modular automation – Mohammad Ashjaei, MDU
  • GAIT research project on regenerative AI – Kristian Sandström, MDU
  • MARC research profile – Thomas Nolte, MDU
  • Research on neurofeedback rehabilitation – Elaine Åstrand, MDU
  • SEINE research project on automatic self-configuration of industrial networks – Saad Mubeen, MDU
  • Support in setting up and running European research projects – Gunnar Widforss, MDU
  • Test automation research project – Eduard Paul Enoiu, MDU
  • TSS – a strategic profile area on trusted smart systems – Hans Hansson and Krister Landernäs, MDU
  • Volvo APP using humanoids in industry – Imad Berrouyne, Jessica Bruch and Mats Jackson, MDU