Four Robotics Groups Sign Barcelona Declaration 2026, to Urge Governments to Adopt Common Automation Strategy

According to a July 13, 2026, report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), four robotics and automation organizations worldwide formally signed the Barcelona Declaration 2026.

By making engagement with governments a permanent effort, the four organizations representing the global robotics industry could make it easier for industry priorities to be reflected in future robotics policy. The move marks a step toward greater unity among industry groups in discussions over regulations and standards that will influence the adoption of robots in the AI era.

The signing marks a shift toward a permanent framework for dialogue between the robotics industry and governments, setting it apart from the individual policy recommendations traditionally made by industry groups. The signatories are Spain’s AER Automation, the U.S.-based A3, IFR and Germany-based VDMA Robotics + Automation. Together, they represent more than 3,000 companies and organizations worldwide. The declaration, first presented last year, has been developed into a “permanent framework for international cooperation.” This signals a move from a joint statement to an ongoing partnership to advance policy in collaboration with governments, industry and public institutions. As we previously reported, IFR said in February 2026 that VLAMs (models integrating vision, language and action) could change where value is created in industry and who leads innovation, in an article titled IFR Analyzes VLAM’s Impact on the Robotics Industry, as AI-Robot Convergence Could Shift the Lead in Value Creation. In January 2026, it also announced Five Robotics Industry Trends for 2026, With AI Autonomy and IT-OT Convergence at the Core. The Barcelona Declaration is positioned as a framework to support these technology trends through policy. The declaration could have implications for the industry’s structure: by jointly urging governments to adopt a common policy agenda, the four organizations could strengthen industry’s negotiating position in policymaking on robotics regulation, standardization and subsidies. In particular, as AI and robotics converge, the framework could enable the industry to engage collectively in rulemaking on data use and safety standards. However, the announcement does not clarify the declaration’s specific policy proposals, how cooperation with governments will proceed, or whether regional organizations beyond the signatories will join. See the original source for details.