The Rapid Growth of the Collaborative Robot Market and a New Paradigm in Manufacturing Innovation
Editor
In early 2026, a recent market research report revealed that the global collaborative robot (cobot) market is expected to reach a scale of $17.5 billion, recording an annual growth rate of 25.4%. This figure significantly surpasses the 8.2% growth rate of the traditional industrial robot market, clearly indicating a paradigm shift in the manufacturing industry. Notably, the rapid growth of the cobot market is not merely replacing existing industrial robots but is creating entirely new application areas. According to the latest report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the number of cobots installed worldwide in 2025 was 780,000 units, a 42% increase from the previous year, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for 47% of the total installations.
The rapid growth of collaborative robots is underpinned by several technological innovations. The latest cobots integrate torque sensors, vision systems, and advanced AI algorithms, enabling safe collaboration with human workers. Universal Robots, headquartered in Odense, Denmark, showcased its technological prowess with the UR30 model launched in Q4 2025, supporting a payload of 30kg while fully complying with ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066 safety standards. This model extends the working radius to 1,300mm compared to existing cobots and achieves a repeatability of 0.03mm, allowing for precision assembly tasks. Kim Petersen, CEO of Universal Robots, stated, “Our goal for 2026 is to achieve a 45% global cobot market share,” and has allocated $230 million for R&D, a 38% increase from the previous year.
ABB, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is demonstrating a differentiated approach with its GoFa and SWIFTI series. ABB’s GoFa cobot offers a payload of 5kg with a reach of 950mm, proving highly efficient, particularly in automotive parts assembly lines. In a pilot test conducted at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant, the introduction of 12 GoFa cobots resulted in a 23% reduction in assembly time and completely eliminated worker safety incidents. Marc Segarra, head of ABB’s robotics division, announced plans to expand cobot sales in the Asia-Pacific region to $1.5 billion by 2026, with plans to open eight new service centers in Korea, China, and Japan.
Enhancing Global Competitiveness of Korean Companies
The Korean collaborative robot market is also experiencing rapid growth. Doosan Robotics announced a 67% increase in revenue, reaching 184.7 billion won in 2025. The M series and H series cobots are particularly well-received in the global market, with a total of 340 units introduced to production lines at Germany’s Volkswagen and the USA’s GM. Doosan Robotics CEO Ryu Jeong-hoon stated, “Our goal for 2026 is to achieve 300 billion won in revenue and secure a 12% market share in Europe.” To this end, they plan to establish a European production base in Prague, Czech Republic, and expand their R&D center in Munich, Germany.
Hyundai Robotics is also showing remarkable achievements. The HR series, launched in the second half of 2025, integrates force control technology and vision systems to automate complex assembly tasks. In a demonstration test conducted at Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek campus, the deployment of 15 HR-A10 models on the smartphone assembly line significantly reduced the defect rate from 0.02% to 0.003% and improved productivity by 28%. Hyundai Robotics CTO Kim Dong-hyun explained, “AI-based adaptive grip technology allows for automatic recognition and manipulation of various shaped components with appropriate force.”
FANUC, headquartered in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is strengthening its position in the cobot market with the CRX series. The CRX-25iA model, in particular, offers a high payload of 25kg and a long reach of 1,889mm, enabling the handling of large components. At Toyota Motor’s Taiwan plant, 28 CRX cobots were introduced to automate the engine block assembly process, reducing work time by 35% and decreasing musculoskeletal disorders among workers by over 90%. FANUC President Kenji Yamaguchi announced plans to expand cobot sales to $1.2 billion by 2026 and aim for a 20% global market share.
Expansion of New Application Areas and Technological Innovation
The application scope of collaborative robots is rapidly expanding beyond traditional manufacturing to service industries, healthcare, and agriculture. The adoption in the food service industry is accelerating, with McDonald’s piloting the introduction of collaborative robots in 500 stores across the USA by the end of 2025 to automate order taking and food packaging tasks. This project uses Universal Robots’ UR10e model, reducing the average order processing time from 2 minutes 30 seconds to 1 minute 45 seconds. John Smith, McDonald’s Vice President of Technology Innovation, evaluated, “We were able to address labor shortages while improving service quality.”
The use of collaborative robots is also increasing in the healthcare sector. Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark introduced a drug dispensing system using ABB’s YuMi cobot, reducing prescription errors by 99.7%. This system processes an average of 1,200 prescriptions per day, reducing processing time by 40% compared to manual work. The hospital explained, “Pharmacists can now focus on high-value tasks such as patient consultations.” Professor Hans Müller of the Technical University of Munich’s Robotics Department projected, “The medical collaborative robot market will grow from $2.3 billion in 2026 to $6.7 billion by 2030.”
The use of collaborative robots in agriculture is also noteworthy. Dutch startup Harvest Robotics developed a collaborative robot for tomato harvesting, achieving a performance of harvesting 600 tomatoes per hour. This is three times the average yield of 200 tomatoes per hour by skilled agricultural workers. In Korea, Hyundai Robotics’ HR-A5 model is being trialed for strawberry harvesting at a smart farm in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, showing a success rate of over 90% in initial tests.
From a technological perspective, the most significant innovation in collaborative robots by 2026 is the enhancement of AI-based learning capabilities. The latest cobots can quickly learn new tasks through reinforcement learning and imitation learning. Universal Robots’ UR+ platform currently hosts over 400 third-party software and hardware, allowing users to configure complex task sequences using a drag-and-drop method. This improvement in user convenience has drastically reduced the initial setup time for cobot deployment from 4-6 weeks to 2-3 days.
Significant advancements have also been made in terms of safety. Following updates to the new ISO/TS 15066 standard, the force and pressure limits for collaborative robots have been further detailed, and real-time safety monitoring systems have become mandatory. KUKA, headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, implemented a system in its LBR iisy series that integrates a 7-axis torque sensor and skin contact detection sensor, capable of detecting physical contact with humans within 0.1 seconds and stopping immediately. KUKA CEO Till Reuter stated, “Safety is the core competitiveness of collaborative robots,” and plans to expand safety-related R&D investments to 200 million euros by 2026.
Examining market prospects and investment trends, investments in the collaborative robot sector by venture capital and private equity are surging. In 2025 alone, total investments in global cobot startups amounted to $3.4 billion, an 89% increase from the previous year. Companies developing AI-based robot learning platforms are particularly gaining attention, with Covariant in the USA raising $220 million in a Series C round. In Korea, Naver Labs announced that its collaborative robot platform ‘ARC’ secured a 15 billion won investment from Samsung Venture Investment and Hyundai Motor Group.
From a global supply chain perspective, the collaborative robot market is witnessing intriguing changes. While Chinese collaborative robot manufacturers are rapidly growing, intensifying price competition, European and Japanese companies are focusing on high-value-added technology and services. China’s DOBOT recorded $800 million in revenue in 2025, rapidly growing in the Asian market, but still lags behind existing leading companies in terms of technological reliability and service quality in the European and North American markets.
One of the key factors determining the future of the collaborative robot market is standardization. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) plan to announce the new communication standard ISO 23570 in the first half of 2026, ensuring interoperability of collaborative robots. Once applied, cobots from different manufacturers will be able to collaborate within a single integrated system, significantly expanding user choice. Lee Sang-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Robotics Industry Association, predicted, “Standardization will make it easier for domestic SMEs to enter the global market.”
The biggest challenge for the collaborative robot market in 2026 is the shortage of skilled technical personnel. As demand for robot programming, system integration, and maintenance experts surges, the shortage of personnel is intensifying. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, 450,000 jobs related to collaborative robots are expected to be created in Europe by the end of 2026, but the current education system can only supply 60% of the needed personnel. Consequently, governments and companies worldwide are collaborating to expand retraining programs and vocational training courses, with Korea planning to invest 50 billion won annually in the ‘Smart Manufacturing Workforce Development Project’ starting in 2026.
The rapid growth of the collaborative robot market is not merely a result of technological innovation but is intertwined with global megatrends such as population aging, labor shortages, and increasing demand for personalized manufacturing. According to McKinsey’s latest report, the economic value created by collaborative robots in global manufacturing is estimated to reach $120 billion by 2030. This figure is 1.8 times the value created by traditional industrial robots, indicating that collaborative robots are becoming a core element of a new industrial ecosystem beyond simple automation tools. The growth momentum of this market is expected to continue over the next 3-5 years, with the virtuous cycle of technological innovation and market expansion further strengthening.
This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please seek professional financial advice before making investment decisions.
