Europe Collaborative Robot Market
Europe Collaborative Robot Market by Payload (Less than 5 kg, 5-10 kg, 11-25 kg, More than 25 kg), Component (Hardware, Software), Application (Handling, Assembling & Disassembling, Dispensing, Processing), Industry Global Forecast to 2030
OVERVIEW
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
The Europe collaborative robot market is projected to grow from USD 0.41 billion in 2025 to USD 0.81 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 14.4%. The major market drivers include a higher return on investment compared to traditional industrial robotic systems, increased demand in the e-commerce and logistics sectors, significant benefits for businesses of all sizes, and the ease of programming cobots. The opportunities include an increasing focus on pairing robotic arms with mobile platforms, such as AMRs or AGVs, a growing number of subscriptions for the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, and a rising demand for automation in the healthcare industry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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BY COUNTRYGermany is expected to account for the largest share, 33%, of the Europe collaborative robot market in 2025.
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BY COMPONENTBy component, the hardware segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024.
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BY PAYLOADBy payload, the more than 25 kg segment will grow at the highest CAGR of 19.8% from 2025 to 2030.
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BY APPLICATIONBy application, the handling segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period.
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BY INDUSTRYBy industry, the automotive segment accounted for the largest share, 22%, of the market in 2024.
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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE (KEY PLAYERS)ABB is identified as a star player. Major market players have adopted both organic and inorganic strategies, including partnerships and investments.
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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE (STARTUPS/SMES)Franka Emika GmbH and Festo Inc. have been identified as startups/SMEs. These vendors have been marking their presence in the market by offering advanced solutions according to the requirements of individual customers and by adopting effective growth strategies.
The collaborative robot market in Europe is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. This subscription-based approach offers benefits such as reduced upfront costs, enhanced flexibility, simplified maintenance, data-driven insights, and wider accessibility to a diverse workforce. The surge in RaaS subscriptions presents exciting opportunities for market expansion, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited budgets. Moreover, there is an increasing adoption of robots for automation in the medical sector. The ability of collaborative robots to work safely and efficiently alongside healthcare professionals has opened up new possibilities for enhancing patient care, improving operational efficiency, and addressing workforce challenges.
TRENDS & DISRUPTIONS IMPACTING CUSTOMERS' CUSTOMERS
The logistics sector is undergoing a profound transformation with the advent of collaborative robots, or cobots, which significantly enhance operational efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks such as picking, packing, and sorting. This automation not only expedites order processing but also empowers human workers to focus on more complex and value-added roles such as quality assurance and troubleshooting. Across various industries, companies and research institutions are pioneering innovative cobot solutions tailored to specific logistics functions, such as autonomous picking robots and mobile manipulation platforms. This drive for innovation fuels rapid advancements and meets the demands of specialized applications. The outcome is a substantial increase in productivity and efficiency, alongside improvements in product quality, reduced downtime, heightened worker safety, and enhanced adaptability to market demands. For instance, AI-powered cobots equipped with vision systems can conduct product inspections with greater precision than humans, while predictive maintenance strategies help prevent unexpected equipment failures, underscoring the transformative potential of IIoT and AI in industrial manufacturing.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
MARKET DYNAMICS
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Higher return on investment than traditional industrial robotic systems
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Increased demand from e-commerce and logistics sectors
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Higher preference for low-payload-capacity robots in heavy-duty industrial applications
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Increasing focus of automation experts on pairing robotic arms with mobile platforms
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Growing number of subscriptions for Robotics-as-a-Service model
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Payload and speed limitations due to inherently designed cobots
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Difficulties in adapting to new standards and cybersecurity challenges related to connected robots
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Driver: Increased demand from e-commerce and logistics sectors
Collaborative robots can be effectively deployed alongside workers in logistics and e-commerce industries for carrying out repetitive tasks, such as packaging and shipping. Cobots offer low upfront costs, flexible implementation, and ease of programming for users.
Restraint: Higher preference for low-payload-capacity robots in heavy-duty industrial applications
To operate safely in the work environment, cobots are designed to be less powerful than traditional industrial robots, making them less appropriate for heavy-duty applications. On the other hand, traditional industrial robots are heavy-duty robots with high payloads that can tackle dangerous, repetitive, and heavy applications.
Opportunity: Increasing focus of automation experts on pairing robotic arms with mobile platforms
With the rise of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) designed for collaborative use, companies have started combining mobility technology with collaborative robots.
Challenge: Payload and speed limitations due to inherently designed cobots
The growth of collaborative robots has increased their interconnectivity. Multiple robots working on a particular task communicate with each other to sequence their actions and are also connected to a centralized database, which provides information on efficiency and downtime. Interconnectivity is expected to become increasingly common in a few years, raising concerns over safety and cybersecurity, which will be a critical challenge in the operation of collaborative robots.
EUROPE COLLABORATIVE ROBOT MARKET: COMMERCIAL USE CASES ACROSS INDUSTRIES
| COMPANY | USE CASE DESCRIPTION | BENEFITS |
|---|---|---|
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ABB’s cobots are designed for close human collaboration in material handling, assembly, and laboratory automation. Integrated with ABB’s SafeMove and RobotStudio software, they ensure precision and safety. | Enhances productivity and flexibility while maintaining safety standards, enabling hybrid work environments with efficient human-robot collaboration. |
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET ECOSYSTEM
The ecosystem of the collaborative robot market includes robot accessories providers, integrators, and end users, where accessories providers play an important role in supplying accessories such as end effectors, vision systems, and sensors.. A few of the top companies providing collaborative robots in the ecosystem are Universal Robots A/S (Denmark), FANUC Corporation (Japan), ABB (Switzerland), Techman Robot (Taiwan), KUKA AG (Germany), and Doosan Robotics Inc. (South Korea). Almost all players offer a wide range of collaborative robots with different payload capacities. These robots are widely used in automotive, electronics, metals & machining, plastics & polymers, food & beverages, furniture & equipment, healthcare, and other industries.
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET SEGMENTS
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Europe Collaborative Robot Market, by Payload
By payload, the up to 5 kg segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2024, and it is expected to continue dominating the market during the forecast period. SAWYER and SAWYER Black Edition from Rethink Robotics GmbH (Germany) are single-arm cobots with a payload capacity of 4 kg and a maximum reach of 1,260 mm. These cobots are equipped with the company's proprietary software suite, Intera. Hence, they do not require a separate software interface.
Europe Collaborative Robot Market, by Application
By application, the handling segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2024. Handling applications are expected to hold a significant market share during the forecast period, as cobots are increasingly used for tasks such as pick-and-place, packaging, loading, and material handling across various industries. Their precision, speed, and ability to work safely alongside humans make them ideal for repetitive tasks that require precise handling. Additionally, growing automation in e-commerce, logistics, and electronics manufacturing is further boosting demand for cobots in handling applications.
Europe Collaborative Robot Market, by Industry
By industry, the automotive segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2024. This can be attributed to its early and extensive adoption of automation for assembly, inspection, and material handling tasks. Cobots help automotive manufacturers improve efficiency, maintain production flexibility, and address ongoing labor shortages. With Europe being a major hub for leading automakers and component manufacturers, the demand for cobots in automotive applications will continue to remain strong throughout the forecast period.
Europe Collaborative Robot Market, by Region
Germany is expected to hold the largest market share in Europe due to its strong industrial base and early adoption of advanced automation technologies. The country's well-established automotive, electronics, and machinery sectors rely heavily on collaborative robots to enhance productivity and precision. Additionally, Germany's strong focus on Industry 4.0 and continuous investments in smart manufacturing further drive widespread cobot deployment.
REGION
Spain is expected to be the fastest-growing country in the Europe collaborative robot market during the forecast period
Collaborative robots, or cobots, are experiencing rapid growth in Spain, making it the fastest-growing market for these technologies in Europe. As industries increasingly embrace automation to enhance productivity, flexibility, and workplace safety, the adoption of cobots is on the rise. Factors such as labor shortages, the demand for efficient manufacturing, and increasing cost pressures are driving both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as large corporations to implement these systems. With advancements in artificial intelligence, sensing technologies, and user-friendly programming, cobots are playing a crucial role in Spain's transition to smart factories and modern industrial operations.
EUROPE COLLABORATIVE ROBOT MARKET: COMPANY EVALUATION MATRIX
In the Europe collaborative robot market matrix, ABB (Star) emerges as a leading player, boasting a strong regional and global presence, as well as a broad collaborative robot portfolio. Its ability to deliver scalable, AI-enabled, and safety-compliant cobot solutions across automotive, electronics, logistics, and general manufacturing has positioned ABB as a dominant force in the European market.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
KEY MARKET PLAYERS
- ABB (Switzerland)
- KUKA AG (Germany)
- Universal Robots A/S (Denmark)
- Fanuc Corporation (Japan)
- Franka Emika GmbH (Germany)
- Comau S.p.A. (Consorzio Macchine Utensili) (Italy)
- F&P Robotics AG (Switzerland)
- Stäubli International AG (Switzerland)
- Bosch Rexroth AG (Bosch) (Germany)
- Rethink Robotics GmbH (Germany)
MARKET SCOPE
| REPORT METRIC | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Market Size in 2024 (Value) | USD 0.38 Billion |
| Market Forecast in 2030 (Value) | USD 0.81 Billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 14.4% from 2025–2030 |
| Years Considered | 2021–2030 |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025–2030 |
| Units Considered | Value (USD Billion), Volume (Units) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
| Segments Covered |
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| Regions Covered | Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and the Rest of Europe) |
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU: EUROPE COLLABORATIVE ROBOT MARKET REPORT CONTENT GUIDE
DELIVERED CUSTOMIZATIONS
We have successfully delivered the following deep-dive customizations:
| CLIENT REQUEST | CUSTOMIZATION DELIVERED | VALUE ADDS |
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| E-commerce & Fulfillment Operator |
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| Automotive OEM |
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
- February 2025: ABB has expanded its range of robotic solutions for logistics and e-commerce supply chains by adding two new AI-powered functional modules to its item picking family. These modules feature ABB’s proprietary AI-based vision technology, which has been tested by leading companies in the fashion retail and logistics sectors. The fashion inductor and parcel inductor provide solutions for two of the most crucial logistics processes: item picking and sorter induction.
- October 2024: Universal Robots A/S unveiled its AI Accelerator, a ready-to-use hardware and software toolkit created to further enable the development of AI-powered cobot applications. Designed for commercial and research applications, the UR AI Accelerator provides developers with an extensible platform to build applications, accelerate research, and reduce the time to market for AI products.
- May 2024: Techman Robot Inc. unveiled the TM AI Cobot TM30S, which can carry up to 35 kg and boasts a reach of 1,702 mm across six joints. This offers the best reach-to-weight ratio compared to other cobots in the 30 kg category.
- February 2024: ABB partnered with construction technology firm Auar to develop ConstrucThor, a research facility in Belgium that demonstrates the future of sustainable construction. Utilizing Auar’s micro-factory technology and ABB’s robotic automation, the facility will function as a living lab for energy-neutral infrastructure and climate-neutral building materials.
Table of Contents
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Methodology
The study involved major activities in estimating the current size of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on collaborative robots. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain using primary research. Different approaches, such as top-down and bottom-up, were employed to estimate the total market size. After that, the market breakup and data triangulation procedures were used to estimate the market size of the segments and subsegments of the collaborative robot.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various secondary sources were referred to identify and collect information relevant to this study. Secondary sources included annual reports, press releases, and investor presentations of companies; white papers, certified publications, and articles from recognized authors; directories; and databases. Secondary research was mainly carried out to obtain critical information about the industry’s supply chain, value chain, the total pool of key players, and market classification and segmentation according to industry trends, geographic markets, and key developments from both market- and technology-oriented perspectives. Secondary sources included corporate filings (such as annual reports, investor presentations, and financial statements); trade, business, and professional associations; white papers; IoT technologies journals and certified publications; articles by recognized authors; gold-and silver-standard websites; directories; and databases. Data was also collected from secondary sources, such as the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the International Trade Centre (ITC) (Switzerland), and the Robotics Business Review (RBR).
Secondary research was mainly used to obtain critical information about the supply chain of the industry, the value chain of the market, the total pool of key players, market classification and segmentation according to industry trends to the bottom-most level, geographic markets, and key developments from both the market and technology-oriented perspectives. Secondary data was collected and analyzed to arrive at the overall market size, which was further validated by primary research.
Primary Research
Extensive primary research was conducted after understanding and analyzing the current scenario of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market through secondary research. Several primary interviews were conducted with key opinion leaders from both the demand and supply sides across four major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Approximately 25% of the primary interviews were conducted with the demand side, while 75% were conducted with the supply side. This primary data was collected mainly through telephonic interviews, which accounted for 80% of the total primary interviews. Questionnaires and e-mails were also used to collect data.
Market Size Estimation
This report implements both top-down and bottom-up approaches to estimate and validate the size of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market and various other dependent submarkets. Secondary research identifies key players in this market, and their market shares in the respective regions are determined through primary and secondary research.
This report implements both top-down and bottom-up approaches to estimate and validate the size of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market and various other dependent submarkets. Secondary research identifies key players in this market, and their market shares in the respective regions are determined through primary and secondary research.
Top-Down Approach
- Identifying key participants in the Europe Collaborative Robot Market that influence the entire market
- Analyzing major manufacturers of collaborative robots involves studying their portfolios and understanding the various types of products they offer to strengthen their market presence and strategic positioning within the industry
- Analyzing trends pertaining to the use of collaborative robots for different industries
- Tracking the ongoing and upcoming developments in the market, such as investments, R&D activities, product/service launches, collaborations, and partnerships, and forecasting the market based on these developments and other critical parameters
- Carrying out multiple discussions with key opinion leaders to understand recent trends in the collaborative robot (cobot) market, thereby analyzing the breakup of the scope of work carried out by major companies
- Deriving market estimates involves analyzing the revenues generated by companies and then aggregating them to obtain the overall market estimate
- classifying the overall market into various other market segments
- Verifying and cross-checking the estimate at every level from the discussion with key opinion leaders such as CXOs, directors, and operations managers, and finally with the domain experts in MarketsandMarkets
- Studying various paid and unpaid sources of information, such as annual reports, press releases, white papers, and databases
- Focusing initially on the top-line investments and expenditures being made in the ecosystem of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market, further splitting the key market areas based on payload, application, industry, and region, and listing the key developments
- Identifying all leading players in the Europe Collaborative Robot Market based on payload, application, and industry through secondary research and thoroughly verifying them through a brief discussion with industry experts
- Analyzing revenues, product mix, geographic presence, and key applications served by all identified players to estimate and arrive at percentage splits for all key segments
- Discussing splits with industry experts to validate the information and identify key growth pockets across all key segments
- Breaking down the total market based on verified splits and key growth pockets across all segments
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the overall size of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market from the estimation process explained above, the market was split into several segments and subsegments. The data triangulation and market breakdown procedures were employed (wherever applicable) to complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all segments and subsegments. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply sides. The size of the Europe Collaborative Robot Market was validated using both top-down and bottom-up approaches..
Market Definition
According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), robots intended for collaborative use need to adhere to the International Organization for Standards (ISO) standard 10218-1. This standard establishes essential criteria and recommendations to guarantee the safe design, effective protective measures, and comprehensive usage guidelines for industrial robots. By adhering to these standards, a secure and efficient environment can be ensured for both operators and machinery.
Collaborative robots (also known as cobots) are designed to work alongside humans with precision, strength, and speed to achieve greater efficiency in production. Using robots to assist humans can help significantly reduce the workload of human workers and relieve them of monotonous, repetitive tasks. As an emerging automation technology, cobots complement the existing industrial robotics market. The total cost of ownership of factory automation solutions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), can be significantly reduced by adopting cobots. Cobot operations are primarily governed by the ISO 15066:2016 standard that further specifies various safety requirements. Other standards governing the safe operations of cobots include ISO 10218-1:2011, RIA/ANSI R15.06-2012, ISO 12100:2010, and ISO 13849-1:2008.
Key Stakeholders
- Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
- OEM technology solution providers
- Research institutes
- Market research and consulting firms
- Forums, alliances, and associations
- Technology investors
- Governments and financial institutions
- Analysts and strategic business planners
- End users who want to know more about technology and the latest technological developments in industry
Report Objectives
- To describe and forecast the Europe Collaborative Robot Market by payload, component, application, and industry, in terms of value and volume
- To describe and forecast the market for four main regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World, in terms of value and volume
- To provide detailed information regarding factors, including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges, influencing the growth of the market
- To provide a detailed overview of the cobot value chain
- To provide an ecosystem analysis, case study analysis, patent analysis, technology analysis, ASP analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis, 2025 US tariff and AI/Gen AI impact analyses, and regulations pertaining to the market
- To strategically analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total market
- To analyze opportunities in the market for various stakeholders by identifying high-growth segments
- To benchmark players operating in the market using the proprietary Competitive Leadership Mapping framework, which analyzes market players using multiple parameters within the broad categories of business and product strategy
- To strategically profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market position in terms of ranking and core competencies, along with detailing the competitive landscape for market leaders
- To analyze competitive developments such as collaborations, agreements, partnerships, product developments, and research and development (R&D) in the market
- To evaluate the impact of macroeconomic factors on the regional market
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Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Europe Collaborative Robot Market