JOSEPH F. ENGELBERGER AWARDS DINNER AND CEREMONY
A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN AUTOMATION
Join us for the automation industry's most prestigious event of the year. Enjoy a gala cocktail reception with the most influential figures in automation, followed by an elegant dinner experience and awards ceremony honoring outstanding contributions to the field of automation and robotics.
When: Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30-8:30 pm
Where: McCormick Place - Grand Ballroom (S100)
Price: $175 (individual) or $1,750 (table of 10)
Reserve your ticket(s) during registration or update an existing registration
THE 2026 ENGELBERGER ROBOTICS AWARD WINNERS
HIROSHI FUJIWARA
Hiroshi Fujiwara is Executive Director of the Japan Robot Association (JARA), where he has led strategic operations and policy advocacy for Japan’s robotics industry since 2009, helping strengthen collaboration among industry leaders, government agencies, and international partners to advance both industrial and service robotics innovation. Prior to JARA, he built a distinguished career in public service with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), retiring in 2009 after nearly three decades in leadership roles spanning industrial policy, technology development, economic security, and small business innovation.
His experience also includes serving as Director General of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO Vienna), leadership roles at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and as a professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he helped foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government. With deep expertise in robotics, international trade, strategic planning, and emerging technologies, Fujiwara has played a significant role in shaping Japan’s innovation ecosystem from a global perspective.
ROBERT LITTLE
Robert Little is a robotics industry leader with more than 40 years of experience in robotics, automation, and manufacturing. He co-founded ATI Industrial Automation in 1989 and helped lead the company from approximately $1 million to more than $100 million in revenue, establishing ATI as a global leader in robotic tool changers, force/torque sensing, and end-effector technologies. Following Novanta’s acquisition of ATI in 2021, he served as President of Novanta’s ATI business group and later as Chief of Robotics Strategy. He now supports the robotics industry through Robert Little Robotics and serves on the A3 Robotics Technology Strategy Board. His work focuses on advancing robot adoption, supporting manufacturing productivity, and helping companies understand the strategic impact of robotics and automation.
Be Part of Industrial Automation History
Named after the founding force of robotics, the Joseph F. Engelberger Awards recognize the individuals whose vision, creativity, and hard work have propelled automation technology to new heights. Meet some of the extraordinary pioneers and winners of previous years.
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