-Virtual Series Aims to Inspire, Inform and Excite, Right Here in the Hub of Robotics -Premier of New Video Highlighting Strength of the Massachusetts Robotics Sector

BOSTON - The Innovation Institute at the Mass Tech Collaborative and MassRobotics will broadcast a four-session virtual ‘STEMinar' that highlights Massachusetts as the leader in the robotics revolution. The new ‘Robot Stories' series is targeted primarily at middle and high school students who get the opportunity to interact with several of the world's leading roboticists about what the future of robotics looks like. The series will be broadcast on Wednesday afternoons starting tomorrow, May 20th, with additional episodes launched on May 27th, June 3rd, and June 10th. Beyond students, the series aims to inspire teachers, parents, and those interested in tech, innovation, and robotics.

Each session will feature a new video, produced by the Innovation Institute at MassTech, that highlights how robots are already critical to our everyday lives, and shows the powerful ecosystem that that exists for robotics companies in Massachusetts. A preview of the new video, as well as information on the Commonwealth's world-class robotics sector, can be found on MassTech's website at https://masstech.org/robotics.

The four-week series will build on that theme, telling origin stories about the many robotics founders and companies, the myriad industries they touch in Massachusetts. Robots boost productivity, increase innovation and quality of life for many; the STEM series will help future entrepreneurs understand the educational and professional paths available to them.

"Robotics is a core sector of the tech and innovation economy of Massachusetts. The opportunities for robots are infinite - in people's homes, industry, healthcare, education, research, and in the shapes they take, from autonomous vehicles, to aerial drones, underwater vehicles and warehouse robots, all made here in Massachusetts," said Carolyn Kirk, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. "It's important to inform students about what's happening and excite them about a future education and career as robot innovator."

Each week from 3:00 - 3:45 pm the series will highlight a different local robotic icon:

• Laurie Leshin, President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an alum of NASA's Mars Rover project;
• Colin Angle, CEO of Bedford's iRobot;
• Helen Greiner, a robotics entrepreneur and expert for the U.S. Army; and
• Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics in Waltham.

Each robotics icon will share their passion for robotics, describe how and when they first got into robotics, explain the technology, and talk about their current work. Each of the sessions will be hosted as an interactive video conference session, providing students the opportunity to ask questions of the experts.

"Both the video and this series are very timely, as they provide a unique educational resource for students who are interested in robotics that are working from home," said Damon Cox Assistant Secretary of Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. "I am thrilled that students across Massachusetts will get the opportunity to learn about the dynamic, innovative robotics sector that we have here in Massachusetts, from some of the top experts that call our state home."

"I am so excited to share Massachusetts' robotics strengths with students," said Tom Ryden, CEO of MassRobotics. "Massachusetts is truly a global hub for robotics, with the students, industry leaders, and companies that are turning cutting-edge technology into real-world solutions, right here in our backyard. Engaging students in a way that is both fun and informative is exciting and a great way to ensure future robotics innovation in Massachusetts."

For more information and registration instructions for the ‘Robot Stories' sessions, and robotics in Massachusetts in general, visit www.masstech.org/robotics.

###

About the Innovation Institute at MassTech

The Innovation Institute is the entity that advances a core mission of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative: improving the conditions for innovation and cluster growth across the Commonwealth. Created in 2003, the Innovation Institute intervenes in the economy in the following four ways:
• Conducts research and analysis that improves the states understandings of unmet needs and opportunities in the states innovation economy;
• Serves as convener and key strategic broker on the landscape;
• Manages high-value projects on behalf of the Commonwealth; and
• Makes strategic investments in support of innovation-based economic development.

For more information visit https://innovation.masstech.org/

About MassRobotics

MassRobotics is the collective work of a group of Boston-area engineers, rocket scientists and entrepreneurs. With a shared vision to create an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community, MassRobotics was born. MassRobotics' mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and connected device companies by providing entrepreneurs and innovative robotics/automation startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. www.massrobotics.org