Esben Østergaard

Biography

"I am one of the founders and inventors of Universal Robots, which is market leader within collaborative robots (cobots). As the Chief Technology Officer at Universal Robots, I am responsible for the enhancements of existing UR cobots and the development of new products. During the years from 2001 – 2005 as researcher and assistant professor in robotics and user interfaces at University of Southern Denmark, I created the foundation for a reinvention of the industrial robot. In 2005, it led me to found Universal Robots together with two of my research colleagues. Since then, Universal Robots has taken about 65+ patents on the technology of the cobot. Earlier in my career, I worked as research scientist at USC Robotics Labs in Southern California and at AIST in Tokyo as a visiting researcher. During my studies in Computer Science, Physics and Multimedia at Aarhus University in Denmark, I exclusively focused on robotics and became the world champion in my hobby, FIRA Robot Football in 1998. Besides my work as CTO, I am one of the members of the Danish Government’s Disruption Council, the Danish Society of Engineers' (IDA) SIRI Commission, MADE Board Member, external examiner at Universities, and key note speaker about robotics."  

Research Interest

Robotics, Automation, Product Development