award
The International Humanoid Forum award
Presented for the first time in 2026, the International Humanoid Forum Award recognizes outstanding achievements and pioneering contributions in the field of humanoid robotics across academia, industry, and applied use cases.
The IHF Award will be presented in three categories:
- Important Academic Contribution – recognizing excellence, originality, and impact in scientific research
- Leading Humanoid Robotics Company – honoring leadership, innovation, and industrial relevance
- Best Use-Case Adaptation – rewarding the most effective and impactful real-world application of humanoid robotics
Winners 2026
🎓 Important Academic Contribution
Prof. Yulia Sandamirskaya,
Head of a Research Center “Cognitive computing in Life Sciences”, ICLS/ZHAW
Prof. Yulia Sandamirskaya is heading a Research Centre „Cognitive Computing“ at the Institute of Computational Life Sciences at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Wädenswil. Her lab develops brain-inspired, neuromorphic technology for robot perception, cognition, and control.
🚀 Leading Humanoid Robotics Company
Mr. Robot represented by Edwin Yap, CEO (left)
Mr. Robot focuses on AI‑driven robotics for real‑world automation. It develops humanoid and service robots that improve operational performance in retail, logistics and commercial environments. The company emphasises practical deployment rather than prototypes and integrates advanced AI with system engineering to make robotics accessible to businesses.
Agibot represented by Yanlin Wang, Sales Director Europe (right)
AgiBot is a Shanghai-based robotics company pioneering large-scale production and commercial deployment of embodied humanoid robots, integrating AI and physical autonomy across a diverse range of products and applications. By early 2025, AgiBot had already rolled out over 1,000 general-purpose humanoid robots, setting a new industry milestone and expanding into multiple markets. Their full-stack platform combines advanced AI, perception, and actuation to drive real-world embodied intelligence at scale.
⚙️ Best Use-Case Adaptation
LEM Surgical AG, represented by Yossi Bar, CEO & Founder (left) & Michael Steck, Head of Programm (right)
LEM Surgical AG is a Swiss medtech company developing intelligent robotic systems for hard-tissue surgery, focused on enhancing precision, efficiency, and clinical value in complex orthopedic procedures. Its flagship platform, the Dynamis Robotic Surgical System, is designed to support multi-arm guidance, real-time navigation, and broad instrument compatibility to transform surgical workflows and outcomes.
In November 2025, LEM Surgical completed the first clinical procedures in the United States using its Dynamis system, performing a series of single-level and multi-level spinal fusions at Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas.
call for applications
Researchers, research groups, startups, established companies, and practitioners are invited to apply for the IHF Award 2026.
Applications must be submitted as a single document (maximum two pages) and should clearly address the following points:
- Award category
(Important Academic Contribution, Leading Humanoid Robotics Company, or Best Use-Case Adaptation) - Applicant profile
Short description of the individual, research group, or organization, including background and core expertise. - Description of the contribution
Explanation of the research results, technological innovation, business achievement, or implemented use case. - Innovation and uniqueness
Description of what differentiates this contribution from existing work or solutions. - Impact and relevance
Academic, industrial, economic, or societal impact on the field of humanoid robotics. - Justification for the award
Clear argumentation why this contribution deserves recognition by the International Humanoid Forum.
call for applications
Researchers, research groups, startups, established companies, and practitioners are invited to apply for the IHF Award 2026.
Applications must be submitted as a single document (maximum two pages) and should clearly address the following points:
- Award category
(Important Academic Contribution, Leading Humanoid Robotics Company, or Best Use-Case Adaptation) - Applicant profile
Short description of the individual, research group, or organization, including background and core expertise. - Description of the contribution
Explanation of the research results, technological innovation, business achievement, or implemented use case. - Innovation and uniqueness
Description of what differentiates this contribution from existing work or solutions. - Impact and relevance
Academic, industrial, economic, or societal impact on the field of humanoid robotics. - Justification for the award
Clear argumentation why this contribution deserves recognition by the International Humanoid Forum.
Submission Deals
- Submission deadline: 9 February 2026
- Submission format: Single PDF document (max. 2 pages)
- Submission email: event@sipbb.ch
Jury 2026
- Dr. Dominic Gorecky
- Dr. Hakan Girgin
- Dr. Anca Rusu
- Dr. Milan Kumar
- Prof. Dr. David Romero
