Pittsburgh’s robotics hub takes aim at the food industry’s toughest challenges

‍PITTSBURGH — Sept. 9, 2025 — The food processing and packaging industry is facing mounting challenges. Labor shortages are intensifying. Quality demands are rising. And production lines must now shift on a dime to meet changing consumer behavior. Against this backdrop, Innovation Works, one of the most active seed-stage investors in the country, and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network have opened applications for the next Robotics Factory Create Summit, a two-day event designed to forge practical solutions through robotics and automation.

The Food Processing & Packaging Robotics and AI Summit will give leaders and innovators from food manufacturing the opportunity to network with robotics and AI solution builders and work side-by-side in a facilitated workshop format. The summit builds on the success of past Create events in aviation, agriculture, defense, and industrial automation.

The summit is part of the Robotics Factory’s Create program, which pairs technologists, entrepreneurs, and sector specialists to pressure-test ideas that address industry-specific needs.

“Food processors are facing a perfect storm of challenges with labor shortages and higher than ever quality demands,” said Kevin Dowling, Managing Director of the Robotics Factory. “Pittsburgh is home to one of the world’s strongest robotics ecosystems, and by linking that expertise with food processors and packagers, we can spark solutions that will transform how food is produced and delivered.”

The first day of the summit will feature a panel discussion with industry experts about how to solve relevant, real-world problems. Confirmed panelists include Chuck Turner, President of Turner’s Dairy, with additional speakers from Kraft Heinz, Hersheys and other national food companies being selected and finalized.

Day two will immerse attendees in a fast-paced innovation workshop using principles of human-centered design through a series of team-based activities. The goal: surface solutions ready to prototype and further validate. 

“This summit breaks down barriers between robotics companies and food industry leaders and gives them the tools to work on real problems together,” said Ven Raju, CEO of Innovation Works. “We’ve seen how this approach accelerates collaboration and sparks new solutions, and we’re eager to apply it to the food industry, which is critical to both economic growth and community well-being.”

The global food robotics market is projected to grow from $2.23 billion in 2024 to more than $10 billion by 2032, with North America representing a major share. Nearly half of all capital expenditures in the industry this year are expected to go toward automation upgrades. At the same time, 70% of U.S. employers continue to report difficulty hiring, a pressure point that has hit food production especially hard.

“Pittsburgh has the talent, technology, and experience to lead this transformation,” said Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. “Connecting food processors with automation leaders enables the ability to unlock smarter, scalable solutions that improve operational efficiency, reduce labor strain, and ensure compliance, delivering measurable ROI across the supply chain.”

Pennsylvania is home to more than 2,300 food-processing companies and more than 125 robotics and autonomy firms. That convergence makes Pittsburgh a natural hub for collaborative innovation. Recent state investments, including $21 million in Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants awarded in June, have further strengthened the region’s position.

Attendance at the Food Processing & Packaging Robotics Summit is invite-only and tightly curated to ensure the right mix of decision-makers, engineers, operators, and robotics and AI leaders. Applications are now open.

Learn more about the summit and how to apply to attend. 

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About Innovation Works 

Innovation Works is one of the most active early-stage investors in the country and the most active in Pennsylvania. Since its inception of the seed fund in 1999, Innovation Works has invested in over 780 companies that have gone on to raise $3.3 billion in follow-on funding. Portfolio companies have generated and retained over 20,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Innovation Works is part of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners network, which has catalyzed economic growth over the last 30 years by providing access to capital and networks that help foster innovation and technology-based economic development in Pennsylvania. Learn more at innovationworks.org.

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About The Pittsburgh Robotics Network

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and strengthening robotics business growth and opportunity throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region, and represents this dynamic ecosystem of robotics companies, research institutions, universities, and organizations to the world. Pittsburgh is the birthplace of autonomous robotics, trailblazing a new generation of autonomous products and services to solve real-world problems across all industries. The PRN acts as the central voice to advocate for and support the growth of the region’s commercial robotics cluster, which is made up of 150+ robotics businesses developing robotics solutions across 13+ industry markets.

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Contact: 

Jane Joseph

Innovation Works

(412) 722-8474

jjoseph@innovationworks.org 

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Lexie Capperella 

Gregory FCA for Innovation Works

innovationworks@gregoryfca.com

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