PITTSBURGH — Nov. 24, 2025 —The Robotics Factory, a program ofInnovationWorks, and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network are convening construction leaders and robotics innovators for the Construction & Robotics Summit, focused on construction and the technologies reshaping how projects get built. With labor shortages, rising safety risks, and growing pressure for higher-quality, faster builds, the Summit will bring together experts across sectors to identify where automation and robotics can deliver a meaningful, near-term impact on job sites.

The Construction & Robotics Summit on Dec.2-3, 2025, continues the model established by previous Create events, including aviation, agriculture, defense, and food processing. Each summit pairs regional robotics talent with industry decision-makers and accelerates the path from problem to prototype. This summit is partnering with Contech, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing construction technology through education, collaboration, and innovation.

A panel of industry leaders, from HITT Contracting, the Contech Alliance Board of Directors, Hardhat Robotics, and Turner Construction, will explore the most challenging issues facing commercial builders, infrastructure operators, and engineering teams. Their discussion will open the Summit’s first day, which features an evening networking reception designed to connect construction executives with the robotics companies shaping the next wave of solutions.

When discussing the Construction & Robotics Summit, Pittsburgh Robotics Network’s Executive Director, Jenn Apicella, said ”Pittsburgh leads the world in robotics and physical AI. This summit connects construction’s biggest players directly with our ecosystem companies to solve labor, safety, productivity, and sustainability challenges and turning proven innovation into solutions the industry will actually adopt.”

Day two will shift into an intensive innovation workshop led by the Robotics Factory Create program. Participants will pressure-test ideas through a structured set of activities that move from identifying needs to defining concepts ready for prototyping. Previous Create workshops have generated early-stage ideas and companies now advancing through pilots and development programs.

“Construction is confronting the same strain we’ve seen across other industrial sectors — fewer skilled workers, tighter deadlines, and a higher bar for quality,” said Kevin Dowling, Managing Director of the Robotics Factory. “Pittsburgh’s robotics community is built for problems like these. When you put construction teams and automation experts in the same room, you identify the right problems to solve, and get practical solutions that can be deployed, not theoretical ones that sit on a shelf.”

Val Tzvetkov, the Chair of Contech Alliance, said, “Contech Alliance is thrilled to partner on the Construction & Robotics Summit in Pittsburgh—an international hub for robotics innovation. This summit perfectly aligns with our mission to bring together industry leaders and innovators to shape the future of construction technology. We look forward to sparking meaningful collaboration and deep shared insights that will play a key role in developing the incredible tools and solutions of tomorrow.”

Registration is now open for the Dec. 2 networking reception. Interested construction leaders, regional robotics entrepreneurs, and technology partners can also inquire about participating in the Dec. 3 workshop. Learn more about the summit.

About Innovation Works and The RoboticsFactory

Innovation Works is one of the most active early-stage investors in the country and the most active in Pennsylvania. It isa member of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. Since its seed fund inception in 1999, Innovation Works has invested in over 780 companies that have raised $3.5 billion in follow-on funding. Portfolio companies have generated and retained over 20,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Learn more at innovationworks.org.

About The Pittsburgh Robotics Network

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to driving the growth and commercialization of Pittsburgh’s world-leading robotics ecosystem. With over 250+ robotics & AI companies in the regional cluster, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network connects businesses, research institutions, investors, and industry leaders to accelerate the transition of breakthrough robotics technology from the lab to the marketplace. Explore the ecosystem at robopgh.org

Contact:

Jane Joseph

Innovation Works

(412) 722-8474

jjoseph@innovationworks.org

Lexie Capperella

Gregory for Innovation Works

innovationworks@gregoryagency.com

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