Hiroshi Fujiwara and Robert Little Win 2026 Engelberger Robotics Awards

Hiroshi Fujiwara (left) and Robert Little (right) are the 2026 recipients of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award. | Credit: A3

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has announced Hiroshi Fujiwara and Robert Little as the winners of the 2026 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards, honoring outstanding leadership and practical application in the field.

Fujiwara, Executive Director of the Japan Robot Association (JARA), was recognized for his decades of strategic policy work and international collaboration. Robert Little, co-founder of ATI Industrial Automation, was honored for his transformative contributions to robotic end-effector technology.

They will be celebrated at the Automate 2026 show, joining an esteemed group of visionaries who have shaped the course of modern automation. The awards ceremony and dinner will take place on Wednesday, June 24, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Robotics has always progressed thanks to individuals who envision possibilities and then work diligently to make them practical, useful, and scalable,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of A3. “Hiroshi Fujiwara has played a key role in strengthening one of the world’s most vital robotics ecosystems while fostering collaboration across industry, government, and international markets.”

“Robert Little has dedicated his career to helping manufacturers deploy robots more effectively, providing the tools and technologies needed for flexible and reliable automation,” he added. “Together, they embody the purpose and spirit of the Engelberger Awards, and both are highly deserving of this honor.”

Little drives practical robotics adoption in manufacturing

Little brings over 40 years of experience in robotics, automation, and manufacturing. In 1989, he co-founded ATI Industrial Automation, helping grow the company from roughly $1 million to over $100 million in revenue.

Under his leadership, ATI became a global leader in robotic tool changers, force/torque sensing, and other end-effector technologies, significantly expanding the practical use of robots in manufacturing.

Following Novanta’s acquisition of ATI in 2021, Little served as President of Novanta’s ATI business group and later as Chief of Robotics Strategy. He now supports the robotics industry through Robert Little Robotics, advising companies on business strategy focused on robotics and automation markets. He also serves on the A3 Robotics Technology Strategy Board.

The Engelberger Award winner told The Robot Report that he intends to use his platform to advocate that reliability, reshoring, and physical AI will be decisive factors in whether North America regains its industrial competitive edge or falls behind.

“There is now significant pressure to reshore manufacturing,” Little stated. “There’s pressure to produce locally, whether you’re building in the U.S. for the U.S. market or in France for the European market. These manufacturers need automation to succeed.”

“We face a labor shortage. It’s not going away; it’s likely to intensify,” he said. “While government support isn’t always consistent, A3’s push for a coherent national robotics policy is a crucial step forward. More customers adopting robotics means more market activity, which in turn drives the development of new technologies.”

Little expressed strong optimism about the future of robotics in the United States.

“Robots were invented and first manufactured in the U.S.,” he noted. “I greatly admire Japan’s approach to embracing robotics. Their government implemented a policy declaring, ‘This is a pivotal technology. We will be number one in the world.’ And they achieved that; they are a leader.”

“In the U.S., we were initially skeptical, and robotics wasn’t fully embraced, so we lost much of that early manufacturing and development leadership,” Little recalled. “But not entirely. For instance, FANUC still manufactures its paint robots here for global distribution. The company actually ships paint robots from the U.S. to China.”

Fujiwara advances robotics through global collaboration

Fujiwara has served as Executive Director of JARA since 2009, leading strategic operations and policy advocacy for Japan’s robotics industry. In this role, he has been instrumental in fostering collaboration among industry leaders, government agencies, and international partners to drive innovation in both industrial and service robotics.

Prior to joining JARA, Fujiwara worked at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). He retired in 2009 after nearly three decades in leadership positions encompassing industrial policy, technology development, economic security, small business support, and international trade.

Fujiwara’s extensive experience also includes leadership roles with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Additionally, he has worked at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he helped promote collaboration between industry, academia, and government.

About the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards

Named for Joseph F. Engelberger, widely regarded as the father of robotics, the Engelberger Awards have honored leaders in robotics since 1977 for excellence in technology development, application, education, and leadership.

Each awardee receives a $5,000 honorarium, a commemorative medallion, and a plaque. Winners are selected by a panel of industry leaders based on current and past nominations and are voted on by past chairs of A3 and the Robotic Industries Association (RIA).