The Oxford Summit on Robotics aims to bring together – in an informal way – a small number of internationally-leading researchers in robotics and related areas to discuss and tackle strategic challenges in robotics research. The motivation is to provide an environment and atmosphere in which big ideas can spring to life and grow into strategic initiatives for the robotics community and beyond, without the pressures and distractions usually associated with professional meetings.

In spirit, mission and objective, the Oxford Summit follows in the footsteps of the 2011 Berlin Summit. Additionally, it aims to acknowledge that robotics research is inherently inter-disciplinary. Thus, to provide an outside perspective and maybe even a new impetus, this year there will be a small contingent of researchers looking at behavioural ecology and biological perception, as well researchers from a cross-section of robotics disciplines.

Acknowledgement
The Oxford Summit on Robotics forms this year’s Mahfouz Forum at Pembroke College Oxford. The Mahfouz Forum, which has a focus on subjects which cross disciplines, is run by Fellows of Pembroke College and seeks to engage leading international academics working on a different theme each year, on a global and national basis. The Mahfouz Forum is being generously funded by a benefaction from HE Mahfouz bin Mahfouz, Foundation Fellow of Pembroke College.