Leading Women in Robotics Recognized by the International Federation of Robotics
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has highlighted ten women who have made significant contributions to the robotics industry in 2025.
The IFR aims to promote women’s presence in robotics and recognize their achievements. The organization hopes this recognition will inspire young women to pursue careers in engineering, robotics, technology, and mathematics while also helping companies address workforce shortages.
Women’s Participation in Robotics and Engineering
The National Girls Collaborative Project reports that women currently make up 48% of the total workforce but only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In robotics and engineering roles, the number is even lower—just 16%.
The IFR report emphasizes that, amid growing labor shortages and demographic shifts, economies worldwide cannot afford to overlook this talent pool. Moreover, diverse workforces have been proven to boost innovation, competitiveness, and productivity.
A recent study by the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems found that diversity in the workforce leads to greater creativity and innovation. The study suggests that diverse teams build more comprehensive systems and are better at addressing biases.
Gender Gap in the Robotics Industry
Although the gender gap is narrowing and female workforce participation is increasing in many countries, a significant disparity remains in manufacturing sectors. This gap is particularly pronounced among female scientists and engineers. For example, in Europe, women’s participation in manufacturing roles is only half that of the service sector.
The 10 Most Influential Women in Robotics in 2025
Here are the ten women recognized in the IFR report for their impact on the robotics industry:
- Albane Dersy– CEO and co-founder of Inbolt, France
- Ashley Taivalkoski – Director at SCHUNK, USA
- Dr. Karen Dripke – Head of Robotics Development at Lorch Schweißtechnik, Germany
- Julia Astrid Riemenschneider – CEO of Rethink Robotics, USA
- Kari DeSantis – General Manager at FANUC, USA
- Kate Feng Xu – Head of R&D at ABB Robotics, China
- Kateryna Portmann – Chief Product Officer at ANYbotics, Switzerland
- Susanne Nördinger – Head of Ecosystem Success at Universal Robots and EMEA UR+ Ecosystem Manager, Germany
- Yumie Kubota – President of AI Cube and Executive Director of AI Robotics at Yaskawa Electric, Japan
- Yunzhi (Amber) Qi – General Manager of Overseas Business and co-founder of YOUIBOT Robotics, China
Recognizing Leadership and Promoting Inclusion
The IFR specifically sought women with outstanding careers in robotics who are recognized industry leaders and actively encourage young people to pursue STEM careers or support women in robotics. The selection process considered women from various levels of experience and companies across different countries.
IFR officials emphasized that the European Commission’s new Competitiveness Compass highlights robotics as a key technology for driving innovation. Encouraging women to explore STEM fields and career opportunities is essential, as diverse teams contribute to innovation. The robotics industry presents significant economic opportunities for high-quality businesses.
From: ICTPRESS