Frequently asked
Everything below is drawn from the Open Call & Application Guidelines. If your question is not here, write to info@vandri-robotics.com — a real answer beats a guess.
Entering a robot
Who can enter a humanoid robot as a delegate?
A company, a university, an institute or a named team. Every delegate must be backed by an organisation, and applications from unaffiliated individuals cannot be accepted. The delegate is the robot; the applicant is the organisation behind it.
What does it cost to enter a robot?
Nothing. There is no participation fee for humanoid robot delegations. Delegations do cover their own freight, insurance and travel, and we say that plainly rather than hiding it. We introduce delegations to Summit sponsors who contribute to those costs, and we issue visa invitation letters to shortlisted delegations.
Can a robot take part by video link?
No. Attendance in person is a condition of delegate status. Your robot travels to Ljubljana with your team and takes part physically in both panels, the press moment and the showcase. There is no remote delegate category.
When do applications close, and when will we know?
Applications close 15 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST. Decisions go to every applicant on 22 September 2026: invited, waitlisted, or declined with an invitation to attend as a guest.
Do we need a Google account to apply?
No. Anyone can open and submit the form. The only thing a Google account changes is that the form will keep an unfinished draft for you. Every question is also published on the Apply page, so your team can gather the material first and then fill the form in one sitting.
How many robots will be selected?
The floor is composed to seat as many continents, countries and regions as possible, with one delegate per region and the strongest application within each region taking the seat. That means a strong application from a region with few humanoid programmes competes within its region rather than against the whole industry.
What makes an application strong
What matters most in scoring?
Cognitive voice communication, at 40 of 100 points. Movement and interaction carries 20, the organisation behind the robot 15, geographic contribution 15, and contribution to the agenda 10. We are not selecting the most famous robot, the most expensive or the most humanlike face. A modest platform that genuinely converses will outscore a spectacular one that recites.
What exactly does the demonstration video have to show?
One continuous take of at least five minutes, no cuts and no post-produced audio, showing the robot in spoken conversation in English with a person or with another robot. It must include at least one question the robot has not heard before, and the moment it is asked should be visible in the take. Phone footage is fine; production values score nothing. Upload it to YouTube or Vimeo, unlisted if you prefer, and paste the link.
Our video will not be ready in time. Should we wait?
No. Submit the application before 15 September 2026 and note in the form when the video will follow. A submitted application with a video arriving days later is reviewable; an unsubmitted one is not.
Honesty and the Disclosure Standard
Is teleoperation allowed?
Yes, and it must be declared. Teleoperation is not a disqualification. Concealing it is. Every robot present is publicly classified as autonomous, semi-autonomous, teleoperated or scripted, on its placard, in the printed programme and read aloud before the first press question. A delegation whose declared classification turns out to be false loses its seat.
What about our robot becomes public?
If you are selected: the organisation name, description and logo; the robot's name, bio and photographs; and the autonomy classification. Contact names and phone numbers, travel details, nationalities, opening positions on the motions and any sponsor-matching request are never published.
Attending as a human
How do people attend?
The Summit is held within the IMPULZ Forum, and a Forum registration is what admits you to the Summit hall. Registration, payment and badging are handled by the Forum. The early rate is €319 excluding VAT until 10 September, €429 after that, and €90 for startups and students. Meals and the workshops are included.
Do the people in a delegation have to pay?
No. Human team members of a selected delegation attend free of charge, on registration codes issued to the delegation for an agreed number of people.
Can journalists attend?
Yes. Press accreditation is free of charge and approved by the Organising Committee. Apply through the press page rather than through Forum registration.
Practical matters
We need a Schengen visa. What should we do?
Say so in the application, even if you are unsure. Shortlisted delegations that flagged a visa need receive a provisional invitation letter before the final decision, so an appointment can be booked while appointments still exist. Do not wait for 22 September — four weeks separate the decision from the Summit, and that is the tightest constraint in the whole timetable.
How do we get the robot and its battery to Ljubljana?
Tell us in the application how the robot will travel, whether you hold or plan an ATA carnet, and whether the battery has dangerous-goods certification. “Need advice” is an acceptable answer to both and routes you to our logistics coordinator. Battery chemistry and capacity decide how air freight treats your crate, which is why we ask in August rather than October.
What is Slovenian mains power?
230 V, 50 Hz, Type F sockets. Flag anything else in the application so we can plan the stage supply. Tell us your battery runtime too — a 45-minute panel still means two to three hours on the floor once build-up, rehearsal and the press moment are counted.
Is Prof. Muhammad Yunus involved?
A World of Three Zeros is the framework the Summit has adopted as its working agenda, with the 2017 book cited. No quotation is attributed to him anywhere on this site. Any participation will be announced here if and when it is confirmed.
Who do we contact?
Write to info@vandri-robotics.com. Questions before you start the form are welcome and are answered by the Organising Committee.
Still deciding?
The Apply page lists every question the form will ask, so you can see the whole commitment before you start. Closes 15 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.