
ROBO Global Index Series
Primary Index Series | Live Date | Index Ticker | Download Fact Sheet |
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ROBO Global® Robotics and Automation Index | 8/2/13 | ROBO |
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ROBO Global® Robotics and Automation UCITS Index | 6/16/14 | ROBOT |
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ROBO Global Sub Index Series
Sub Index Series | Sub Index Series Name | Live Date | Index Ticker |
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Thematic | ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI High Revenue Index | 6/25/14 | ROBOHRNR |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Growing Revenue Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOGRNR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Technology Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOTENR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Applications Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOAPNR | |
Geography | ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI North America Index | 12/15/17 | ROBONANR |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI World ex-North America Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOXANR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI EMEA Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOEANR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Japan Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOJNNR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Asia Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOASNR | |
Hedged | ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Hedged to USD Index | 12/15/17 | ROBOUSNR |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Hedged to Yen Index (Currency: YEN) | 12/15/17 | ROBOYENR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Hedged to GBP Index (Currency: GDP) | 12/15/17 | ROBOGBNR | |
ROBO Global® Robotics, Automation and AI Hedged to EUR Index (Currency: EUR) | 12/15/17 | ROBOECNR |
All indices are in USD except where indicated otherwise.
Price Return and Total Net Returns versions are available.
For each index, 10 years of past performance history is available.
For information on licensing any of these indices, please contact info@roboglobal.com.
Index Performance
The ROBO Opportunity
RAAI technologies are already disrupting nearly every industry in every geography, creating a swift transition to an “automate or fail” economy that is dictating the success or failure of corporations large and small. Still in its infancy, this multi-decade transition to a world in which automation and technology are applied to all industries, markets, and geographies is positioned to provide a unique opportunity for today’s forward-thinking investor.
Since its inception in August 2013, the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index—the first portfolio created to capture the investable universe of robotics and AI companies — has returned ~20% annualized, significantly outperforming broad global equity market indices. The financial markets have made it clear that RAAI may be one of the most important investment opportunities to date.
Inside the Index
Index members are identified from an active database of over 1,000 global companies specifically engaged in the development and application of robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. From that universe of companies, our coverage team incorporated research and quality filters to identify the most suitable index members.
The result is a unique mix of technology companies (offering products and services that enable robots to “think, sense, and act”) and applications companies (that deploy robotic and automation technology into a product, service, or manufacturing process to increase efficiency and productivity). Index members are identified using the ROBO Global Industry Classification in accordance with predetermined rules and objective criteria, including minimum market capitalization and average daily value traded.
Portfolio Composition
The ROBO Global Index includes more than 80 stocks across 12 subsectors in 14 countries. The Index is built to minimize risk by limiting reliance on the largest-cap players, and it is carefully structured to capture the growth of rapidly developing robotics and automation companies around the globe.
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Sector Breakdown
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Geographic Breakdown
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Market Capitalization Breakdown
Methodology
The index methodology follows a modified equal weighting scheme and rebalances on a quarterly basis to more effectively respond to and capture changes in the technological and competitive landscapes while maintaining critical diversification.
In the absence of a benchmark industry classification system specific to this emerging industry, we created the ROBO Global Industry Classification. Companies included in the classification are publicly traded on approved exchanges, and derive a substantial portion of revenues from Robotics and Automation related activities. Each company must fit into one of 12 subsectors, be positioned as a market and technology leader, and adhere to the ROBO ESG Policy.
40% of the index is allocated to equally weighted “bellwether” companies (established leading players whose core business is directly related to Robotics and Automation) and 60% is allocated to equally weighted “non-bellwether” companies (companies with a distinct portion of their business and revenue in Robotics and Automation and have the potential to grow through innovation and market adoption of their products and services). The 40/60 weighting results in each bellwether member having roughly twice the weight of each non-bellwether member. To respond to new entrants and maintain the desired diversification, the index rebalances on a quarterly basis.
Sensing
In order for a system to exhibit autonomy, it must be able to sense its environment, in addition to determining its own internal state. For human beings, these are called exteroception and proprioception. Sensing is important for the same reasons that our exteroceptive senses (sight, sound, etc.), and our proprioceptive senses (ability to know where our limbs are and what they are doing without directly observing them) are important for human beings. For robotic systems, however, we are not limited to the standard senses. Almost anything that can be measured can be made into a sensor.

Actuation
Actuation is the means by which machines interact with the physical world. For human beings, this mainly refers to our limbs, and in particular, our hands. However, machines are not limited to manipulation. Almost anything that has an effect on the physical world can be made into an actuator. Actuation techniques include electric, hydraulic (compressed fluid), mechanical, and pneumatic (compressed air).

Computing, Processing, AI
Autonomous systems must make decisions at various levels, from determining the state of the environment they are operating in, to optimally planning actions and controlling motion. It is analogous to our brain, and is what allows the processing of information to produce actuation to take place. This requires raw computing and processing power as well as increasingly advanced software. Computing can vary from embedded systems smaller than a fingernail to hyper-scale data centers implementing sophisticated algorithms including Artificial Intelligence (AI). Machines are getting smarter as improvements in data storage and processing power have enabled the emergence of AI across a rapidly expanding range of applications. Advancements in AI, especially machine learning, are key to the growth of autonomous systems. AI also encompasses perception, such as machine vision and natural language processing.

Integration
An autonomous system is made up of many components (sensors, actuators, and computational units), which can be distributed over large spaces. Integration consists of architecting a system – figuring out how to put all of these components together – to achieve the desired objective in a robust, high performance, and cost-efficient way.

Applications
Innovative application companies are deploying robotic and automation technologies into new products, services, and manufacturing processes every day. Learn how these fascinating tools are changing the world as we know it.

Manufacturing
The manufacturing of items is incomplete without the material handling and distribution channels that bring the objects to their intended users. The many economic advantages to speedy and error-free distribution, such as operating with low-inventory and being responsive to customer demands, is a significant growth area for robotics and automation. This is continually reducing the costs for end-users, both businesses and consumers.

3D Printing
Traditionally, products are built either by assembling separate parts, or by removing material from a larger work-piece. 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, adds yet another capability by depositing different types of materials where they are needed. One of its main benefits is the potential for customization that is not economically feasible with traditional techniques.

Logistics Automation
The manufacturing of items is incomplete without the material handling and distribution channels that bring the objects to their intended users. The many economic advantages to speedy and error-free distribution, such as operating with low-inventory and being responsive to customer demands, is a significant growth area for robotics and automation. This is continually reducing the costs for end-users, both businesses and consumers.

Food & Agriculture
Feeding and sustaining the world continues to be one of our most important economic activities. A new generation of autonomous systems, sensors and data analytics tools are bringing tremendous benefits, not only to farmers and breeders in terms of increased yields and lower costs, but also to the environment in terms of improved water, pesticides and fertilizer use. Meanwhile, the food processing industry continues to automate aggressively to meet increasingly demanding volume, cost and safety requirements. Emerging markets offer significant penetration upside for traditional automation equipment from dairy and beverage to bakery and meat processing to packaging. In the more mature food markets, robotics and automation helps companies develop a more agile response to changing customer tastes and increasingly stringent safety requirements.

Security / Surveillance
Removing people from harm’s way has always been a main driver for robotics research. Up until recently, it has been difficult for machines to duplicate a human’s flexibility and cognitive skills. However, with today’s technologies, unmanned aircraft and ground vehicles are now capable of detecting hazardous materials, disposing of bombs, operating in space and performing critical national defense functions (surveillance).

Energy
Exploration, extraction, and the maintenance of the energy infrastructure require extensive and growing resources. Robotics and automation continues to expand from structured environments, such as warehouses and factories, to unstructured ones, such as outdoors, underground, and underwater. The energy sector will reap the rewards of this transition with lower operational costs.

Healthcare
As global healthcare costs continue to rise, robotics and automation is poised to provide a countering force to this trend. Through rehabilitation, diagnostics, exoskeletons and elderly care, using robotics and autonomous systems promises to drastically reduce costs, while improving quality of life. In addition, robotics and automation can transcend cost-cutting by using robots for difficult surgeries and neurological treatments that were previously unfeasible.

Consumer Products
From interactive robots for entertainment to automating household chores, consumer companies work to make everyday lives easier and more enjoyable. The Internet of Things promises to usher in a new era of interconnectivity. By communicating through the existing internet infrastructure, devices will no longer be isolated islands of limited capabilities. This impact will be particularly pronounced for these types of consumer products, which need to be inexpensive for wide adoption. Through the internet, consumer robotics will finally become broadly affordable to individuals.

Index Highlights
IPG Phototonics

IPG Photonics, a member of the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index, is a global leader in fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers. IPG is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts, and operates internationally. In this exclusive interview with CEO Valentin Gapontsev and Senior Vice President Trevor D. Ness, hear how fiber lasers are helping to support and even drive the robotics revolution.
ABB Robotics

We returned from ABB’s inaugural Innovation and Technology Day with increased confidence in the company’s prospects for continued profitable growth in its robotics and automation businesses. ABB has been a member of the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index since inception.
Zebra Technologies

Zebra’s extensive portfolio of solutions give real-time visibility into everything from products and physical assets to people, providing very precise operational data not only about where things are, but what condition they are in. This allows business leaders to use data to make better, more informed decisions, respond in real-time and ultimately, help businesses understand how they work, and how they could work better.
Zebra is one of more than 80 rapidly developing companies within the ROBO Global Index.