Sometimes new technology does not spread from a good life. For example, the main reason for the current wave of robotization in Eastern Europe is the acute shortage of labor.
According to the International Robotics Federation, the number of new industrial robots deployed in the Czech Republic has increased 40% from 2010 to 2015, the New York Times reported. 101 thousand robots are now in the country - of course, this is still far from German figures (309 robots per 10 thousand employees), but such automation speeds inspire respect.
Due to the large number of industries deployed in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in recent years, these countries have acute shortage of workers. For example, in the Czech Republic today, the lowest unemployment rate across the EU is only 2.4%, so many local companies can not find enough qualified workers and even have to submit new orders.
In addition, Eastern Europe has gradually ceased to be a region with cheap labor - the average monthly salary in the Czech Republic increased by 8% over the past year and has reached € 1160.
Finally, an important role in the staff deficit played by the trend of "long play" such as low birth rate - in Eastern Europe, young people do not have enough to replace all retired parents.
According to some entrepreneurs, opening the border for foreign workers can slightly reduce the severity of the problem. However, governments of most Eastern European countries, by contrast, are determined to limit immigration. Therefore, for most Eastern European companies, production automation and the introduction of artificial intelligence are the only opportunities for business expansion and even survival.
For example, in the Czech factory Linet - the world's leading producer of smart hospital beds, some of which stand as new BMW engines - there are already 30 different robots replacing about 200 people. Similarly, the well-known automaker Skoda, producer of Elko's industrial timer and many other Czech companies operates.
It is surprising that the word "robot" was first used in 1920 in the Czech playwright Karl Chapek "RUR". And now, nearly 100 years later, the Czech Republic once again became the flagship of robotics and an example for other Eastern European countries (and not just).
