Plan for dissemination of the project “Social Robot for Collaborative Culture at Universidad Indoamérica”
Introduction
The Social Robot for Collaborative Culture at Universidad Indoamérica is an educational, socially oriented robotic platform designed to enhance collaboration, creativity, and emotional well-being within the Technological Campus. Developed through the Vision in Product Design (ViP) approach, the project redefines the role of robotics in higher education by focusing on meaningful human-robot interactions. The dissemination strategy centers on communicating the project’s core technical advances and social contributions, emphasizing how emotionally intelligent robotics foster collaborative learning, empower interdisciplinary research, and drive innovation in higher education. Dissemination efforts will establish Universidad Indoamérica as an innovation leader in emerging technologies and human-centered design, while promoting collaboration, attracting external funding, and supporting technology transfer.
Intellectual Property and Open Knowledge
The project will adopt a balanced approach between protection and openness. Prior to commercial deployment, innovative features including emotion-based interaction systems, adaptive user support, and context-aware collaborative assistance will be assessed for intellectual property protection. Depending on the technology's maturity, a provisional patent application may be filed before public disclosure. Project documentation, fabrication processes, and design methodology will be shared openly through the Fab Academy platform and public repositories. Non-commercial design files will also be available. This strategy matches the Fab Lab philosophy of distributed innovation and knowledge sharing. At the same time, it preserves future development and commercialization opportunities.
Dissemination
The project will be disseminated through academic, digital, institutional, and professional channels, using conferences, publications, online platforms, and public events to maximize reach. The project will be presented at robotics, human-computer interaction, design, and educational technology conferences. Examples include the Fab Conference, IEEE Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), IEEE RO-MAN, and regional innovation events. Project results will also be submitted to scientific journals on social robotics, design research, and educational innovation. A dedicated project webpage and GitHub repository will provide technical documentation, design files, fabrication processes, software modules, and project updates. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube will share videos, demonstrations, and milestones. This will increase public engagement and visibility. The robot will be showcased at Universidad Indoamérica through demonstrations, workshops, innovation fairs, and open-house events. Pilot deployments in learning spaces, laboratories, and fabrication environments will let students and faculty experience the robot and share feedback for future improvements.
Commercialization and Income Opportunities
The project is mainly educational. However, dissemination activities also aim to ensure sustainability and scalability. In the short term, commercialization will include workshops, training sessions, and educational activities. Participation fees will generate initial income. In the medium term, the commercialization path includes developing the robot as an educational kit for universities, Fab Labs, and innovation centers. Plans include producing and selling kits, licensing software modules, offering consulting services in social robotics, formalizing collaborative research agreements, and exploring technology transfer partnerships. In the long term, the project aims to establish a research and innovation platform to support advanced studies and technology development in human-robot interaction. Commercialization efforts may include launching spin-offs, licensing new technologies, and participating in technology transfer programs to facilitate broader market adoption.
Conclusion
This strategy seeks to establish the Social Robot for Collaborative Culture as a research, innovation, and social impact platform—evolving from a Fab Academy prototype to a driver of collaborative, inclusive, and human-centered learning, led by a clear vision for advancing social robotics. Through scientific publications, demonstrations, online documentation, and partnerships, the project will extend its visibility and accessibility beyond the university, fostering knowledge transfer and interdisciplinary collaboration. The project aims to demonstrate how socially intelligent technologies enhance educational experiences and collaborative innovation ecosystems, laying a foundation for sustained growth and greater adoption of social robotics in higher education.