Integrators and Robot Adoption: Facts from Hungary
Gábor Békés – Alessandra Bonfiglioli – Rosario Crinó – Gino Gancia
7 Mar 2025 – Centre for Economic Policy Research – CEPR DP20026
Abstract
This paper explores the role of intermediaries in facilitating the adoption of industrial robots. Using administrative data and firm-to-firm transactions in Hungary, we identify robot integrators, quantify their role, and develop a precise measure of robot adoption at the firm level. We find that most Hungarian firms adopting robots do so through integrators, and these firms tend to be smaller and less capital-intensive than those that import robots directly. Furthermore, we use our data to examine the import networks of integrators, the lumpiness of robot investments, and the geographic concentration of both adopters and integrators. Our findings underscore the critical role of intermediaries in expanding access to automation technologies, particularly for small and medium-sized firms.
JEL Classification: D22, O33
Keywords: Automation, Firms
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