ROBO Global was the first to create a benchmark index specifically tracking the global robotics and automation market in 2013, built around a strategic advisory board of seven PhDs from leading robotics institutions like MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and NASA who provide unusual domain expertise compared to typical financial-only index providers. The firm's methodology captures the full robotics value chain including obscure component makers and emerging players rather than just obvious manufacturers, with research-heavy scoring that incorporates expert qualitative input and has become a global standard licensed across 11 countries with multi-billion-dollar assets under management.