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"The smaller the firm, the greater the increase in productivity when robots are introduced. However, in firms with more workers, the increase is not so significant," said Carles Méndez, co-author of the study, published in the Journal of the Knowledge Economy, and a member of the Interdisciplinary Research Group on ICT (i2TIC-IA Lab), affiliated to the UOC-DIGIT centre.

In addition to the size of the company, the study also shows that another key factor is the degree of innovation in companies. "Although robots have a positive impact in all cases, in more innovative companies adopting this technology does not lead to such a major change," Méndez said.

An analysis of 5,000 manufacturing firms

The researchers analyzed information on nearly 5,000 manufacturing firms during the period from 1990 to 2016, from one of the most complete databases on industrial companies in Spain, compiled by the SEPI Foundation. They focused on SMEs, which generate two-thirds of added value and employ more than half of the active population in Spain.

"Camp de Tarragona and industrial companies have better quality jobs and are better paid. It has been shown to be a sector with a future, generating quality employment, compared to others such as tourism or services," said Joan Torrent, director of UOC-DIGIT.

In addition to productivity, the analysis also considered whether using robots boosted companies' export capacity. The UOC researchers found that introducing robots did not directly translate into more international business activity. For this to happen, according to the study, the region is a key factor.

"We found a significant positive relationship between the presence of firms in the same sector or related sectors in the province that we were analyzing and the export capacity of SMEs," said Méndez, who highlighted the fundamental role that a specialized environment plays in ensuring a flow of knowledge, workers and know-how within a region.

The digitalization of SMEs

Another study, also led by Torrent, published in the same journal and using information from the same database over the same period, widens the scope of analysis and evaluates the digital transformation of SMEs. In recent years, Spain, like many other European countries, has undergone a rapid digital transformation, with robotization and automation technologies driving productivity and efficiency, together with other digital technologies and tools.

Counterintuitively, the researchers concluded that implementing digital technologies does not automatically lead to a long-term increase in companies' productivity. They did observe, however, that these technologies play a fundamental role in selectively stimulating internationalization and productivity, especially in those companies that are more digitalized and are already particularly active in the import-export field.

"We wanted to focus on the digital transformation in a wider context," said Torrent, one of the coordinators of the i2TIC-IA Lab. "It is a common error to think that digitalization, in general, will produce homogeneous effects, when each technology brings its own benefits, because it involves different methodologies and techniques."

In this second study, the researchers confirmed the beneficial impact of robotic automation and highlighted the technological factors needed to obtain positive results: "We need well-trained personnel. Technological innovation is not enough; organizational structures need to be adapted to it. If the organization doesn't adapt, it's very difficult for technology alone to generate favorable results," said Torrent, arguing that it is necessary to "change organizations, make them more flexible, and break away from the rigid, bureaucratic and vertical structures typical of traditional industries."

The researchers also found that the use of networks and platforms strongly encourages collaboration between SMEs, and point out that, unlike countries in the Anglosphere, for example, businesses in Spain and Catalonia have historically been reluctant to collaborate. This is because SMEs tend to be family businesses with very vertical structures.

"We should start thinking how to really encourage businesses to collaborate. This is a weakness of the Spanish system that hinders its productivity and internationalization," Torrent concluded.

More information

Sebastiano Cattaruzzo et al, Robots, Firms, and Regions: Explaining Spanish Manufacturing Firms' Productivity and Exports, Journal of the Knowledge Economy (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s13132-026-03261-7

Joan Torrent-Sellens et al, Digital Transformation, Internationalization and Productivity in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Unravelling Effects from Spain, Journal of the Knowledge Economy (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s13132-026-03199-w

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Citation: The use of robots can increase productivity in SMEs, but may not boost exports (2026, July 8) retrieved 13 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-robots-productivity-smes-boost-exports.html

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As someone who has personally never applied lip products short of chapstick, which is not an answer here, I had trouble with today’s puzzle.

How To Play Strands

The New York Times’ Strands puzzle is a play on the classic word search. It’s in beta for now, which means it’ll only stick around if enough people play it every day.

There’s a new game of Strands to play every day. The game will present you with a six by eight grid of letters. The aim is to find a group of words that have something in common, and you’ll get a clue as to what that theme is. When you find a theme word, it will remain highlighted in blue.

You’ll also need to find a special word called a spangram. This tells you what the words have in common. The spangram links two opposite sides of the board. While the theme words will not be a proper name, the spangram can be a proper name. When you find the spangram, it will remain highlighted in yellow.

Be warned: You’ll need to be on your toes.

“Some themes are fill-in-the-blank phrases. They may also be steps in a process, items that all belong to the same category, synonyms or homophones,” The New York Times notes. “Just as she varies the difficulty of Wordle puzzles within a week, [Wordle and Strands editor Tracy] Bennett plans to throw Strands solvers curveballs every once in a while.”

MORE FOR YOU

What Is Today’s Strands Hint?

Time to do the NYT hint and then my own hint after that:

On the lips

And mine is:

An outer coating

Today’s NYT Strands Opening Letters

Here are the first two letters of all the words if you don’t want the entire thing just yet.

• ST
• ST
• LI
• GL
• BA
• PL
• TI

What Are Today’s Strands Answers?

Now we begin the answer portion of the program which is the spangram and the full list of the other answers, the spangram is:

KISSANDMAKEUP

Here it is on the page, and read on:

The answers are:

• STICK
• STAIN
• LINER
• GLOSS
• BALM
• PLUMPER
• TINT

Well, I have heard of lipstick, lip balm and lip gloss, but that was the extent of my lip-based knowledge and chapstick did not make the cut, it seems. Liner is like an outline around the lip, right? I think I know that one. Maybe. In any case, this took a while, but I appreciate the fun little kiss shape they managed to make here.

Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy. %!s()

“I was dead asleep. It was 4:30 in the morning here. And my room phone, not my cell phone, started ringing and as an anxious person, that is terrifying,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter on a call from Fiji Wednesday afternoon. “So I ran over to answer the phone, worried that something bad had happened. And it was my team calling to tell me about it and to congratulate, and we were all so excited on the phone.”

But Madix admits she was still half asleep during that first call, so she then “went back to sleep almost wondering if that had really just happened.”

Fortunately for her, she was absolutely not dreaming. And now that she’s had a few hours to process it all, Madix says she’s “so over the moon” about the nomination.

In the stacked reality host category, the Vanderpump Rules alum is nominated alongside RuPaul Charles for RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alan Cumming for The Traitors, Kristen Kish for Top Chef and Jeff Probst for Survivor.

Madix tells THR that it was a “really crazy and amazing and cool feeling” to see her name and picture next to people whom she calls her TV heroes.

“I know there’s kind of this joke that people make of it’s just an honor to be nominated, but it is so true,” she says. “It’s such a huge honor to be nominated, especially to be nominated in the category where these are people who are the absolute best at what they do.”

Since joining Love Island USA as host in 2023 for season six, Madix has played a huge role in helping the series become not only one of Peacock’s top original series but also one of the most popular reality shows in the U.S.

She’s previously been outspoken about her love of the franchise long before she was named the host, so to receive her first Emmy nomination for hosting Love Island USA, Madix says it feels “extra special.”

“I think part of the reason why maybe people wanted to see me nominated in this category is hopefully because they can see my love for the job and my love for the show translate on the screen. At least I hope so,” she explains.

As for how Madix plans to celebrate this special moment in her career, she tells THR that she’s going to have some sunset drinks with her team at a “lovely beach bar” in Fiji.

“The hotel that this beach bar is at, there are some really amazing, beautiful people who work there. I promised them the last time I was over there that we would do the Zara Larsson ‘Lush Life’ dance together. And I think tonight I’m going to make that happen,” she says with a laugh.

The 78th Emmy Awards will air live on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and stream live on Peacock. The Creative Arts Emmys will take place on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6. See all the 2026 Emmy nominations here. %!s()

The total numbers, released on Wednesday, were confirmed as of Tuesday, while 51 new cases and 20 deaths were recorded in the previous 24 hours.

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The total of those infected does not include two cases of illness reported in Kisangani, the capital of the Tshopo province and one of the DRC’s biggest cities, as the test results were being validated, the government’s report said. They will be included in the official case total once confirmed.

One of those two cases is linked to the village of Nia-Nia in the Ituri province, where the first illnesses were reported. But the second illness “does not appear to have a geographic link” beyond Kisangani, according to the government.

As the situation worsens, healthcare workers in the Ituri province, the hardest-hit of the country’s three eastern regions affected by the outbreak, are walking off their jobs to protest against delay in payments.

In an official notice to national and provincial authorities over the weekend, front-line workers in Ituri threatened to strike if they were not paid in 24 hours. By Tuesday, some had already stopped working, although no official strike has been declared, The Associated Press news agency reported.

Some of the health professionals and other front-line workers told AP they had not been paid wages or bonuses since the Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15. They also said they were working with limited gear and treated unfairly by authorities and response teams.

“Since the Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared, we’ve been demanding payment for our work,” Dr Biensi Kano, a member of the epidemiological surveillance committee in Ituri’s capital, Bunia, told AP.

The strike comes at the start of the enrolment for clinical trials for the treatment of the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for this outbreak. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is generally considered less deadly than some others, but there is no approved vaccine.

By the time the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May, the virus had already been spreading undetected for weeks through the mining towns of Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia, before reaching neighbouring provinces, Al Jazeera’s Catherine Wambua-Soi reported from the DRC earlier this month. %!s()

“We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say, because lord knows we have,” Justin Baldoni said. “But it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it.”

Emily Baldoni then chimed in. She said that there is “so much to say” about her husband’s dispute with Lively, which started all the way back in 2024. The first domino fell in December of that year, when Lively alleged Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her and tried to orchestrate an online smear campaign against her while filming “It Ends With Us.” Justin Baldoni was Lively’s director and co-star on the film.

“It makes it hard to figure out what is right for this specific moment,” Emily Baldoni said. “But what does feel important is that we can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people.”

Justin Baldoni added, “Gratitude has saved us.”

After two years of silence, the couple said they felt the need to “share something,” considering that “there have been so many painful things spoken into existence” since the bombshell allegations dropped. Justin Baldoni explained that the plan, up until now, was to “let the justice system run its course” and not “add to the noise.” Emily Baldoni asserted that “the facts have spoken for themselves” in the years-long scandal.

Justin Baldoni went on to thank everyone who “had discernment” and supported him during this difficult chapter.

“You have given your time to fight for us, and thank you does not feel like enough,” he said. “But we’re here, in large part, because of so many of you and all of our friends and family. One thing that we’ve learned is that when God presses the reset button and everything else is stripped away, that’s when love shows up, and we feel so loved.”

After Lively’s allegations, Justin Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios shot back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing her of weaponizing false allegations of sexual assault to take control of the “It Ends With Us.” That suit was dismissed after a judge ruled that Lively’s accusations were protected by litigation privilege.

Just before the trial was set to commence in May, Lively dropped her lawsuit and settled withJustin Baldoni and Wayfarer. No cash exchanged hands, but now, Lively is seeking $7.5 million in lawyer fees from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer. %!s()