Human historical narrative with its distinct economic, social and cultural phases is also a scientific and technological evolutionary narrative in which accumulated knowledge, know-how and innovation constitute the means required to answer specific economic and social challenges and the needs of people at different times. New technologies impact on individuals, societies and on the natural environment, often not in an innocuous way. It is, consequently, fundamental that these technological developments are accompanied and monitored in dedicated forums conceived not to hinder that development but contribute to its beneficial deployment by eliminating or at least mitigating potential negative impacts. The present paper addresses the motivation leading to the International Conference on Robot Ethics and Standards in October 2015, in Lisbon. Behind this motivation were the challenges posed by the European project Monarch, a project dedicated to social robotics operating in real environments that highlighted the Ethics research deficit and the urge to create a forum to discuss the safety and ethical standards for the development of intelligent technologies.