Clamping apparatus for holding a workpiece to be machined by a machine tool, consisting of: - a housing, - a support surface formed by the housing, - at least one clamping jaw mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, and a counter stop formed by the housing, between which clamping jaw and counter stop the workpiece is clamped, or at least two clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, between which clamping jaws the workpiece is clamped, and - a drive device by means of which the movable clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) can be moved in a controlled manner and by means of which a holding force transmitted from the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) to the workpiece, or to a clamping bolt coupled to the workpiece, is generated during the clamping process, and - an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12, 13) which is provided on the housing and is connected inductively and/or by means of electrical lines to the drive device and/or an evaluation device, and - a robot arm which communicates with the interface (12, 13) such that electrical data signals and/or electrical energy can be transmitted alternately and bidirectionally between the interface (12, 13) of the housing and an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12', 13') of the robot arm, characterized in that the drive device is electrically operated and, a free end of the robot arm is rotatable such that the electromechanical and inductive interfaces (12', 13') provided on the free end of the robot arm are aligned with the electromechanical and inductive interfaces (12, 13) of the housing, as soon as the robot arm has placed the workpiece on the support surface. consisting of: - a housing, - a support surface formed by the housing, - at least one clamping jaw mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, and a counter stop formed by the housing, between which clamping jaw and counter stop the workpiece is clamped, or at least two clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, between which clamping jaws the workpiece is clamped, and - a drive device by means of which the movable clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) can be moved in a controlled manner and by means of which a holding force transmitted from the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) to the workpiece, or to a clamping bolt coupled to the workpiece, is generated during the clamping process, and - an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12, 13) which is provided on the housing and is connected inductively and/or by means of electrical lines to the drive device and/or an evaluation device, and - a robot arm which communicates with the interface (12, 13) such that electrical data signals and/or electrical energy can be transmitted alternately and bidirectionally between the interface (12, 13) of the housing and an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12', 13') of the robot arm, - a housing, - a support surface formed by the housing, - at least one clamping jaw mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, and a counter stop formed by the housing, between which clamping jaw and counter stop the workpiece is clamped, or at least two clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) mounted in the housing so as to be axially movable, between which clamping jaws the workpiece is clamped, and - a drive device by means of which the movable clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) can be moved in a controlled manner and by means of which a holding force transmitted from the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) to the workpiece, or to a clamping bolt coupled to the workpiece, is generated during the clamping process, and - an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12, 13) which is provided on the housing and is connected inductively and/or by means of electrical lines to the drive device and/or an evaluation device, and - a robot arm which communicates with the interface (12, 13) such that electrical data signals and/or electrical energy can be transmitted alternately and bidirectionally between the interface (12, 13) of the housing and an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12', 13') of the robot arm, characterized in that the drive device is electrically operated and, a free end of the robot arm is rotatable such that the electromechanical and inductive interfaces (12', 13') provided on the free end of the robot arm are aligned with the electromechanical and inductive interfaces (12, 13) of the housing, as soon as the robot arm has placed the workpiece on the support surface.