The government has announced £40 million in funding for eight new Robotics Adoption Hubs designed to help businesses and public services adopt advanced robotics and autonomous technologies.
The initiative aims to improve access to robotics across a range of sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and transport. The hubs will provide expert advice, practical demonstrations and tailored support to help organisations identify suitable technologies and introduce them into real-world operations. The programme is also intended to boost productivity, support economic growth and strengthen local industries.
Among the technologies set to benefit are robotic surgical assistants, which could make procedures less invasive and reduce patient recovery times, and automated fruit-picking machines designed to speed up harvesting and increase agricultural production. The investment will also support the development of service robots, drones and driverless vehicles, alongside automation technologies for waste management and recycling.
During a visit to the HARVEST hub in Lincoln, Minister for AI Kanishka Narayan said: “Quicker recovery for patients, more time for businesses to focus on the work that makes a real difference, and more food on our tables. That’s the impact cutting-edge robotics technology can have up and down the country.”
He added that the hubs would provide businesses with specialist expertise and support to help them adopt new technologies, improve productivity and contribute to the development of skilled jobs across the country.
The funding comes as the government seeks to address barriers preventing businesses from making greater use of robotics. Estimates suggest robotics and autonomous systems could add £150 billion to the UK economy by 2035 if adoption is maximised, compared with an estimated £6.4 billion at current levels.
The eight hubs will build on existing regional expertise and bring together universities, research institutes, local authorities and businesses to demonstrate how robotics can address practical challenges. Projects include the National Surgical Robotic Adoption Hub, which will support the safe adoption of surgical robotics, and the HARVEST hub, which will focus on applications across agriculture, food production and manufacturing.
Other initiatives will support manufacturers in Yorkshire and Wales, develop robotics for public spaces and transport services in Milton Keynes, and help waste and recycling facilities recover more materials and reduce the amount sent to landfill. A dedicated hub in the South West will also help businesses identify opportunities to improve productivity through robotics.
Bruce Adderley, Director of Advanced Manufacturing at Innovate UK, said the hubs would help connect advanced technologies with organisations capable of benefiting from them. He added that the programme would support business growth, attract investment and strengthen local economies by translating innovation into jobs and productivity improvements.
Alongside the £40 million investment, the government is providing £1.7 million for a national body to coordinate the hubs and share knowledge, as well as £2.5 million for 12 projects focused on robotics training, apprenticeships and workforce development. These projects will help address skills shortages in areas such as robot integration, operation, maintenance and industrial inspection.
The investment forms part of the government’s wider drive to accelerate technology adoption and improve productivity across British industry. By combining practical demonstrations, technical advice and workforce training, the programme aims to help organisations move from exploring robotics to deploying proven technologies in everyday operations.
