Robotics

Find out what the RAG will do and how to get involved.

techUK is launching a new Robotics Working Group, providing a dedicated forum for members to collaborate, share expertise and help shape the direction of techUK’s Robotics programme.

Members can submit case studies by 23 March.

Innovate UK has opened a new Skills Development competition under the Robotics Adoption Programme, supporting projects that build capability to enable the effective use of robotics and automation technologies. The funding opportunity focuses on addressing skills barriers to adoption, with an emphasis on collaboration, productivity and real-world application across the UK economy.

The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has unveiled two new priority areas in its mission to identify and remove outdated rules which hold back technologies with the potential to drive UK growth and improve lives.

The UK’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) sector has strong research, AI and software development capability, and yet struggles to translate this into domestic to manufacture, particularly in the case of robotic hardware. Set this against our position globally where the UK ranks 24th in industrial robot density - the only G7 country outside the top 20 - while other G7 nations are scaling up robotics production and adoption, and it is difficult to see how the UK can compete.  

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is forming a new Robotics Advisory Group (RAG) to offer independent, expert advice that will help shape and challenge government policy on robotics and autonomous systems (RAS). 

Guest blog by Rupen Kalsi, Policy Advisor, Policy Impact Unit at UCL Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) #techUKSmarterState

View the key announcements relating to the UK's robotics sector

techUK recently brought together the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Innovate UK, and EPSRC to launch the UK’s Advanced Connectivity Technology (ACT) R&D programme, a four-year initiative backed by £270 million in funding.

On 5 March, techUK hosted an event focusing on Future Careers in Emerging Tech, held as part of National Careers Week and the TechTogether campaign.

In December, techUK hosted a major supplier broadcast session with the New Hospital Programme (NHP), bringing together industry and NHS stakeholders to explore how digital technology will underpin the next generation of hospitals.

Guest blog by the Government Office for Science as part of our #UnleashInnovation week 2025.

Guest blog by Fahana Jabin from Applied Data Science Partners as part of our #UnleashInnovation week 2025.

Guest blog by Vincent Korstanje from Kigen as part of our #UnleashInnovation week 2025.

Guest blog by Naomi Battison from The National Robotarium as part of our #UnleashInnovation week 2025.

Learn about the technologies, challenges & opportunities behind humanoids in the UK.

Breakthroughs in AI are transforming robotic abilities, but the development of robot bodies has not kept pace with advances in computation.

AI and automation are no longer futuristic concepts; they are transforming industries today, redefining efficiency, and reshaping how businesses operate.

In today's business landscape, the adoption of AI has become a given, but productive applications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) are less exciting than the hype suggests.

Automation has long been seen as a way of boosting productivity within enterprises. However, the UK lags behind other countries in this process.

The modern NHS doesn’t just need better analytics — it needs smarter systems. Systems that reduce manual effort guide decision-making and ensure every insight is secure, explainable, and auditable.

As robotics continue to transform industries—from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and smart cities—one of the key challenges remains interoperability.

The financial sector is increasingly recognising the need for AI systems that combine the power of Large Language Models with the precision and accountability of deterministic systems.

Our automation journey over the past two decades shows why experimentation is such a crucial step in product development.

Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Computer Vision (CV) are no longer emerging technologies on the horizon—they’re already shaping the way UK industries function and compete.

Find out how our members are exploring and enabling the future of productivity & automation.