National Robotarium Response to Scottish Labour Policy Forum Consultation

Introduction

The National Robotarium welcomes the opportunity to respond to Scottish Labour’s Policy Forum consultation. As Scotland and the UK’s centre for robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, the National Robotarium can make a significant contribution to Scottish Labour’s vision for economic growth, healthcare innovation, and workforce development.

Commission 1: Becoming an Economic Powerhouse

Building on Scotland’s Robotics Potential

Scotland has an opportunity to be at the forefront of the global robotics revolution. The global robotics technology market is projected to grow from £56.4 billion in 2023 to £345.4 billion by 2033, representing a transformative economic opportunity that Scotland must seize to remain competitive.

However, urgent action is needed to address the UK’s concerning position in global robotics adoption. With just 119 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, the UK currently has the lowest robotics adoption rate in the G7, trailing not only traditional competitors but emerging economies like Mexico and Turkey. While Asia installs 73% of new industrial robots and the EU maintains steady growth, the UK’s modest 3% growth rate signals concerning trends for our future competitiveness.

As the Tony Blair Foundation report A New National Purpose: The UK’s Opportunity to Lead in Next-Wave Robotics (October 2024) says: “Spearheading this new wave of robotics is a considerable opportunity for the UK, with the potential to benefit the economy, public services and society as a whole.”

Policy Recommendations for Economic Growth

To benefit from this opportunity, the National Robotarium recommends that the next Scottish Government should:

Create a dedicated Scottish Robotics Strategy as part of the wider UK approach, with specific focus on:
1. Strategic support for Scotland’s emerging robotics companies, including policies to attract investment, reduce barriers to growth, and create favourable conditions for domestic manufacturing
2. Adoption support for existing companies to remove the time, cost and risk barriers for companies to start using robotics
3. Training for the required workforce of the future in robotics
4. Infrastructure development to create a fully functioning robotics economic sector

These strategic focuses would help ensure Scotland can fully capitalise on the economic opportunities and high-skilled employment potential presented by the global robotics revolution.

To this end the National Robotarium has led in proposing a cluster approach, Robotics Scotland, already recognised by the current Scottish Government but awaiting financial support to begin implementation. The National Robotarium remains committed to working collaboratively with all partners to realise this strategic opportunity for Scotland’s robotics sector.

Through Robotics Scotland, establish regional robotics clusters that connect academia, industry, and government, with particular focus on Scotland’s core strengths in sectors such as offshore energy, healthcare, and precision manufacturing
Continue the development of a comprehensive “Deeptech Supercluster” approach that creates clear pathways from innovation to manufacturing, with dedicated support for leading Scottish robotics companies (e.g. Kingdom Robotics, Bioliberty and DANU Robotics) transitioning from R&D to production

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The robotics sector can create high-value jobs across multiple skill levels while addressing critical workforce challenges:

Manufacturing and assembly roles
Maintenance and servicing technicians
Software development and programming jobs
Product engineering and industrial engineering roles
Supply chain management positions
Integration and deployment specialists
Research and development positions

To fully realise this potential, Scotland needs comprehensive support including:

Dedicated manufacturing infrastructure to guide companies through their first production orders
Rapid-adoption pathways for public and private organisations to integrate and deploy robotics solutions
Specialist expertise to help growing companies navigate the transition from prototypes to production lines
Reformed procurement processes that support innovative robotics solutions, particularly within large public organisations such as the NHS Scotland
Robust cybersecurity frameworks to ensure protection as robotics systems become more interconnected
Dedicated training and skills programmes to enable the robotics workforce

The National Robotarium has published its own policy proposals that go into much more detail on the above points and has also responded to the UK Government’s consultation on plans for a new industrial strategy.

Plans for Scotland to become an economic powerhouse in robotics must align closely with the industrial strategy for the UK as a whole when it comes to be adopted as policy.

Commission 2: NHS and Social Care Reform

Healthcare Applications

The National Robotarium is involved in numerous research projects which demonstrate how robotics can transform health and social care delivery:

The SPRING project has shown how social robots can support hospital care, engaging with patients to reduce anxiety while decreasing infection risk through reduced physical contact and freeing up clinical staff time.

Our work with Touchlab demonstrates how robotic systems equipped with electronic skin technology can allow clinicians to ‘feel’ patients remotely, significantly reducing infection risks in hospitals and improving care delivery.

The VITALISE project uses robotic ‘coaches’ to support stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, with headsets detecting brain activity to provide real-time motivation and feedback – addressing a critical need given that only 31% of stroke survivors complete their prescribed routines.

At Blantyre LIFE in Lanarkshire, we are already demonstrating how social robots can support independent living and recovery in social care settings. The facility has become an international exemplar, with overseas delegations visiting to see how robotics technology can make day-to-day living easier and safer while supporting care staff.

The National Robotarium stands ready to work with NHS Scotland to implement these solutions in ways that enhance rather than replace human care delivery.

Addressing Current Healthcare Challenges

The implementation of robotics solutions in healthcare has become increasingly urgent given the significant challenges facing NHS Scotland. With over 667,000 referrals waiting to be treated as of December 2023 – representing approximately 10% of Scotland’s population – and the need to increase non-emergency hospital case treatment by at least 20% over the next three years to address the COVID-19 backlog, innovative solutions are essential. Robotics technology can play a crucial role in streamlining operations, reducing waiting times, and supporting healthcare staff in delivering more efficient care.

Policy Recommendations for Healthcare

Create a dedicated NHS Scotland Innovation Pathway for robotics technologies with streamlined procurement processes and protected funding for pilots.
Establish a Healthcare Robotics Innovation Fund to support Scottish companies developing healthcare solutions and enable NHS Scotland facilities to implement them.
Develop clear national standards and guidelines for implementing robotic solutions in healthcare settings, covering integration, training, and security.
Position NHS Scotland as an “informed customer” for robotics by building internal expertise and stronger partnerships with technology developers.

These asks align with the evidence of successful implementations and the growing need to support healthcare staff while improving patient outcomes. They would also help create the secure market needed for Scottish manufacturers to scale up and innovate.

Commission 3: Skills and Education

Developing Scotland’s Workforce

With the global robotics technology market projected to grow to £345.4 billion by 2033, Scotland faces both a challenge and an opportunity in developing its future workforce. This is particularly acute in sectors like manufacturing, which currently faces 64,000 vacancies across the UK, and agriculture, where workforce shortages are driving rural-urban migration. By developing comprehensive robotics capabilities, Scotland can both address these immediate challenges and position itself for future growth.

Policy Recommendations for Skills and Education

Create a comprehensive robotics skills strategy that embeds robotics education from primary school through to professional development, including integration into existing qualifications across healthcare, construction, agriculture and other key sectors.
Establish new vocational qualifications in robotics manufacturing, maintenance, and operations to support Scotland’s growing robotics sector, with particular focus on developing capabilities in robotics manufacturing where the UK currently lags.
Develop targeted reskilling programmes for workers in traditional industries, such as oil and gas, with special attention on supporting industrial and low-income regions and underrepresented groups.
Build stronger partnerships between industry, education providers, and research facilities to ensure skills development matches sector needs and helps businesses identify and address internal knowledge gaps around robotics adoption.

Building on Existing Success

The National Robotarium has demonstrated the effectiveness of its approach through:

Employing and supporting 120+ robotics workers and researchers
Supporting 14 start-up and robotic spinout businesses
Delivering 16 industry-funded projects
Engaging more than 20,000 young people in robotics education

Recommendations for Implementation

Immediate Actions (2026-2028):

Create a dedicated Scottish Robotics Strategy aligned with UK industrial policy and establish Robotics Scotland as the national cluster initiative to implement this strategy
Establish a Healthcare Robotics Innovation Fund and streamlined NHS Scotland Innovation Pathway
Create new vocational qualifications in robotics manufacturing and maintenance
Reform procurement processes to better support robotics adoption, particularly in NHS Scotland

Medium-Term Goals (2028-2030):

Create robotics clusters connecting academia, industry, and government around key sectors
Establish dedicated manufacturing infrastructure to support companies transitioning from R&D to production
Build comprehensive robotics training programmes from primary school through to professional development

Long-Term Vision (2030+):

Position Scotland as a global leader in robotics technology development and manufacturing
Create a fully developed “Deeptech Supercluster” ecosystem
Establish Scotland as a major exporter of robotics technology and expertise
Achieve widespread integration of robotics across healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture sectors

Conclusion

The National Robotarium stands ready to support Scottish Labour’s vision for economic growth and social development. By embracing the robotics revolution, Scotland can create thousands of high-quality jobs, improve public services, reduce pressure on our NHS and build a more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Stewart Miller, Chief Executive of the National Robotarium, and his team, would welcome further discussion on any aspects of this submission and can provide additional detail or evidence as required.