National Robotarium Response to Technology Adoption Review

Executive Summary

The National Robotarium’s response to this Technology Adoption Review comes at a critical moment. The next global technology revolution will be driven by robotics, with impacts as profound as any previous industrial transformation. Over the next decade, robotics adoption will accelerate across all sectors identified in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, with particularly disruptive effects in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, and defence. Our evidence focuses on areas where we can provide expert insight from direct experience in robotics, AI and autonomous systems research, development, and deployment. The recommendations outlined in this response are designed to ensure the UK can seize the opportunities this transformation presents while addressing the urgent challenge of our current position as the lowest adopter of robotics technology in the G7.

Q1. Why does the UK rank lower than some OECD countries in technology adoption? What dynamics exist in the UK, but not in countries such as Germany or Estonia that might explain it?

The UK’s lower ranking in technology adoption stems from fundamental structural differences. Countries like Germany benefit from a tradition of patient capital, long-term industrial strategies that transcend political cycles, and strong regional innovation networks providing clear pathways from innovation to implementation. Their education systems are also more closely integrated with industry, enabling natural flow of technological knowledge. Within the UK, a deeply embedded risk-averse investment culture leads businesses to favour maintaining the status quo over technological transformation. Despite having driven individuals with ideas and ambitions, the UK lacks the environment to enable technological change, creating a cycle where lack of investment reduces competitiveness. Clear and robust pathways from ideas to sustainable business are required to improve the UKs performance.

Q2. What are the biggest barriers to technology adoption in your sector and/or across sectors? Does business size and geographic location affect how firms are impacted by these barriers?

The biggest single barrier is the lack of a UK National Strategy for Robotics. Adopting a strategy as a priority was identified in the Tony Blair Institute report “A New National Purpose: The UK’s Opportunity to Lead in Next-Wave Robotics” published in October 2024. While greater investment in physical infrastructure is important, formulating and implementing a robotics strategy should be a high priority. Key barriers across sectors include:

Investment and Financial Barriers:

– Limited understanding of robotics’ potential to transform businesses

– Initial capital costs, particularly challenging for SMEs

– Complexity of total cost  and benefit assessment (maintenance, training, integration)

– Uncertainty around return on investment timelines

– Limited access to flexible financing options

Technical Integration Challenges:

– Complexity of integrating new systems with legacy equipment

– Production line modifications and continuity challenges

– Cybersecurity concerns around connected robotic systems

– Interoperability issues between different vendors’ systems

Skills and Knowledge Barriers:

– Significant shortage of qualified robotics engineers and technicians

– Limited in-house expertise for maintenance

– Need for comprehensive workforce reskilling

– Management knowledge gap in understanding capabilities

– Challenge of recruiting and retaining technical talent

Size-Specific Impacts:

– SMEs face disproportionately high investment burdens

– Mid-sized companies caught between basic and advanced needs

– Larger companies benefit from greater testing capacity

– Regional variations in access to expertise

Q4. What are the differences in technology adoption rates in the nations and regions of the UK and how can they be explained?

Regional variations in technology adoption rates closely align with established industrial clusters and supporting innovation infrastructure. Successful adoption typically occurs where there is strong collaboration between industry, academia, and public sector bodies. Different regions have distinct industrial strengths: the Northeast’s offshore capabilities, the Northwest’s medical technology, and the Midlands’ automotive heritage. Building on the National Robotarium model, we propose ‘Robotarium X’ – a network of 10 regional robotics centres across the UK, each tailored to support specific regional industrial clusters while providing coordinated support infrastructure.

Q5. Do technology adoption rates differ at a worker level, including by gender, ethnicity or other protected characteristics? If so, does this have wider effects on professions and sectors where a large proportion of that workforce comes from a lower technology adopting group?

While the pace of technological change has accelerated over the past 50 years, creating a workforce generally more accepting of new technologies, adoption patterns vary significantly across communities. Through our involvement in the PRIME project (Protecting Minority Ethnic Communities Online), we’ve observed how rapid digitalisation can potentially replicate or exacerbate existing inequalities. This understanding informs our approach to robotics adoption. Our experience has highlighted the importance of co-designing technological solutions with diverse communities and stakeholders, including developing specific training and capacity-building resources that address unique needs of different groups.

Q6: How effectively does the UK support the adoption of new technology? What could be improved in your sector and/or across sectors?

Research and innovation funding through Innovate UK and EPSRC provides crucial support for early-stage development. Technology demonstration facilities, including the National Robotarium, offer valuable testing opportunities, while Knowledge Transfer Partnerships successfully link academia and industry. However, significant improvements are needed. The UK requires a more coordinated national approach with longer-term funding commitments extending beyond initial pilots. Current support mechanisms often operate in isolation, necessitating better coordination. The National Robotarium’s experience demonstrates the vital role of demonstration facilities in building understanding of robotics technology. Our programme has engaged over 20,000 schoolchildren, helping inspire the next generation. Our proposed Robotarium X network would scale this nationally, creating ten regional centres combining research excellence with public engagement. Regional access to demonstration facilities needs expansion, particularly for SMEs. A critical gap exists in supporting early-stage businesses transitioning from minimal viable products to scaled production. A focus on end to end pathways that are easy to navigate and offer the right support at each stage, but crucially, are a bridge from ideas to sustainable businesses will aid technology adoption and new business growth.

Q7. What current policies and / or initiatives support technology adoption in your sector and / or across sectors?

While individual funding mechanisms support robotics research through channels like Innovate UK and EPSRC, the UK notably lacks a comprehensive national robotics strategy. This absence is particularly striking compared to countries like Australia, which adopted its National Robotics Strategy in May 2024, and China’s clear national directives for robotics development. The lack of an overarching strategy impacts several crucial areas. For industry development, a national strategy would help coordinate investment, create opportunities for local robotics companies, and support domestic expertise development. For productivity, it would help address critical labour shortages while improving operational efficiency. A national strategy would enhance the UK’s global competitiveness by creating export opportunities and attracting international investment. Most importantly, it would provide a framework for testing new technologies, establish consistent standards, and help build public trust in robotics technology – crucial for successful adoption. The current fragmented approach means initiatives operate in isolation rather than as part of a coordinated national effort, making it particularly challenging for SMEs to navigate available support.

Q8: The availability of skilled employees is a significant enabler of technology adoption. What are the main skills needed across the economy/in your sector required to drive technology adoption and where are the most significant gaps?

The robotics sector faces two distinct skills challenges: a significant knowledge gap at C-Suite level, where many leaders lack understanding of robotics technology advancements, and a comprehensive technical skills shortage. Key technical requirements include advanced robotics programming, system integration capabilities, systems engineering, and human-robot interaction design. The sector also demands expertise in AI integration, maintenance of complex systems, and project management specific to automation implementation. The National Robotarium addresses these through initiatives like Robotics Readiness Workshops – a free professional development programme helping businesses adopt robotic technologies. To scale this nationally, we recommend expanding industry-academia partnerships, establishing targeted professional development for C-suite levels, creating specialised apprenticeship programmes, and developing industry-led certification programmes.

Q9. What international examples of technology adoption have been most successful, specifically from countries with economies similar to the UK and/or any novel or effective approaches from other countries?

Among similar economies, Denmark and Germany stand out for successful robotics adoption, achieving significant productivity gains while maintaining strong manufacturing bases. Denmark demonstrates how a medium-sized economy can successfully integrate robotics across sectors. While structurally different, South Korea, Japan, and China offer valuable lessons in effective approaches. South Korea and Japan have successfully used robotics to maintain manufacturing competitiveness despite ageing populations, while Spain, Australia, the USA, and Canada are implementing comprehensive national strategies.

Q10. What are the top two transformational technologies for productivity in your sector and/or across sectors and why?

Robotics and artificial intelligence represent the most transformational technologies for productivity across  many sectors. The impact of robotics will be profound across a range of key areas. For example, in healthcare and assisted living, robotics is revolutionising both patient care and operational efficiency. From socially assistive robots supporting rehabilitation to automated systems handling routine clinical tasks, these technologies are addressing critical challenges like staff shortages and healthcare-associated infections while creating new economic opportunities. In offshore and hazardous environments, robotics is transforming safety and efficiency. With the UK’s more than 2,600 offshore wind turbines and plans to quadruple capacity by 2030, robotic systems can dramatically improve maintenance efficiency while potentially reducing fuel consumption of maintenance missions by up to 97%. Agriculture presents another key sector, enabling precise per-plant farming, reduced chemical use, and smart monitoring systems that help optimise water usage and tackle resource scarcity while addressing acute labour shortages. In manufacturing, robotics can address the 70,000 vacancies currently facing the sector while enabling the reshoring of critical industries.

Q11. Where is government uniquely placed to drive technology adoption?

The UK Government can play several crucial roles in accelerating technology adoption. First and foremost is establishing clear objectives and incremental goals through a national strategy for robotics. This provides the framework needed to align industry efforts and guide investment decisions. Beyond strategy, government is uniquely positioned to address key barriers through procurement reform, particularly within large state-funded organisations such as the NHS, creating clearer pathways for innovative solutions. Government can also establish cybersecurity frameworks essential for protecting interconnected robotic systems. Additionally, government can facilitate adoption by collaborating with industry to create:

– Skills development programmes addressing technical and leadership gaps

– Funding mechanisms helping businesses manage transition costs

– Support structures for early-stage businesses moving from prototypes to production

– Manufacturing infrastructure enabling UK-based production of robotics technology

Q12. Where is industry uniquely placed to drive technology adoption in your sector and/or across sectors? Where could industry go further to support the objectives of this review?

UK industry has been slow to adopt robotics technology and must catch up with international competitors if the UK is to retain its current global economic position. With just 119 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, representing the lowest robotics adoption in the G7, there is both an urgent need and significant opportunity for industry to take the lead. Industry could drive greater robotics adoption through several key initiatives. First, by establishing clearer implementation frameworks and creating more visible success stories, businesses can build confidence in robotics integration. We already see examples of this working in sectors like offshore energy, where industry-led projects are demonstrating how autonomous robots can transform maintenance tasks while dramatically reducing costs and improving safety. The private sector could take a more active role in workforce development through industry-sponsored training programmes and apprenticeships addressing the critical skills gap. Companies could develop innovative funding models and shared testing facilities to support SMEs. Enhanced knowledge sharing through industry working groups and academia-industry partnerships would accelerate adoption, as demonstrated by ventures at the National Robotarium like Touchlab and Crover.

Q13: What opportunities are there for government and industry partnerships to drive technology adoption in your sector and/or across sectors?

Based on the National Robotarium’s proven success, we propose establishing a UK-wide network of robotics centres of excellence. With capital funding of £22.4 million, our facility has demonstrated significant impact in its first two years – housing 14 successful start-ups, supporting 20 industry-funded projects, and engaging over 20,000 schoolchildren in robotics education. We recommend creating 10 new regional Robotariums, each supporting specific industrial clusters and manufacturing capabilities. This network would be coordinated by a dedicated Robotics UK agency tasked with developing and implementing a national strategy. The Australian Government’s National Robotic Strategy, adopted in May 2024, provides a useful model for this approach. This expansion would accelerate technology adoption while ensuring the UK develops the expertise needed across all sectors.

Conclusion

The National Robotarium can support the consideration / implementation of these recommendations and continue working with government and industry partners to accelerate technology adoption across the UK economy. Our experience in robotics and autonomous systems provides a strong foundation for understanding both the challenges and opportunities in technology adoption, and we are committed to supporting the UK’s leadership in this critical area.  We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and can also meet with those conducting this review if required.