Submissions open for CivTech challenge into safe adoption of robotics – closes 2 Sept 2025
The National Robotarium, the UK’s leading centre for robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Heriot-Watt University, is to be involved in the development of new products and services that help to advance the safe adoption of robotics in the public sector.
As part of round 11 of the CivTech Challenge, a Scottish Government programme that brings the public, private and third sectors together to create new innovations that can make people’s lives better, The National Robotarium and the Directorate for Digital aims to support the development of pioneering ideas that can enable greater adoption of new robotic and smart technologies in public organisations.
Any organisation, team or individual can respond to Challenge 11.8, ‘How can the public sector ensure a safe, secure and transparent adoption of robotics’, with the most promising solutions given the chance to access up to £1.2m in public contracts.
Full Challenge Information
Challenge Title:
How can the public sector ensure a safe, secure and transparent adoption of robotics?
Sponsored by:
The National Robotarium and Scottish Government, Directorate for Digital
Challenge Summary
Robotics is rapidly advancing and with ever-increasing capabilities there are massive opportunities to improve public services and so make people’s lives better. Unlike traditional IT systems robots interact with the physical world. This means that cyber-attacks can potentially result in not just data breaches, but also operational disruption, safety hazards and other harms. So, unless clear standards, assurance requirements and robust testing are established and in place, there are risks to robotics adoption at scale in the public sector supply chain.
So how can we ensure that robotic systems are resilient, trustworthy and capable of withstanding evolving cyber threats?
Possible maximum contract value:
Up to £1,200,000 plus VAT
For more information and to apply:
https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-11-challenge-8-safe-secure-and-transparent-adoption-of-robotics
