Reaping the Rewards of the Robotics Revolution: Our Manifesto
Launched at an exclusive event at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 5 March, our ambitious manifesto, ‘Reaping the Rewards of the Robotics Revolution: Making the UK an active player in the future global economy’ sets out a five-point plan for establishing the UK as a world-leader in robotics.
The UK CAN do this. Here’s a blueprint to make it happen.
A 5-point plan to put the UK at the heart of the global robotics revolution
1) Create a Robotics UK agency to develop a strategy to build a robotics industry and ensure the UK does not miss out on multi-billion economic growth and tens of thousands of high-quality jobs from the robotics revolution;
2) Invest in 10 new Robotariums across the UK, based on the successful model of the National Robotarium in Edinburgh – a home for innovative young businesses to develop and commercialise great ideas, a crucible for turning world-leading academic research into practical uses for robots, and a place for industry to test robotics and autonomous systems;
3) Build industrial clusters around these new Robotariums, based on the ‘Triple Helix’ model between industry, academia and Government (and its agencies) – with a focus on the specific economic needs and academic specialisms of each region;
4) Create a robotics manufacturing base within these clusters by identifying sites for manufacturing plants, software labs, and design studios – as well as creating new companies;
5) Work with academia and industry to produce a report on the skills the UK needs to fill the growing number of roles in robotics: designing and building robots, writing the software that controls them; servicing and maintaining robots; and working alongside them to give them the right instructions to make them useful.
We recommend that the UK build on the innovative work taking place at The National Robotarium and seize the enormous opportunities available to be a global player in emerging robotic technologies. It must act decisively and quickly to be an active player in the robotics revolution, and all the economic and societal benefits that will flow from it.
