This workshop has been postponed and is no longer going ahead on 21 January. An alternative date will be announced shortly.
The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Workshops are designed to help you assess where your business stands in terms of robotic adoption and equip you with bespoke tools to guide your journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to future-proof your operations, this workshop will provide the insights and practical steps needed to integrate robotics effectively. We’ll help you identify your current readiness level and outline next steps tailored to your business, ensuring a smooth transition into robotics adoption.
Note: This workshop, delivered as part of The National Robotarium’s Robotics Adoption Fund, will focus specifically on robotics for textiles sectors.
Workshop format
Participation involves attending a half-day workshop at the National Robotarium.
Through interactive sessions, group discussions and real-world case studies, you will:
Discover how to adopt and scale robotics effectively.
Avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investments.
Leverage insights from The National Robotarium to address global industry challenges.
Eligibility
We’re seeking business leaders, operations managers, and decision-makers from companies of all sizes who are looking to understand how robotics can drive efficiency and innovation.
This workshop is also ideal for professionals involved in innovation or technical implementation, ensuring that those with a technical background in robotics can further explore its business applications.
Registration
Register via Eventbrite.
After reviewing your application, our team will contact you and, if successful, invite you to complete a self-assessment task ahead of the in-person workshop.
The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Workshops are designed to help you assess where your business stands in terms of robotic adoption and equip you with bespoke tools to guide your journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to future-proof your operations, this workshop will provide the insights and practical steps needed to integrate robotics effectively. We’ll help you identify your current readiness level and outline next steps tailored to your business, ensuring a smooth transition into robotics adoption.
Note: This workshop, delivered as part of The National Robotarium’s Robotics Adoption Fund, will focus specifically on robotics for the food and drink sector.
Workshop format
Participation involves attending a half-day workshop at the National Robotarium.
Through interactive sessions, group discussions and real-world case studies, you will:
Discover how to adopt and scale robotics effectively.
Avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investments.
Leverage insights from The National Robotarium to address global industry challenges.
Eligibility
We’re seeking business leaders, operations managers, and decision-makers from companies of all sizes who are looking to understand how robotics can drive efficiency and innovation.
This workshop is also ideal for professionals involved in innovation or technical implementation, ensuring that those with a technical background in robotics can further explore its business applications.
After reviewing your application, our team will contact you and, if successful, invite you to complete a self-assessment taks ahead of the in-person workshop.
The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Workshops are designed to help you assess where your business stands in terms of robotic adoption and equip you with bespoke tools to guide your journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to future-proof your operations, this workshop will provide the insights and practical steps needed to integrate robotics effectively. We’ll help you identify your current readiness level and outline next steps tailored to your business, ensuring a smooth transition into robotics adoption.
Note: This workshop, delivered as part of The National Robotarium’s Robotics Adoption Fund, will focus specifically on robotics for the marine and offshore energy sectors.
Workshop format
Participation involves attending a half-day workshop at the National Robotarium.
Through interactive sessions, group discussions and real-world case studies, you will:
Discover how to adopt and scale robotics effectively.
Avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investments.
Leverage insights from The National Robotarium to address global industry challenges.
Eligibility
We’re seeking business leaders, operations managers, and decision-makers from companies of all sizes who are looking to understand how robotics can drive efficiency and innovation.
This workshop is also ideal for professionals involved in innovation or technical implementation, ensuring that those with a technical background in robotics can further explore its business applications.
After reviewing your application, our team will contact you and, if successful, invite you to complete a self-assessment task ahead of the in-person workshop.
The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Workshops are designed to help you assess where your business stands in terms of robotic adoption and equip you with bespoke tools to guide your journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to future-proof your operations, this workshop will provide the insights and practical steps needed to integrate robotics effectively. We’ll help you identify your current readiness level and outline next steps tailored to your business, ensuring a smooth transition into robotics adoption.
Note: This workshop, delivered as part of The National Robotarium’s Robotics Adoption Fund, will focus specifically on robotics for start-up businesses.
Workshop format
Participation involves attending a half-day workshop at the National Robotarium.
Through interactive sessions, group discussions and real-world case studies, you will:
Discover how to adopt and scale robotics effectively.
Avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investments.
Leverage insights from The National Robotarium to address global industry challenges.
Eligibility
We’re seeking business leaders, operations managers, and decision-makers from companies of all sizes who are looking to understand how robotics can drive efficiency and innovation.
This workshop is also ideal for professionals involved in innovation or technical implementation, ensuring that those with a technical background in robotics can further explore its business applications.
After reviewing your application, our team will contact you and, if successful, invite you to complete a self-assessment task ahead of the in-person workshop.
Rowanne Miller, Project Manager at The National Robotarium and lead of the Robotics Adoption Fund
Originally published in The Herald Business HQ supplement on 6 November 2025
Scotland is attempting something ambitious: building genuine connective tissue between world-class robotics research and everyday business transformation. After years of investment in research infrastructure and academic excellence, we’re now testing whether we can become equally good at helping businesses adopt these technologies confidently and strategically.
The early signs suggest we’re onto something.
Recent months have demonstrated Scotland’s growing position as a hub for robotics innovation. The inaugural UK Robotics Expo drew capacity crowds. Edinburgh welcomed hundreds of international robotics specialists for ROSCon UK 2025. And, the Deep Tech Growth Programme launched – bringing together advanced manufacturing capabilities, research institutes, and technology organisations under one coordinated programme.
But the more interesting story isn’t about what happened at these events; it’s about what happens next in facilities and offices across the nation.
From innovation to implementation
Scotland has proven it can innovate in robotics. We’ve built research facilities and created partnerships between academia and industry that generate genuine technological breakthroughs. The frontier now is different.
Can we help Scottish businesses become confident adopters of robotics at the same pace we’ve developed research capability? Can we translate academic excellence into economic transformation across sectors that haven’t traditionally thought of themselves as technology leaders?
This is the challenge our new Robotics Adoption Fund aims to address. A Scottish Government initiative to accelerate robotics and AI adoption across Scotland’s businesses and public sector, it represents a fundamentally different approach to innovation support.
Rowanne Miller, Project Manager and Robotics Adoption Fund lead
Understanding the adoption journey
When we engage with businesses across Scotland’s key sectors we hear something consistent and encouraging. Business leaders understand that robotics represents opportunity. They’re not asking whether robotics matters; they’re asking more sophisticated questions about how it applies to their specific context.
A whisky distiller wants to understand whether robotic systems make sense for their production volume and facility layout. An agricultural operation needs to assess how automation fits within infrastructure constraints. A textile manufacturer is thinking about workforce implications – how roles evolve, what training is required, how to bring teams along as partners in transformation.
These are the right questions. They reflect operational maturity and strategic thinking. But answering them requires more than access to information – it requires applied expertise, sector-specific knowledge, and willingness to work through complexity in partnership.
A new model of support
The Robotics Adoption Fund provides a structured pathway through this complexity. It’s a six-month pilot programme designed to test whether expert-led, stage-appropriate support genuinely accelerates adoption.
The programme mirrors how businesses approach transformation with elements like The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Reviews which offer organisations an honest assessment of their current position through sector-specific workshops. For businesses ready to explore further, ‘adoption assistance’ brings engineering expertise directly into operations – including site visits to understand facilities and workflows firsthand, and detailed recommendations tailored to specific constraints and opportunities.
The ‘implementation’ stage then supports organisations ready to prove concepts – working in partnership to co-design, build, and test proof-of-concept solutions. With 70% of costs covered by the fund, businesses can validate approaches before committing to full-scale adoption, significantly reducing the risk inherent in innovation. The programme aims to support at least 13 companies through these stages during the pilot, providing the evidence base for what effective adoption support looks like in practice.
Building an ecosystem
But the fund doesn’t exist in isolation – it’s part of broader momentum that has seen the Scottish Government recently commit millions for increased innovation and economic growth in technologies of significant economic value, including robotics.
The Deep Tech Growth Programme brings together manufacturing capabilities and expertise to support companies from concept through to production. A partnership between The National Robotarium, Scottish Enterprise and the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland (NMIS), the six-month pilot aims to harness and strengthen Scotland’s deep tech capabilities and provide a one-stop-shop to help emerging tech companies access tailored support, manufacturing expertise, strategic partners and growth investment.
And the Scottish Government’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Cluster programme, which is also supported by Scottish Enterprise and led by The National Robotarium in collaboration with NMIS, will map Scotland’s robotics ecosystem, identifying where capabilities exist and where strategic investment can strengthen collaboration.
What makes this particularly significant is timing. Scotland’s pilot programmes will provide practical evidence about what works – what kinds of support genuinely move businesses from consideration to confident adoption, and what galvanises companies already in the robotics space to anchor and scale in Scotland. If successful, these models could influence how future investment in robotics is deployed nationally.
Writing the playbook
Scotland isn’t alone in recognising robotics as an economic opportunity. The difference will be in translating that recognition into widespread business adoption at scale.
As a nation, we also have an opportunity to demonstrate that adoption isn’t simply about funding or strategy documents – it’s about building practical partnerships between expertise and operations, recognising that transformation is often messy and iterative, and providing support that meets businesses where they are rather than where we wish they were.
The Robotics Adoption Fund represents Scotland’s willingness to experiment with this approach, to learn from what works and adjust what doesn’t, and to build evidence that can inform not just Scotland’s future investment but potentially how the wider UK approaches robotics adoption.
The opportunity ahead
For Scottish businesses, a genuine opportunity exists to access expertise and support at a time when adopting robotics thoughtfully could determine competitive positioning for decades. It’s a chance to demonstrate that we’re not just capable of generating innovation, but equally skilled at helping businesses transform that innovation into economic value.
Those that engage with the fund will do more than benefit individually. They’ll help Scotland understand what effective adoption support looks like, contributing to a model that could shape how innovation translates to business reality across the UK.
Scotland’s robotics research excellence is established. The infrastructure is built. The expertise exists. What we’re testing now is whether we can be equally excellent at helping businesses navigate the path from awareness to implementation.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/ABB-pick-and-place-scaled-e1737141025743.jpg10001500Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-11-06 11:45:072025-11-06 11:45:07OPINION: A helping hand for the innovators in robotics – Rowanne Miller
From 15-17 September, robotics scientists, engineers, technicians, industry experts and robot enthusiasts joined together in Edinburgh for the first ever ROSCon UK.
The 3-day event – themed around ROS (Robotics Operating Systems) – included talks, tutorials, workshops and robot demonstrations, as well as tours of The National Robotarium and partner Data-Driven Innovation hub the Bayes Centre at The University of Edinburgh.
Attendees at the first ROSConUK (photo credit: Tartan Robotics Collective)
Over 150 attendees travelled to Scotland’s capital, where they heard talks from some of the world’s leading voices in robotics, including Dr Steve Cousins, Executive Director of the Stanford University Robotics Centre, Julien Enoch, Senior Solutions Architect at ZettaScale Technology, and Seamus McGinley, a Robotics Software Engineer at the National Oceanography Centre.
Robotics Engineer at The National Robotarium, Rahul Ramachandran, also delivered a talk at the conference, during which he gave an overview of an ongoing project that is integrating ROS2 with NVIDIA Isaac Sim technology to develop a digital twin of the centre’s co-bot station.
RosCon UK was created and delivered by the Tartan Robotics Collective, a charitable organisation that aims to promote scientific research and advance educational opportunities in robotics. Organisers included Head of Robotics at The National Robotarium, Dr Ingo Keller, Dr Alejandro Bordallo (The University of Edinburgh), Dr Bence Magyar and Tom Moore (both Locus Robotics), Dr Vladimir Ivan (Touchlab Ltd), Prof. Dr Sabine Hauert (University of Bristol), and Dr Hugo Sardinha (Launchpad Build).
Head of Robotics, Dr Ingo Keller (second from right) with the ROSConUK organising committee (photo credit: Tartan Robotics Collective)
Dr Keller said: “The team and I were thrilled to deliver the UK’s first ever ROSCon event, which attracted so many robot experts and enthusiasts from across the globe. The positive response to the conference from attendees, host institutions, and sponsors, has highlighted the level of interest and demand for strategic and informed discussions on robotic systems, which are primed to transform every aspect of our future lives.
“I’d like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the event, particularly my fellow organisers, our wonderful sponsors, and OSRF (Open Source Robotics Foundation) for their support.
“We are already looking forward to planning and organising next year’s event!”
Edinburgh was host of the first ever ROSCon UK event (photo credit: Tartan Robotics Collective)
The event coincided with a significant announcement by NVIDIA to play a leading role in advancing the UK’s AI infrastructure, for which the UK Government has committed an unprecedented £2 billion to physically deploy advanced AI across the country. The National Robotarium, along with other leading UK innovation centres, was namechecked in the global press release, ahead of an exclusive AI ecosystem event attended by Ingo in London, which was introduced by NVIDIA CEO and President Jensen Huang and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/ROSCon_UK_2025-TIAGO-1000px.jpg6571000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-10-27 16:50:422025-10-27 16:52:15Highlights from the inaugural ROSConUK
In a piece first published in The Herald Business HQ on 7 August 2025, Business Development Manager at The National Robotarium Lisa Farrell highlights how a new £40 million robotics strategy validates Scotland’s approach to robotics development
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy announcement in June included a detail that represents a significant shift in thinking – £40 million in funding for a new network of physical robotics adoption hubs across the UK. For Scotland’s robotics sector, this wasn’t just welcome news, it was recognition of an approach we’ve long believed essential for economic growth.
The National Robotarium has been part of ongoing discussions about the UK’s robotics strategy, contributing insights from our experience building Scotland’s robotics ecosystem.
This comes at a pivotal moment. The Government’s Spending Review committed an unprecedented £120 billion to AI, research and development, and advanced manufacturing over the next five years, with £2 billion specifically targeting artificial intelligence implementation.
The National Robotarium has been part of ongoing discussions about the UK’s robotics strategy
Yet, as we’ve consistently evidenced, AI alone cannot deliver the productivity breakthroughs the economy needs. Robotics provides what we call the ‘arms and legs’ of AI; transforming digital intelligence into physical capability that can manipulate the real world, automate manufacturing processes, and deliver services in environments too dangerous or precise for human workers.
This understanding is precisely why the new hub network approach makes strategic sense. The growing recognition among policymakers reflects a deeper understanding that utilising robotics is fundamental to the UK’s economic competitiveness.
Scotland has already demonstrated what’s possible with strategic robotics investment. The National Robotarium in Edinburgh, working alongside facilities like the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), has created a comprehensive innovation ecosystem which is supporting high-value jobs, nurturing innovative companies, and engaging young people in robotics education.
This proven approach is delivering real results. Companies like BioLiberty are developing robotic rehabilitation solutions, while Crover creates systems to reduce grain waste globally. The International Blue Economy Robotarium in Orkney shows how the model can be specialised for different sectors, exploring sustainable solutions for offshore energy and renewables.
This momentum is further reinforced by expanded programmes like Made Smarter helping manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies, alongside new investments across multiple technology initiatives. Scotland’s established infrastructure positions us to maximise these expanding opportunities.
Lisa Farrell (second from left) alongside Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP
This advantage is further amplified by the UK Government’s £750 million investment in Edinburgh’s new supercomputer. As a key delivery partner in this initiative, the National Robotarium is demonstrating how AI and robotics can work in lockstep and this collaboration shows how digital intelligence becomes economically valuable when it can control physical systems in the real world.
The new robotics hubs network represents the scaling of this proven approach. While other regions will be starting from scratch, Scotland has a three-year head start in understanding what works. We’ve already navigated the challenges of building industry partnerships, developing business support programmes, and creating pathways from research to commercialisation.
The economic opportunities are substantial.
The global healthcare robotics market is projected to grow from £1.3 billion in 2023 to £2.6 billion by 2028
Manufacturing robotics offers even greater potential, with the opportunity to address the UK’s position as the least automated country in the G7. Scotland’s offshore robotics market could reach £341 million annually by 2030, building on our renewable energy expertise.
What makes this moment particularly significant is that Scotland is positioned not just to benefit from the new national strategy, but to help shape its success. Our experience building robotics infrastructure, combined with our research excellence and innovative companies, means Scotland understands both the opportunities and challenges of scaling robotics innovation.
The £40 million represents just the beginning. As these hubs demonstrate economic impact, further investment will follow. Scotland’s early mover advantage, combined with our proven track record, positions us to capture a significant share of this expanding opportunity.
The challenge now is ensuring we make the most of what this creates. Scotland has the chance to become not just a participant in the UK’s robotics revolution, but lead it.
For businesses and policymakers ready to explore what robotics can deliver, Scotland’s expertise is here and available. The infrastructure exists, the knowledge is proven, and the conversation starts now.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC9865-copy-1.jpg6671000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-08-08 10:13:162025-08-08 10:13:16COMMENT: How Scotland’s robotics revolution is going national
The National Robotarium’s Robotics Readiness Workshops are designed to help you assess where your business stands in terms of robotic adoption and equip you with bespoke tools to guide your journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to future-proof your operations, this workshop will provide the insights and practical steps needed to integrate robotics effectively. We’ll help you identify your current readiness level and outline next steps tailored to your business, ensuring a smooth transition into robotics adoption.
Workshop format
Participation involves attending a half-day workshop at the National Robotarium.
Through interactive sessions, group discussions and real-world case studies, you will:
Discover how to adopt and scale robotics effectively.
Avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investments.
Leverage insights from The National Robotarium to address global industry challenges.
Eligibility
We’re seeking business leaders, operations managers, and decision-makers from companies of all sizes who are looking to understand how robotics can drive efficiency and innovation.
This workshop is also ideal for professionals involved in innovation or technical implementation, ensuring that those with a technical background in robotics can further explore its business applications.
After reviewing your application, our team will contact you and, if successful, invite you to complete a self-assessment taks ahead of the in-person workshop.
The National Robotarium and Robotekin – Basque Association for Robotics and Automation have forged a new global partnership to advance innovation, research and skills development in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS).
In July, the UK’s centre for robotics and AI at Heriot-Watt University welcomed a delegation from Robotekin, a not-for-profit consortium in the Basque Country, during which a Letter of Intent was signed by CEO of The National Robotarium, Stewart Miller, and Robotekin Director, Daniel Ruiz Corres. The letter outlines each organisation’s commitment to sharing knowledge and developing joint initiatives in areas including applied research and technology transfer, international projects, outreach and events.
[l-r] Daniel Ruiz Corres, Robotekin Director, and Stewart Miller, CEO of The National Robotarium sign the letter of intent (July 2025)
The delegation – which included Robotekin industry members Smartlog Group, Seaquenz, BIC Araba, Ikaslan, IKERLAN and DACO Ingeniería – followed a visit by National Robotarium Chief Operating Officer, Steve Maclaren, to Robotekin’s headquarters in Álava, Spain in December. During the visit, Steve presented on the National Robotarium’s holistic enterprise model that is advancing science in robotics and automation, and supporting early-stage technology companies. It was agreed that a reciprocal visit be arranged, paving the way towards a more formalised partnership.
Steve said: “Following my insightful visit to Robotekin’s headquarters last year, it was an honour to welcome the team and their associates to The National Robotarium. As well as getting a tour our state-of-the-art labs, the visit was hugely valuable in learning more about each other’s delivery models, and exploring opportunities to drive forward new collaborations.”
Steve Maclaren (centre) visited Robotekin in Spain in Dec 2025
Robotekin operates as a ‘cooperative ecosystem’, creating a link between R&D, education, manufacturing and user testing, rapidly driving new technological and business projects that address genuine industry and customer needs. The success of the Robotekin model could provide a blueprint for other nations looking to create a circular robotics supply chain that harnesses scientific excellence, private and government investment, and entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing and production. Building a similar robotics ecosystem for Scotland is a key recommendation in The National Robotarium’s recent policy paper ‘Making Scotland a World Leader in Robotics’.
Stewart Miller said: “Scotland stands to gain significantly from a hub-and-spoke model like Robotekin. By acting as a physical hub for industry, government and science to work closely together on fast-tracking new robotic innovations, we not only benefit people’s lives but also create a driver for economic prosperity and talent retention.
“This partnership offers a valuable opportunity to explore alternative delivery models that could be key to securing long-term success for robotics in Scotland.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotekin-group-dinner-1000px.jpg7501000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-07-31 17:19:342025-07-31 17:21:20The National Robotarium forges new partnership with Robotekin
A robotics firm based at The National Robotarium has reached a significant milestone by making its first commercial sale with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the UK’s leading technology innovation centre for offshore renewables.
Frontier Robotics, based at the UK’s centre for robotics and AI at Heriot-Watt University, has developed advanced visual sensing and autonomy technology for subsea robots which will now be deployed at several sites including ORE Catapult’s new simulation platform VDARE (Virtual Demonstration and Assessment for Robotic Environments) at its DARE (Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering) Centre in Blyth.
The company’s state-of-the-art camera can be mounted onto a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to take true to life imagery of offshore assets such as wind turbines, and floating offshore wind platforms. These images are then incorporated into ORE Catapult’s VDARE simulation to create virtually ‘real’ assets.
Dr Jonatan Scharff-Willners, CEO of Frontier Robotics
The unpredictable nature of the world’s oceans makes the inspection and maintenance of offshore assets challenging, with visibility in murky waters a particular obstacle. By leveraging advanced sensor fusion techniques with edge computing, Frontier Robotics’ system offers enhanced visual clarity, robust and reliable positioning and 3D mapping through Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) technology.
SLAM enables ROVs to create comprehensive 3D maps of their surroundings while simultaneously tracking their own position within those environments, providing the foundations for automated and autonomous operations.
The new technology addresses critical challenges for the UK’s offshore wind sector, where more than 2,600 turbines across 43 wind farms require up to three maintenance checks annually. These operations can account for up to 20% of total offshore wind emissions through vessel operations and helicopter transfers. Improved monitoring will enable operators to make faster, better-informed decisions about maintenance operations, reducing both costs and carbon footprint.
Jonatan Scharff Willners, CEO of Frontier Robotics, said:
“Offshore renewable asset inspection is a very challenging and hazardous task in the energy sector. With the UK’s ambitious offshore expansion plans, innovative systems that enhance safety and efficiency aren’t just beneficial – they’re essential.
“This sale to ORE Catapult is really important and helps demonstrate the value of our technology to the market. We’re grateful to the National Robotarium for their support. Being based there, we have access to world-class facilities and exceptional engineering talent and that has accelerated our development timeline.
“Our vision is to become the default autonomy provider for underwater inspections globally, transforming how the industry approaches maintenance and monitoring, and this sale is a major milestone in our journey to delivering that vision.”
Ken Chan, Robotics Operation Lead at ORE Catapult, said:
“Our VDARE simulation platform has been created to accurately represent real world offshore assets and environments, with data integrated into our simulations that respond in real time.
“We have conducted underwater trials using robotics systems to map subsea environments, and have imported data mapping seabed structures, water clarity, temperature and salt levels to create interactive 3D scenes built on accurate, real-world measurements.
“Our mission is to de-risk offshore robotics and accelerate development timelines through affordable, modular, and scalable test environments, and the technology we are now using from Frontier Robotics is supporting us to do that.”
Lisa Farrell, Business Development Manager at the National Robotarium, said:
“Seeing Frontier Robotics develop from incorporation to now securing its first sale demonstrates what’s possible when we properly support innovation in Scotland’s high-growth sectors. Its success creates benefits that extend far beyond one company – strengthening our robotics ecosystem while helping critical industries like offshore energy operate more sustainably.
“The sale to ORE Catapult is a particularly exciting development for us as it coincides with our recent signing of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ORE Catapult and recent launch of the Blue Robotarium in Orkney, both of which mark our commitment to creating an industry-led robotics cluster and building robotic capabilities to advance the energy transition.
“This is exactly why the National Robotarium exists – to help promising technologies move from concept to commercial reality. We create an environment where talented innovators can access specialised resources rarely found in one location.”
The Frontier Robotics Advisory Board after their inaugural meeting at The National Robotarium
High-profile appointments to expert advisory board
To support its growth trajectory, Frontier Robotics has strengthened its leadership with the appointment of an expert advisory board. Simon Reeve, former Director of Innovation at the Alan Turing Institute and VP of Technology and Innovation at Lloyd’s Register, will chair the board.
He is joined by Mary Jane Brouwers, a highly regarded leader in the Scottish investment ecosystem with over 20 years of experience in early-stage equity investments. The board is completed by Professor Yvan Petillot, a renowned expert in robotics and autonomous systems at Heriot-Watt University, co-founder and ex CTO of SeeByte, and academic co-lead at the National Robotarium.
In addition to their commercial success, Frontier Robotics has bolstered its already impressive funding track record with two new funding grants. The first, from Scottish Enterprise, has seen the firm assess the development of photorealistic, 3D interactive models to significantly decrease the processing time of more commonly used photogrammetry techniques.
The second grant is from the AI Safety Institute for a project the company is working on with partners including King’s College London, and SeaBot Maritime. This project will build and test a training and competence framework to assure the safe and responsible use of AI and autonomy in marine environments and provide a mechanism for the maritime workforce to upskill and adopt the use of the technology as AI advances within the sector.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/An-underwater-Remotely-Operated-Vehicle-for-inspecting-offshore-assets-.jpg7501000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-07-31 11:13:062025-07-31 15:32:58Frontier Robotics secures first commercial sale with ORE Catapult
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UK Research & Innovation
Tartan Robotics Collective
