The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has unveiled robotics and defence as the next priority areas where it will aim to remove red tape.
The RIO was launched in October 2024 and is working to unlock the potential of sectors worth over £100 billion across its initial priority sectors. It has already worked with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to simplify the approval process for drone flights, helping companies like Apian cut their medical delivery time from 30 minutes by van to 2 minutes by drone.
Currently, businesses developing robotic technologies must navigate different regulatory frameworks across multiple bodies. A company building autonomous inspection drones, for example, may need separate approvals for aviation, data protection, and sector-specific safety rules. This can take months.
The RIO is now working to streamline overlapping requirements to bring products to market safely.
Evidence suggests that wider adoption of robotics across seven sectors could add £150 billion to the UK economy.
The government has also announced the launch of a 52 million competition for around 5 new Robotics Adoption Hubs across the country. These could be run by universities, businesses, or public sector organisations.
The hubs will give companies access to expert advice, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities to help them take the first steps towards adopting robotics, and in turn help grow our economy and improve lives.
Each Hub will receive at least £2 million per year over four years. They are expected to be operation by the end of 2026.
Minister for Digital Economy, Liz Lloyd said: "British innovators shouldn’t be held back by needless red tape. We have world-leading robotics and defence tech firms, but regulations haven’t kept pace with their innovations.
"We’re updating the rules so they work for modern technologies, cutting the barriers that stop these firms from growing and competing globally."
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: "When we said we would make it easier for defence firms to innovate we meant it.
"By cutting red tape, we’re delivering on the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to fast-track the military equipment our forces need.
"We want the UK to be one of the best places in the world to start and grow a defence business – making defence an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK."
