The UK Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has unveiled robotics and defence as new priorities with the aim of making Britain safer and more productive.
The RIO, which launched in October 2024, has already engaged with over 150 businesses and is working to unlock the potential of sectors worth over £100bn across its initial priority sectors.
For example, it 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.
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) revealed that research suggests that wider adoption of robotics across just 7 sectors could add £150bn to the UK economy.
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 – a process that can take months and cost significant resources.
The RIO will aim to streamline overlapping requirements to bring products to market safely, but more quickly, to improve lives and grow our economy.
UK 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.
