The Greater South West Robotics Adoption Hub (GSWRAH), a consortium of 23 partners from industry, academia, and local government, aims to help organisations across the region realise the productivity, resilience, and growth benefits of robotics and automation. The initiative has received £7.2 million in funding from Innovate UK, part of the UKRI IS8 Advanced Manufacturing Programme, with an additional £2.6 million contributed by project partners.
Led by the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), in partnership with NCC, the Hub will serve as a central access point for expertise, advice, technology, and support. NCC will spearhead a business advisory service to guide companies in exploring robotics and automation, developing investment cases, and enhancing productivity and competitiveness.
The Hub's activities will span diverse sectors, from supporting maritime infrastructure in Devon and energy assets around the Solent, to assisting food and drink producers in Cornwall and Gloucestershire, enabling aerospace component manufacture in Somerset, and aiding healthcare providers in Bristol. It aims to demonstrate how robotics can address real-world challenges across various industries.
Professor Lars Kunze, Professor in Safety for Robotics and Autonomous Systems at UWE Bristol and Co-Director of the BRL, stated, “This represents a major opportunity for businesses across our region to harness the benefits of robotics and automation.” He highlighted the BRL's track record in translating research into industrial impact, enabling businesses to innovate with confidence and strengthen the region's leadership in advanced technologies.
Professor Arthur Richards, Professor of Robotics at the University of Bristol and project lead, expressed excitement about launching the initiative across the greater southwest region, from Gloucestershire to the Solent and the Scillies. He emphasised that robotics can significantly boost productivity for businesses of all sizes, with the Hub offering a unified access point to robotics potential, covering aspects from design and procurement to safety and cybersecurity.
Katy Riddington, Managing Director of Supporting Growth at NCC, noted that while the potential of robotics and automation is substantial, identifying value and making investment cases can be challenging for businesses. She added that with the right support, robotics can improve productivity, address skills gaps, build resilience, and foster sustainable growth, with NCC pleased to contribute to turning this potential into practical business benefits.
The Hub will operate through three interconnected strands: an advisory service offering one-to-one support for robotics adoption, a showcase programme featuring industrial site visits and demonstrations, and an ecosystem programme fostering collaboration through events and knowledge-sharing. The consortium includes partners such as the University of Bath, Oxford Innovation, GKN, Somerset Council, The Brunel Centre, the Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS), and Burges Salmon, with 15 businesses participating.
The Greater South West Robotics Adoption Hub is anticipated to be fully operational by January 2027, providing businesses across the region access to events, advice, and showcases designed to improve productivity, address workforce challenges, and enhance competitiveness, thereby strengthening the South West's standing as a leading UK region for robotics and automation.
