Response to the Smart Machines Strategy 2035: letter from Lord Patrick Vallance
Published 11 February 2025
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Rt Hon Lord Patrick Vallance
Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
11 February 2025
Government response to the Smart Machines 2035 Strategy
Dear David Lane and Paul Clarke, Co-Chairs of the Robotics Growth Partnership
Thank you for sharing the Robotics Growth Partnership (RGP)’s Smart Machines 2035 Strategy and for the RGP’s considerable work, and that of the wider robotics community, in collaborating and developing an ambitious and comprehensive vision.
Robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) are an important technology across the UK economy, enabling better, faster work in greater comfort and safety, while supporting humans to focus on more valuable, creative work. This supports the government’s primary mission which is to kickstart economic growth.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) analysis has identified an active ecosystem with over 2,300 UK robotics companies (c1900 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) including in cutting edge areas like self-driving vehicles, autonomous drones, surgical robotics and vertical farming. This demonstrates an established and diverse base to build upon and grow into a more dynamic sector.
The forthcoming Industrial Strategy will deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high-growth sectors that will drive our growth mission. DSIT is working closely across government to ensure that the Industrial Strategy builds on the existing strengths of the UK innovation ecosystem and recognises the significant growth opportunities that need to be captured in a forward-leaning Industrial Strategy.
The RGP’s work to date has played a crucial role in helping identify the opportunities and benefits from robotics, and your vision is an important contribution as we develop our approach to this technology. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced that the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the National Technology Adviser will lead a review of barriers to the adoption of transformative technologies We will carefully consider the recommendations you have put forward, alongside the ongoing cross-government Review of Technology Adoption.
Thank you again for the RGP’s efforts in driving forward this agenda, and I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure we make the most of the potential from RAS.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Lord Patrick Vallance
Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology