Soft robots, hard truths… Can the UK deliver on robotics vision?

As UK scientists unveil a robot arm so gentle it can safely interact with delicate marine life, the gulf between homegrown robotics innovation and industrial readiness is growing harder to ignore.

The octopus robot, developed by a team at the University of Bristol, is believed to be the world’s first entirely soft, self-contained system. Inspired by the flexible arms of an octopus, it combines stretchable pumps and sensors to operate autonomously underwater, a potential game-changer for applications such as marine conservation, search and rescue, and hazardous environment repair.

It’s the kind of future-focused breakthrough that rightly turns heads. But while the UK continues to punch above its weight in academic robotics research, new data suggests that industry adoption isn’t keeping pace and that a lack of clear regulation, investment certainty, and safety standards may be holding things back.

The government’s big bet

Robotics sits at the heart of the UK’s new Industrial Strategy, launched earlier this year. The government has highlighted automation, robotics, and AI as essential to boosting productivity, reshoring manufacturing, and securing the UK’s place in the global technology race.

And there are signs of momentum. In 2023, the UK hit a record high for industrial robot installations, with 3,830 units deployed, a 51% increase year-on-year, according to the International Federation of Robotics and The Robot Report. Automotive installations surged by 297%, and the food and beverage sector saw a 59% increase. Incentives like the super-deduction tax break helped trigger this uptick, pushing manufacturers to accelerate automation plans before the window closed in March 2023.

The UK’s R&D ecosystem is also doing the heavy lifting. Programmes like UKRI’s Robots For A Safer World have channelled over £100 million into robotics and autonomous systems R&D, backed by half a billion in industry-matched funding. Meanwhile, major players such as Dyson have made robotics central to multi-billion-pound innovation strategies.

Despite these signals, industry confidence in robotics remains uneven. According to new research from QNX, almost two-thirds (64%) of UK industrial organisations say they plan to introduce robotics, but many are still hesitant about when and how to do so.

“The UK industrial sector is at the cusp of a robotics revolution,” says João Pereira, director of EMEA General Embedded Market Sales at QNX. “However, this ambition is tempered by uncertainty – 12% have no immediate plans within the next year, while nearly a third (29%) remain undecided on their timeline.”

That uncertainty is not just logistical, it’s legal. The QNX report found that 31% of UK industrial decision-makers view current robotics regulation as inadequate, with only 12% saying it is “very adequate.” Concerns include unclear guidance around ethical use, a patchwork of safety standards, and lack of legal clarity around liability in human-robot collaboration.

Even where confidence appears strong, risk lingers. While 90% of industrial leaders say their organisations have robust safety measures in place, more than one in five report a robotics-related safety incident. Almost a third are still concerned about potential cybersecurity risks.

Closing the commercialisation gap

So what needs to change? For Pereira, part of the answer lies in stronger collaboration between government, academia, and industry, particularly in support for start-ups, testbeds, and training.

“Universities, start-ups, and initiatives that combine technical training with industry support, such as incubators or accelerator programs, play a crucial role,” he says. “These ventures can accelerate the deployment of robotics by developing niche solutions, validating new technologies in real-world settings, and fostering a culture of experimentation.”

In other words, innovation isn’t enough. Without the right frameworks, incentives and skills, even world-first breakthroughs, like the Bristol robot arm, may never scale beyond the lab.

That echoes recent calls from the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA), which has pushed for clearer national guidance and more coordinated support for small and medium-sized businesses eager to adopt automation but unclear how to start.

The UK has no shortage of robotic ingenuity. From surgical devices and AI-powered warehouse bots to marine-grade soft robots, the country continues to generate high-impact innovation – but to deliver on the government’s vision of robotics-led industrial growth, the rest of the system needs to catch up.

That means better regulation, more coordinated investment, safer deployment environments, and clearer commercial pathways for robotics start-ups.

As Pereira puts it, “with the establishment of a supportive regulatory environment, strategic investment in skills development, and a heightened focus on safety, the UK will be positioned to unlock the full potential of robotics and lead the next wave of industrial transformation.”