The UK government announced on 9 October 2026 that eight Robotics Adoption Hubs would be rolled out across the country with £40 million in backing, including sites in Newcastle, the South West, Milton Keynes and South Wales. According to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the hubs were intended to offer businesses and public services expert advice, tailored support and hands-on demonstrations.

The projects named included a national surgical robotics hub intended to support less invasive procedures and quicker patient recovery, and HARVEST in Lincoln, focused on robotics across the agri-food sector including automated fruit picking. Other hubs would cover waste and recycling, service robots, drones and driverless vehicles in Milton Keynes, and manufacturing support in Yorkshire, South Wales and Wales. The announcement also cited £1.7 million for a convening body and £2.5 million for 12 training projects.

The government said estimates show robotics and autonomous systems could add £150 billion to the UK economy by 2035 if adoption is maximised, compared with £6.4 billion at current adoption levels. Minister for AI Kanishka Narayan and Innovate UK's Bruce Adderley both welcomed the programme in statements issued with the announcement.