Eight hub partnerships are being established to help businesses and public services put robots to practical use.
The programme brings together universities, specialist facilities, manufacturers and public services to test equipment, develop demonstrations and assess where automation could improve their work. The government announced £40 million for the eight hubs in October 2026, within UKRI’s wider £52 million Robotics Adoption Programme running from April 2026 to March 2030. Most hubs use existing facilities, with funding for expertise, shared testing, demonstration equipment, research and adoption support.[1][2]
Current position
Eight partnerships were selected on 9 October 2026. Their work covers healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, recycling and robotics in public spaces. Lincoln’s HARVEST initiative launched on 8 October; its dedicated test track remains a funded future facility.
The eight hubs
HARVEST — Lincoln: Led by the University of Lincoln from its existing Riseholme Park agricultural campus. The £7.1 million initiative will help farmers and food manufacturers trial robots in working conditions. A £500,000 robot test track is funded and planned.
SHARP — Newcastle: A £7.4 million surgical robotics initiative based around the existing Newcastle Surgical Training Centre. It will help NHS teams assess, train for and introduce robotic surgery.
Greater South West — Bristol: A £9.8 million partnership using facilities including Bristol Robotics Laboratory and the National Composites Centre. Industrial demonstrations, testing and business advice are planned, with wider services forecast for January 2027.
Milton Keynes: A partnership involving the existing Smart City Experience Centre and academic and business partners. Its work includes demonstrations and trials of autonomous vehicles, drones and other robots.
Hwb Llwybr Roboteg Cymru — Wales: A manufacturing partnership including Reeco Automation and RMGroup, helping businesses assess applications, test approaches and plan robotics adoption across several sites.
NORAH — waste and recycling: A £3.6 million initiative led by Kingston University with industry partners, planning robotics trials for sorting and handling waste. Installations at operational facilities are planned.
Yorkshire — Brighouse: A £3.67 million programme based principally around existing West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services facilities, with university and industry partners. It aims to help manufacturers adopt automation, including a target of at least 30 future deployments.
South Wales — Swansea: Led by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, drawing on existing facilities in Swansea’s SA1 Innovation Quarter to help businesses test robotics and explore practical applications.
April 2026 — national programme begins UKRI’s £52 million Robotics Adoption Programme begins, running to March 2030.
8 October 2026 — HARVEST launch The University of Lincoln launches its agricultural robotics adoption initiative.
9 October 2026 — eight hub partnerships selected The government announces the partnerships receiving £40 million within the wider programme.
2027–2030 — planned services and deployments The partnerships will expand trials, training and support. Robotics can help organisations carry out difficult, repetitive or precise work; access to test facilities and advisers will let them evaluate equipment before investing.
Eight partnerships have been selected as Robotics Adoption Hubs under a £40 million programme to help businesses and public services deploy robotics. They include the SHARP surgical robotics hub, Lincoln’s HARVEST agri-food hub and hubs serving manufacturing, waste and recycling, and robotics in public spaces. Support will include feasibility work, demonstrations, training and advice on choosing and integrating equipment. The announcement allocates support to named partnerships; the hoped-for gains in productivity and patient recovery remain outcomes to be demonstrated.