A new £3.67 million robotics hub is set to drive industrial automation and transform manufacturing.
Based in Yorkshire and led by the University of Bradford, the Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub aims to help manufacturers adopt robotics and automation technologies, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The project has secured £2.75 million in funding from Innovate UK and will run for 42 months.
Professor Ben Whiteside, principal investigator and director of the Institute of Digital and Sustainable Futures at the University of Bradford, said: "Yorkshire has one of the strongest manufacturing bases in the country, yet too many businesses still struggle to move from interest in robotics to successful deployment.
"The challenge isn't that companies don't want to automate.
"The challenge is that many lack the time, expertise or confidence to take the next step."
The Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub aims to engage more than 300 manufacturers, deliver 80 feasibility studies and support at least 30 robotics deployments.
It brings together the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services (WYMS), the University of Huddersfield, Olympus Technologies, and a wider network of industry partners.
Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, pro-vice-chancellor for research, innovation and global engagement, said: "Universities play a vital role in translating innovation into economic impact.
"This hub is a powerful example of how research expertise, industry knowledge and regional collaboration can come together to solve real-world challenges, helping businesses grow, improving productivity and supporting the industries of the future."
From left: Adam Swallow, Managing Director of Olympus Technologies and Gavin Jamieson (Olympus Technologies), Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services, Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Professor Ben Whiteside and Jing Li from the University of Bradford (Image: University of Bradford)
The UK currently operates around 104 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, well below the global average of 177.
The hub will help businesses move from initial interest in automation through feasibility, business case development, and supplier selection to full deployment.
Professor Andrew Longstaff, research director at the University of Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision Technologies, said: "The Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub will bring together expertise from industry and academia to help businesses make informed decisions and adopt solutions with confidence.
"By accelerating the uptake of proven robotics and automation technologies, we can strengthen productivity, resilience, and competitiveness across the region."
The hub will operate throughout Yorkshire, with a focus on the M62 and M1/A1 industrial corridors.
It will be based at WYMS and supported by a network of demonstrator sites.
A spokesperson said the programme is expected to deliver economic benefits beyond the value of the grant by building a sustainable pipeline for wider adoption of automation technology.