RIO to cut regulations in robotics and defence tech sectors
The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), set up by the government to streamline and improve existing regulatory bodies, said it would be slashing red tape holding back the development and deployment of robotics technology.
RIO said on Friday that robotics and defence technology are its new priority areas, in hopes that by speeding up the approval and deployment of these technologies, significant benefits will be felt in critical areas.
Highlighting the use of robotics in surgery, wind turbine inspection and autonomous vessels patrolling British waters, RIO said that by removing “outdated and complex regulations”, the impact could be enormous.
The regulatory framework faced by businesses developing robotics has been described by the government as unnecessary, with firms having to navigate multiple bodies for approval. Autonomous drones, for instance, require approval from bodies concerned with aviation, data protection and sector-specific rules depending on how the drone will be used.
RIO said it will streamline overlapping requirements to increase the speed of bringing these technologies to market.
“British innovators shouldn’t be held back by needless red tape. We have world-leading robotics and defence tech firms, but regulations haven’t kept pace with their innovations,” said Minister for Digital Economy Liz Lloyd.
“We’re updating the rules so they work for modern technologies, cutting the barriers that stop these firms from growing and competing globally.”
The government has claimed that wider adoption of robotics could add £150bn to the UK economy.
The regulatory overhaul will also impact the approval process for military technology.
“When we said we would make it easier for defence firms to innovate we meant it,” said Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard.
“By cutting red tape, we’re delivering on the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to fast-track the military equipment our forces need.
“We want the UK to be one of the best places in the world to start and grow a defence business – making defence an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK.”
