Smart Machines 2035: Addressing challenges and driving growth

The “Smart Machines 2035 Strategy,” developed by the Robotics Growth Partnership (RGP), outlines a comprehensive plan to harness the potential of smart machines to drive economic growth, enhance productivity, and address pressing societal challenges.

By 2035, smart machines – intelligent, semi-autonomous systems that integrate seamlessly into the physical world – are expected to revolutionise various sectors of the UK economy. 

Such machines will automate mundane and hazardous tasks, drive sustainable economic growth, and improve quality of life. From assisting the elderly and protecting natural ecosystems to advancing defence capabilities and supporting public infrastructure, smart machines will become indispensable.

The strategy envisions a future where smart machines are woven into the fabric of society, communicating and collaborating with our devices, AIs, and each other. They will embody AI that assists us in the physical world, freeing up doctors and nurses to spend more time with patients, making transport systems safer and more efficient, and driving innovation in manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.

Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Lord Patrick Vallance emphasised that robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) are “an important technology across the UK economy, enabling better, faster work in greater comfort and safety, while supporting humans to focus on more valuable, creative work.”

Economic growth: Smart machines represent a £150B opportunity

At a time when the UK Government is laser-focused on delivering economic growth, the potential of smart machines is staggering. If fully adopted, they could increase UK Gross Value Added (GVA) across sectors from £6.4 billion to a massive £150 billion by 2035.

This growth will stem from reduced costs, improved productivity, and the creation of new industries and jobs—boosting employment prospects.

However, the UK currently lags behind global leaders in industrial robotics adoption and smart machine deployment.

The strategy highlights the need for bold actions and investments to overcome perceived risks, regulatory hurdles, and conservative business practices that have hindered progress. 

Lord Vallance acknowledges the strides already made, noting that “Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) analysis has identified an active ecosystem with over 2,300 UK robotics companies, including in cutting-edge areas like self-driving vehicles, autonomous drones, surgical robotics, and vertical farming.

“This demonstrates an established and diverse base to build upon and grow into a more dynamic sector.”

Supply and demand

The strategy is built around two key goals:

• Supply – Developing the ecosystem of innovation and business: The goal is to make the UK a creator of thriving new smart machine businesses and solutions across regions and sectors. This will ensure the UK is home to world-leading science and engineering in smart machines, growing UK knowledge and skills to underpin employment and the economy.

• Demand – Driving adoption and uptake: The aim is to drive the adoption of smart machine technologies by public services, national infrastructure, and UK businesses across a range of sectors. This will deliver benefits in productivity, competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability for the economy, society, and national security. A regulatory framework that supports innovation and the ethical use of smart machines will also be created.

“The RGP’s work to date has played a crucial role in helping identify the opportunities and benefits from robotics,” said Lord Vallance.

Unlocking the potential of smart machines

To achieve these goals, the strategy proposes ten key recommendations:

1. Establish an Office for Smart Machines (OSM): This government body will stimulate demand through public procurement, joint industry projects, and financial incentives.
2. Expand regional smart machine translation hubs: These hubs will enable try-before-you-buy in “Living Labs,” proving grounds, and certification facilities.
3. Promote systems thinking and component reuse: The OSM and Translation Hubs will address opportunities in the government’s five Missions and eight Growth-Driving Sectors.
4. Support regulatory frameworks: The National UK RAS Regulations, Standards, and Ethics Committee will establish trusted kite marks for smart machines.
5. Encourage modularity and interoperability: The OSM will build on the work of the ARIA Expert Committee on modularity, interoperability, and common standards in robotics.
6. Create a centre of excellence: This will bootstrap and curate community development of open software and hardware tools.
7. Support regional translation hubs: These hubs will provide spaces for incubation of new businesses and accelerator-style business training.
8. Establish a £100m smart machines venture investment fund: This fund will increase the level of venture and Series A round sizes.
9. Launch a 10-Year smart machine research and innovation programme: This programme will support long-term scientific and innovation progress.
10. Create a national skills maintenance and development programme: This will ensure a pipeline of talent from technicians to specialist researchers and engineers.

The recommendations align with DSIT’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy, which Lord Vallance described as a plan to “deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high-growth sectors that will drive our growth mission.”

Lord Vallance also underscored that “DSIT is working closely across government to ensure that the Industrial Strategy builds on the existing strengths of the UK innovation ecosystem and recognises the significant growth opportunities that need to be captured in a forward-leaning Industrial Strategy.”

The growth flywheel: A self-reinforcing ecosystem

The strategy views the processes of supply and demand for the creation and deployment of smart machines as a flywheel. When conditions are right, demand and supply reinforce each other—creating an acceleration effect that underpins economic growth. 

The growth flywheel starts with customers from whom market requirements are obtained, leading to the development of fast and cheap prototypes, rapid and accurate validation, and ultimately, customer satisfaction. The government’s broader focus aligns with this view.

“At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced that the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the National Technology Adviser will lead a review of barriers to the adoption of transformative technologies,” explained Lord Vallance.

“We will carefully consider the recommendations you have put forward, alongside the ongoing cross-government Review of Technology Adoption.”

The Smart Machines 2035 Strategy is a bold roadmap to position the UK as a global leader in robotics and smart machines. It emphasises their potential to address pressing societal challenges, enhance productivity, and drive economic growth.

By placing people at the heart of technological change, the strategy aims to ensure that no one is left behind.

See also: GSMA fund boosts IoT and AI innovations in developing regions  

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Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, europe, government, internet of things, IoT, policy, robotics, robots, smart devices, smart machines, uk