Robotics and smart machines could add £150bn to UK economy
27 April 2026 
The UK has a “significant opportunity” to lead the next wave of robotics innovation and deployment, according to a new report published by techUK, the organisation that champions the UK technology sector and helps to drive digital transformation.
Analysis from the Robotics Growth Partnership suggests that widespread adoption of robotics and smart machines could add up to £150bn in GVA (gross value added) to the UK economy over the next decade, as well as significant gains in productivity, job creation and international competitiveness.
The report, called Seizing the Robotics Opportunity, highlights how breakthroughs in AI, sensing technologies, computing power and advanced materials are converging to create increasingly capable, connected and autonomous robots. It adds that these are already beginning to reshape sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure, improving productivity, enhancing services and unlocking new business models.
The report says the UK must act now if it is to leverage its strengths in these technologies and turn this momentum into long-term growth. The report follows a five-month focus on robotics and automation in which techUK showcased the sector through roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking events and more.
Recent examples of UK robotics success stories include the Oxford-based autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa, which raised £77.2m in Series D funding last month to help it to commercialise its technologies which automate repetitive industrial driving tasks.
In the report, techUK highlights the opportunity to expand the use of robotics technologies – particularly among SMEs, where adoption remains at an early stage. With the right support, it says businesses can increasingly deploy proven, off-the-shelf technologies to boost efficiency and competitiveness.
The report argues that the key challenge is not innovation, but adoption. Many UK businesses, particularly SMEs, have yet to deploy robotics technologies. Accelerating adoption will be critical to improving productivity and ensuring the UK captures the full value of its strengths in robotics research, AI and innovation.
“The UK must double down on its areas of leadership and leverage these to support innovators, accelerate deployment and empower our most successful companies to scale and export,” says techUK’s head of emerging technology and innovation, Rory Daniels. “This report – put into practice through techUK’s new robotics programme – will equip industry and government with the tools and understanding necessary to achieve this mission.”
techUK: LinkedIn
