Published: January 16, 2026 at 8:39 am
Red tape that is holding back robotics and defence innovation in the UK is set to be reviewed under an expanded remit for the government’s Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO).
The watchdog, launched in October 2024, has named robotics and defence as new priority areas as it looks to tackle regulation it believes is outdated or duplicative and is slowing emerging technologies from reaching the market.
The RIO said it has already spoken to more than 150 businesses and is working on reforms across sectors worth more than £100 billion.