The University of Lincoln has secured £4.8 million to lead one of eight new UK Robotics Adoption Hubs, selected from 74 applications.
Based at the university’s Riseholme Park Campus, the hub will help agriculture and food manufacturing businesses move robotic technology from research into everyday use. Companies will have access to testing facilities, specialist expertise and support with technical, commercial, regulatory and workforce challenges.
Robot testing and business support
The funding includes £500,000 for a dedicated robot test track at Riseholme, as well as investment in specialist staff and technical facilities. A further £1 million Acceleration Fund will help agri-food robotics businesses across the UK tackle specific barriers to adopting their products.
The project, called HARVEST, brings together the University’s agri-food robotics researchers with developers including Saga Robotics, Dogtooth Technologies, Dynium and JABAS AI. Food and farming partners include Cranswick, B-Hive Innovations, Dyson Farming Research and British Berry Growers.
The hub was launched during a visit to Riseholme by Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. It is being funded through Innovate UK’s Robotics Adoption programme and the UKRI IS8 Advanced Manufacturing Programme.
Why it matters for Britain
The hub gives UK agri-food businesses a place to test robotics before investing in wider adoption. That could support productivity, resilience and specialist skills across farming and food manufacturing, while helping British robotics developers work directly with potential customers.
