University leads partnership awarded up to £20 million to grow South West's thriving autonomous sectors

The funding will enable increased research and development into technologies that can be deployed on land, at sea and in the air

University leads partnership awarded up to £20 million to grow South West's thriving autonomous sectors

The funding will enable increased research and development into technologies that can be deployed on land, at sea and in the air

Mr Alan Williams

Media and Communications Manager

Corporate Communications (Marketing and Communications)

2 April 2026

The South West has been awarded up to £20 million in UK Government funding to enhance its reputation as one of the world's best places to develop, test and deploy autonomous technologies.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has today confirmed that the region is one of six across England and Wales that will receive additional funding through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.

For the South West, the funding will enable increased research and development into technologies that can be deployed on land, at sea and in the air which ultimately result in it becoming home to a Global Autonomy Cluster.

Led by the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council, the partnership draws together innovative and cutting-edge organisations and facilities that span Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

Designed to build on the South West's strong defence and marine expertise, it is envisaged the funding will make it easier for businesses to trial new systems safely by improving access to the region's unique assets.

These include the Lulworth ranges and BattleLab in Dorset, Predannack and the National Drone Hub in Cornwall, the Appledore Maritime Innovation Centre in Devon, South West Future Flight Innovation Zone in Somerset, and Smart Sound Plymouth, all of which can be used by the armed forces in addition to those developing dual-use autonomous innovations.

It will also focus on cutting through regulatory barriers, supporting business innovation and accelerating business growth by creating high-quality jobs, driving new investment into the region, and supporting sovereign capabilities.

The announcement builds on Plymouth's status as the UK's National Centre for Marine Autonomy and one of five locations supported through the £250 million Defence Growth Deal programme, leading to a programme of work being driven through the Team Plymouth consortium.

Those high-profile designations are already delivering benefits at the regional and national level, but the vision is for this new funding to elevate the region's ambitions to be a global powerhouse at every level of the autonomy sector.

Over recent years, we have seen rapid expansion across the autonomy sector, in terms of technologies and applications as well as economic opportunities.

However, the demand for autonomous systems and solutions is only going to increase and meeting that demand will require collaborative working across industry, innovation, academia and government. This funding will enable every part of the South West to build on its existing expertise in autonomous systems covering land, sea and air. And, working together, our vision is for it to become the world's foremost region in the global autonomy market, driving transformational growth in autonomous systems that have wide-ranging defence and dual-use applications.

Mr Adrian Dawson
Director of Strategic Project Development

It is a tribute to the pioneering spirit in every corner of our country that we are backing nations and regions across the UK to advance innovation in everything from defence to AI and clean energy to space tech. In the South West, this funding will help take autonomous technologies such as drones to the next level, building on local expertise to create jobs and drive growth. By working with local leaders, researchers, and businesses, we can unleash transformational research and products that improve lives.

The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Operated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund supports partnerships between local government, businesses and research organisations to harness local innovation strengths to develop practical solutions that create jobs and improve people's lives.

The partners will now work with UKRI to design projects which target this investment, helping to fast‑track ideas from prototype to market, back collaborative R&D, attract expert talent, and open up clear routes to investment and new markets.

The South West has long been home to world-class ingenuity and a proud tradition of delivering real impact from great ideas. UKRI is delighted to work with the South West Local Innovation Partnership as they accelerate bold plans to build on that legacy and drive the region's next wave of innovation led growth. By bringing together the region's researchers, entrepreneurs and civic leaders, we are strengthening the South West's distinctive capabilities and championing its ambition on the national stage. This major investment will unlock new opportunities, boost productivity and create the high skilled jobs of the future. We're excited at the prospect of achieving that together.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman
Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Land, Sea, Air

In 2025, we partnered with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to host Land, Sea, Air – a first-of-its-kind conference that brought hundreds of leading officials from the worlds of defence, autonomous systems, industry and skills to the South West.

Read more: Defence leaders and autonomy innovators gather in Plymouth for Land, Sea, Air conference

Mr Alan Williams

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Land, Sea, Air