MTC and University of Birmingham Launch West Midlands RAS Cluster

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 46 seconds

Investment

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Quick Read: The MTC and the University of Birmingham have launched the West Midlands RAS Cluster to enhance the UK's robotics capabilities and improve its global ranking in robot density.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the University of Birmingham have launched the West Midlands Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) cluster. This initiative aims to enhance the UK's robotics and automation capabilities, intending to connect communities and increase the use of RAS across various industries.

Professor Mike Wilson, Photo Credit: MTC

Professor Mike Wilson, Chief Automation Officer at MTC, emphasised the significance of this initiative:

“Establishing the UK’s first regional RAS cluster will bolster crucial technology and support growth potential. Our goal is to improve productivity and competitiveness in the West Midlands, creating highly skilled and well-paid jobs. Our collaboration with the University of Birmingham will attract other businesses and universities to engage with younger generations, promoting RAS deployment and improving the UK’s global ranking in robot use.”

Robotics is a key technology that supports productivity growth, sustainability, and security by reducing dependence on international supply chains. According to the IFR World Robotics 2023 report, the UK currently ranks 25th globally in robot density within the manufacturing sector. The Made Smarter Review report (BEIS 2017) highlighted that adopting robotics in UK manufacturing could add £184 billion over ten years. Despite significant investments, there remains considerable untapped potential within the UK's robotics supply chain, especially in system integration. If UK automation levels matched those of the most automated countries, productivity could rise by an impressive 22.3%.

RAS technologies are critical to the future success of UK industry. While the UK lags behind competing nations in RAS progression, current investments aim to bridge the gap between academic developments and industrial implementation, potentially adding up to £150 billion to UK industries.

Denmark, which established the original RAS cluster in Odense, serves as a benchmark. Ranked 12th globally in robotic density, Denmark has over 300 companies in the sector, employing 8,500 people with a turnover of €2.4 billion. Despite having no automotive or electronics sectors, Denmark's successful robotics industry demonstrates the potential for the UK.

By adopting a regional cluster approach similar to other countries, the West Midlands RAS cluster is the first step in creating a network of clusters based on existing resources and facilities. The MTC and University of Birmingham are leading this initiative in a region already rich in RAS expertise, with multiple leading universities, High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres, and prominent robot suppliers and users. The cluster aims to unite all stakeholders interested in RAS to drive technological development for the benefit of the West Midlands.

Businesses within and beyond the West Midlands can collaborate with the MTC to harness the potential of Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun