Breakout:
UK–Canada Robotics for Growth & Security
This breakout invites UK and Canadian robotics innovators from industry, defense, research, and policy seeking to secure dual-use supply chains and support the development of trusted bilateral capability across aerial-, aquatic- and ground-based autonomous systems.
Hosted by:
Key Participants & Organizations:
- Gordon Baker, Robotics Policy Lead, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Government of United Kingdom
- Isabel Webb, Deputy Director for Technology Strategy and Security, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Government of United Kingdom
- Matthew Nancekievill, CEO, Ice9 Robotics
- Chris Prahacs, Senior Robotics and Systems Engineer, Oxford Robotics Institute
- Giacinto Barresi, Professor of Robotics, Bristol Robotics Lab
- Chaona Chen, Assistant Professor - Robotics, University of Sheffield
- Samuel Jette, Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada
- John Laughlin, CTO, NGen
Building Bilateral Capability
High-level structural foundations for Canada-UK collaboration in dual-use technologies are already established. In defense and security, the DRDC–Dstl–DARPA Trilateral Project Agreement promotes Canada-UK co-development, testing, and evaluation of trusted autonomous systems, counter-uncrewed aerial systems, and human-machine teaming in high-consequence operational environments. Concurrently, the UK-Canada Scientific Research and Innovation MOU provides a civilian framework to commercialize technology across shared priority areas including biomanufacturing, agriculture, critical minerals, ocean science, Arctic sovereignty, and artificial intelligence.
Building on these foundations, this session seeks to identify opportunities where future joint funding calls can successfully activate pre-existing and emerging robotics R&D relationships to enhance program uptake, while supporting long-term goals to enhance bilateral capabilities in autonomous systems.
Objectives
- Open the dialogue between both governments long-term strategic partnerships in dual-use robotics and autonomous systems that build on existing collaborations and areas of shared interest.
- Identify key secure supply chain gaps and discuss mitigation strategies.
- Identify potential market opportunities for SMEs.
- Share success stories for:
- Securing an innovation pipeline.
- Robotics adoption in society/markets.
- Identify opportunities to align funding and partnerships in shared priority areas, such as:
- Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires (joint Canadian Tri-Council and UKRI call)
- Dual use aviation technologies (UKRI call)
- The creation of Robotics Adoption Hubs (UKRI call)
- The creation of a Robotics Adoption Central Convening Body (UKRI call)
Expected Outcomes
- Shared understanding of national strengths in aerial/aquatic/ground robotics and autonomous systems and opportunities for bilateral partnerships.
- Identified areas for co-investment in robotics and autonomous systems to transform capability.
- Funding pathways for initial joint capability mapping efforts
Interested in our breakout sessions?
Register for the symposium today to gain access to all breakout tracks.
