Tech poised to transform global manufacturing to be developed in Scotland

US tech firm Launchpad Build has opened a research hub in Edinburgh to develop robotics set to revolutionise global manufacturing.

With a £2m fund from Scottish Enterprise, the site will work to develop the firm’s advanced robotics technology, named Digitool.

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, the project is expected to slash production costs and time to market as well as boost productivity by simplifying automation solutions.

The company chose Edinburgh ahead of five international alternatives after finding Scotland the most suitable place to take off internationally.

Chief financial officer Jon Quick said: “We see Scotland as our gateway to the UK, Europe and Middle East/Northern Africa. We’ve been hugely impressed by the quality of local talent, so much so that we’re exploring multiple ways to increase the scope and size of our Scottish operations and accelerating plans to bring the Digitool overseas.”

The project will fill a gap in the global robotics market and will help Scotland “reshore jobs from overseas,” Quick added.

He explained: “There are 500 million manufacturing and assembly jobs globally, but only 1.7 million robots doing them, which presents a huge opportunity. Historically the upfront costs associated with automation have been prohibitive for many, but we can deliver in half the time and at half the cost through the use of AI and machine learning.

“Instead of automation being a multi-million-dollar career defining decision it can now be a case of identifying the biggest problem in your factory – the job nobody wants to do – and automating it in a way that that seamlessly fits with your existing processes, creating savings from day one. As we look to the future more and more companies will need a blend of local labour and automation to remain competitive. That is the ‘secret sauce’ which will allow Scotland and others to reshore jobs from overseas.”

Business minister, Richard Lochhead, said: “New technology is key to unlocking huge economic potential and we are committed to supporting innovative companies in expanding sectors.”

In 2023, the robotics industry was valued at around $76bn and data analytics firm GlobalData predicts it will be worth more than $217bn by 2030.

Lochhead added: “Launchpad’s decision to open its new global R&D hub in Edinburgh shows Scotland’s attractiveness to global businesses, proving the nation has the skills and expertise to serve as a hub for innovation.

“This further enhances our ambition to be at the forefront of robotics development and testing. We’ve been working in partnership with the National Robotarium to develop a robotics cluster in this field, utilising Scotland’s globally renowned research institutions to accelerate growth and technological advancement.”