UK Government announces a £530,000 boost for experimental drones in Argyll and Bute  

The UK Government has announced a funding boost of £530,000 to support Argyll and Bute Council in developing specialist drones used to cut the delivery times of essential medicines on the islands from hours to minutes. 

The funding comes as part of an £8.9m announcement to “transform lives and revolutionise public services” through investment in groundbreaking public service technology.  

The project will provide funds to 16 projects around the UK, empowering them to “cut through” the “outdated red tape” that the government claims is holding back innovation.  

In Argyll and Bute, the drones will use experimental beyond-visual line of sight (BVLOS) technology that allows operators to fly the drones outside of their line of sight. This innovative technology will allow operators to reach new areas on the islands that would have been inaccessible to them in the past. 

“Every day across the country new products are being invented that have the potential to transform lives and revolutionise public services,” said Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. “But all too often, we are held back from taking advantage of them by red tape that simply hasn’t kept pace with the scientific and technological advances.” 

The project will be delivered by the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), an office in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that focuses on removing barriers to innovation in the UK.  

The funding will support a range of projects around the UK, from an AI smartphone app to help the London Fire Brigade to risk-assess homes and businesses to street-sweeping robots in Milton Keynes.