Written by Nathan Mathiot, Head of Policy, ADS

On 8 October 2024 the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched a new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO). First promised in the Labour manifesto, this office will be tasked with tackling regulatory barriers to innovation and driving economic growth through regulatory reform. ADS engaged closely with the Labour front bench on this earlier this year, setting out the need to drive market enablement through regulatory leadership, and warmly welcomes the launch of this new office and the commitment to further cut back red tape, potentially also through the upcoming Industrial Strategy.

In details released this week the Government outlined that the RIO will be tasked with supporting existing regulators to update regulations, speed up approvals, and promote coordination between different regulatory bodies, especially in areas where emerging technologies do not fit directly into existing frameworks. On this point four focus areas have mentioned, including connected and autonomous technology and space.

Against the backdrop of this year’s Space Regulatory Review, the UK space sector will be keen to see how the new RIO will work in partnership with existing regulatory bodies, agencies and departments (including the Civil Aviation Authority, OFCOM, Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence, and the UK Space Agency) to ensure that the UK can continue to compete on the international stage in a growing global space economy. In the run up to next year’s Farnborough International Space Show, industry will be particularly interested to explore how the RIO can improve the UK’s ability to regulate space to ensure a first mover advantage on new space technology opportunities and support the development of key sovereign space capabilities.

The RIO’s focus on drones is also to be welcomed, following on from the Future of Flight action plan released earlier this year. There is more regulatory work to be done to achieve routine drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and wider Advanced Air Mobility applications. The RIO must seize the opportunity to work in partnership with industry and in close coordination with the CAA to support the growth of a thriving future of flight industry in the UK.

The Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth can only be achieved if the UK seizes the opportunity to deploy new technologies at pace and scale. The RIO is an important step towards achieving this, though it must make sure to draw upon industry expertise to understand future technology pathways and existing barriers to growth.

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said: 

“We welcome the launch of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. 

This initiative is a crucial step in breaking down regulatory barriers and driving economic growth through innovation. The RIO’s focus on updating regulations and promoting coordination, especially in emerging technologies like space and advanced air mobility, will help the UK stay competitive globally. 

We look forward to collaborating with the RIO to unlock new technology opportunities and support the growth of key industries.”