Swindon submits major innovation bid for drone cluster

Swindon Borough Council has joined forces with Brunel University of London to submit a significant bid to UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Local Investment in Partnerships Fund (LIPF) to help bring forward the cluster in uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), autonomy and defence technology.

A formal application has been prepared for a 60‑month programme designed to support the rapid growth of high‑tech manufacturing in the town.

Swindon already ranks among the most productive local economies in the UK, with the Borough delivering £12.7bn in GVA, providing the ideal conditions for the LIPF to support long-term, innovation‑led growth.

The LIPF bid will help address the financial challenges associated with creating an innovation cluster and will support a package of new facilities, including advanced manufacturing space and a programme to strengthen research and development activity across local businesses.

However, even if the bid is successful, the funding alone will not be enough to deliver the full ambitions of the partnership because of the level of infrastructure and specialist facilities required. The Council and Brunel University of London will continue detailed work with industry partners to develop a deliverable programme.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “Swindon has a long history of leading in innovation, and our emerging cluster in autonomous and uncrewed systems has the potential to play a major role in the UK’s future industrial strength. We are committed to doing everything we can to support this opportunity for high‑skilled jobs and long‑term economic growth.

“Submitting this bid is an important step, but it is also clear that this is a highly technical and complex programme which requires strong partnership working across industry, academia and government. We want to give Swindon the best possible chance to secure investment in a sector where we are already gaining national attention.”

Professor Geoff Rodgers, Pro Vice Chancellor (Enterprise and Employment) at Brunel University of London, said: “Brunel University of London is proud to be working with Swindon Borough Council to accelerate the UK’s leadership in uncrewed systems and advanced manufacturing.

“This partnership brings together world-class research, innovative industry and regional ambition to drive high-skilled jobs, sovereign capability and long-term economic growth.”

Recent investment has already seen major employers expand in the town, including TEKEVER, which is investing hundreds of millions of pounds in the UK’s largest drone production facility, and STARK and Flyby Technology, who have also established large manufacturing sites for autonomous systems. Last week, US-based company Neros Technologies also announced a £10m investment in the town.

The partnership will make use of the world‑class testing and development facilities at the Satellite Applications Catapult’s Westcott site and the Science Museum Group’s Science & Innovation Park at Wroughton.

Together with the Harwell Drone Test & Development Centre and the wider London-Oxford-Reading-Swindon-Bristol/Cardiff innovation corridor, these assets would allow research, prototyping, manufacturing and operational testing to take place within a single region.

The programme also aligns strongly with the UK Defence Industrial Strategy, which emphasises sovereign capability, regional clusters and supply‑chain resilience.

A decision on the LIPF application is expected in the coming weeks.