INSIGHTS / News

SETsquared Surrey and Scale-Up Programme graduate RoboK has secured £1m UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding for a project to deliver an industry-first artificial intelligence safety and efficiency solution for UK ports and warehouses.

The funding has been awarded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund as part of a £32m initiative to accelerate productivity across high-growth industries. It aims to help lower the barriers to AI adoption within the logistics sector by prioritising transparency, data security, and user trust and is poised to set new benchmarks in AI-driven safety and efficiency for the UK’s logistics and transport sectors.

Cambridge-based RoboK is a computer vision start-up with a mission to transform industrial sites into safe and efficient environments. The project, named PALLETS, short for Proactive AI-powered solutions for Logistics Efficiency, Transparency and Safety and brings together unique expertise from key partners: Astron Fire & Security, Freeport East, Port of Dover, The Finishing Line, The University of Essex, and The Bristol Port Company.

Together, the consortium is seeking to tackle significant industry challenges, including hazard detection and operational bottlenecks, in a secure and trusted manner.

Hao Zheng, founder & CEO of RoboK, commented: “PALLETS aligns perfectly with RoboK’s vision to create safer and more efficient industrial workplaces. We are honoured to collaborate with key industry partners on a project of such strategic importance to the UK economy.”

Steve Beel, CEO of Freeport East added: “Freeport East is delighted to be involved in PALLETS. This demonstrates our role as convenor, making linkages to progress innovative applications and technologies in the ports and logistics sector.”

Robok was supported by  SETsquared Surrey and took part in its ERDF-funded Digital Business Acceleration Hub. The company also received support from SETsquared’s Scale-Up Programme, which ran from 2018 to 2022 and helped its 400 members raise £72m in collaborative R&D funding.