The UK Government has set up a Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), aimed at making it possible for developers to take new products and services, including AI and digital in healthcare, to market more quickly.
Announcing the move, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), said this will include technology such as AI training software for surgeons and drones to quickly send critical deliveries to remote parts of the country.
It said RIO will incorporate the existing functions of the Regulatory Horizons Council and the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.
It support regulators to update regulation, speed up approvals and ensure different regulatory bodies work together smoothly. It will also continuously inform the Government of regulatory barriers to innovation, set priorities and provide support for regulators that align with the Government’s broader ambitions.
The launch follows an announcement at the weekend on investments aimed at transforming cancer treatments for patients while new UK made medtech products to the global market.
Four areas for growth
RIO’s mission will initially support the growth of four areas of technology, including AI and digital in healthcare. DSIT said this reflects the need to deal with increasing pressures on the NHS, helping hospitals to run more efficiently, enabling doctors to diagnose illnesses more quickly and possibly enabling the provision of more personalised medicines.
The new body will also support the healthcare sector in deploying AI innovations safely.
There will also be support the development of connected and autonomous technologies such as drones for delivering emergency supplies to remote areas.
The other technology areas are engineering biology and space.
DSIT said the cross-cutting nature of these technology mean they do not fit neatly into existing regulatory frameworks, which can slow down the process of getting them onto the market.
RIO will work cwith government departments including the Department for Transport, the Department for Health and Social Care, and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to address regulatory barriers in these initial growth areas.
It will also bring regulators together and work to remove obstacles and outdated regulations.
Core pillars
Announcing the initiative to Parliament, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the new office will have three core pillars of activity: knowledge, strategy and capability building.
The knowledge pillar will enhance our understanding of regulatory barriers to innovation, drawing on the work of the Regulatory Horizons Council.
To address the most critical barriers, the strategy pillar will set clear priorities for regulatory innovation, aligning with our missions and Industrial Strategy, whilst ensuring safety.
Through the capability building pillar, the RIO will work with regulators to ensure they have the necessary tools to achieve shared goals. For example, it will build on the work of the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to provide strategic grant funding to regulators supporting the responsible development of novel or experimental regulatory approaches and on the work of the Regulators’ Innovation Network to share skills and disseminate best practice among regulators.
Boosting new technologies
Kyle said: “The launch of the Regulatory Innovation Office, a key manifesto commitment, is a big step forward in bringing the UK’s most promising new technologies to the public faster and safely while kickstarting economic growth.
“By speeding up approvals, providing regulatory certainty and reducing unnecessary delays, we’re curbing the burden of red tape so businesses and our public services can innovate and grow, which means more jobs, a stronger economy, and a better quality of life for people across the UK.
“From breakthroughs that could help doctors diagnose illnesses earlier to satellite navigation for more accurate weather forecasting and getting emergency supplies to where they are needed, quickly and effectively, RIO will make sure UK companies are at the forefront of the next generation of technologies.”
Applications for the role of chair of the new organisation are due to open soon.
The section on the core pillars of RIO's work was added on 8.10.24 pm after the publication of the minister's statement to Parliament
