THE UK Government has awarded Argyll and Bute Council funding of more than half a million pounds to trial new drone operations to take medicine to patients in minutes instead of hours.
The investment, building on pioneering procedures previously rolled out across the region, is part of Whitehall’s drive to cut red tape to revolutionise public services.
The award of £508,193 is designated to trial what is called new standards for “beyond visual line of sight” drone operations over longer distances than those currently allowed.
In hard terms, it is designed to test delivery of medicine in minutes instead of hours to the islands of Argyll and Bute.
The funding is being delivered through the RegulatoryInnovationOffice (RIO).
A new report published by the UK Government suggests the drone delivery sector could be worth £45billion by 2030.
The UK Science and Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, said: “Every day across the country new products are being invented that have the potential to transform lives and revolutionise public services.
“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.
“That’s why we’re backing our regulators to work together with industry, to make the rules fit for purpose, and unlock breakthroughs that will deliver national renewal by driving our economy forwards faster, easier, and safely.”
Delivery by drone is not a new concept in Argyll and Bute, but this latest funding award will enable the council to go further than before, taking the region to the forefront of this airborne technology sector.
With the opportunity to learn and study from this award, what functions best here could then be rolled out across Scotland, particularly into the most remote sectors oftheHighlandsandIslands, as part of the continuing desire of the RIO team to enhance lives.
