Buckinghamshire commits £4.25M to drone and Bosch innovation hubs

What's the deal? Buckinghamshire Council is releasing £4.25 million from its Growth Fund to back two innovation sites: £2.25m for the National Autonomy & Drone Innovation Centre (NADIC) at Westcott, and £2m for the Robert BoschDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Denham. It is the fund's first major investment.

Why now? The Buckinghamshire Growth Fund was set up after the former Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership's functions transferred into the council. It draws on income generated by the county's three Enterprise Zones, earmarked for reinvestment in long-term economic projects.

What's the endgame? The council wants to strengthen Buckinghamshire's position in emerging technologies and create skilled jobs. Westcott is one of only three specialist drone development sites in the UK, covering testing, development, and deployment of autonomous and drone technologies.

The Bosch project plan includes a new campus, a training suite for 6,000 learners a year, and a 400-person auditorium open for community use.

What changes for the county? Beyond jobs, leader Steven Broadbent flagged direct uses for residents. Drone technology could help the council monitor roadworks, inspect infrastructure, and gather data to inform decisions, he said.

Broadbent stressed the money is ringfenced. "This funding is dedicated to economic growth and investment activity and is not money diverted from day-to-day council services," he said.

The signal: "This is not simply investment in individual organisations, it is investment in Buckinghamshire's ability to compete nationally in the industries that will shape future growth," Broadbent said — a bet that local drone and advanced-technology sectors can anchor the region's economy.

Read more: Buckinghamshire Council

Image credit: University of Essex