Written submission from DJI (IND0027)

Business and Trade Committee Industrial Strategy call for evidence

Submission from DJI

1. What Industrial Strategy will maximise economic growth, productivity and good, high-skilled jobs across the UK, how the Government’s plan measures up to this design – and how the Government should best measure progress?

The Government should utilise a data-driven, consultative approach to identify high-priority subsectors, focusing on sectors where drone technology and similar innovations yield transformative outcomes in economic growth, productivity, and sustainability. DJI suggests leveraging comprehensive data from industry research, such as PwC’s projection that drones could add £45 billion to the UK economy and estimates that 650,000 jobs could be associated with an economy that fully adopts drones. The analysis should assess criteria including: 

• Economic Impact Potential: Sectors with high-value productivity gains (e.g., agriculture and logistics) could deliver immediate and quantifiable economic benefits. For instance, agriculture benefits from precision farming, which could enhance productivity by £6.1 billion, while logistics could see annual cost reductions of up to £1.2 billion through last-mile drone delivery. 
• Environmental and Sustainability Goals: Sub-sectors where drones can directly contribute to carbon reduction align with the UK’s net-zero objectives. Drones used in agriculture can decrease fertiliser use by 20%, significantly reducing the environmental footprint. Similarly, the reduction in road transport for last-mile delivery lowers emissions and traffic congestion. PwC estimates that drone adoption could deliver net cost savings of £22 billion and reduce carbon emissions by 2.4m tonnes. 
• Public and Worker Safety Improvements: Sectors where drones mitigate health and safety risks (e.g., construction and emergency response) should be prioritised. Drones minimise the need for human intervention in hazardous environments, such as infrastructure inspections and disaster zones. For example, in February, a major fire broke out at the MCD Carpets facility in Kidderminster. The West Midlands Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team partnered with the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to quickly deploy DJI drones on site. The drones were able to see through smoke to detect hotspots with thermal imagery and capture the scale of the blaze, helping inform real-time decision-making and keep firefighters safe. 

To operationalise this approach, the Government should form a cross-departmental task force incorporating insights from industry leaders, government stakeholders and technology experts. This collaborative model would help map each sector’s potential, revealing critical pain points, potential growth enablers and existing barriers to drone adoption.

3. What Industrial Strategy is required to deliver the Government’s carbon reduction targets set out at COP29, de-risk the economy from geo-political threats and close regional gaps in growth?

The Industrial Strategy can support the UK’s carbon reduction commitments while strengthening economic resilience. Drone technology significantly reduces emissions by minimising road transport in last-mile logistics and improving efficiency in sectors such as energy and agriculture. With drones reducing fertiliser usage by 20% and offering net carbon savings of 2.4 million tonnes, regulatory frameworks should be adapted to scale these benefits nationwide.

Further, integrating drones into the energy sector can enhance efficiency and safety. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can inspect wind turbines and power lines rapidly, minimising downtime and ensuring proactive maintenance. This capability reduces operational costs while supporting the UK’s clean energy transition. In remote regions, drones can deliver critical medical supplies and monitor environmental conditions, bridging regional inequalities and enhancing resilience against geopolitical supply chain disruptions.

Investment in drone infrastructure, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) corridors, can enhance supply chain security and reduce dependency on global logistics networks. By prioritising technological solutions in underdeveloped regions, the Government can stimulate balanced economic growth and create high-skilled employment opportunities outside of traditional urban centres, supporting the Government’s wider levelling-up agenda.

4. Whether the Government should prioritise economic sectors or ‘grand challenges’? If sectors are the right focus, has the government prioritised the right growth-driving sectors of the economy? What is the best design of industrial strategy for these sectors? How should the Government identify and invest in the sectors of the future?

While addressing grand challenges—such as climate change and digital transformation—is vital, sector-specific focus ensures targeted and effective policy implementation. The Government has correctly identified growth-driving sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy, but greater emphasis is needed on enablers like drone technology, which underpins multiple high-impact industries as outlined in our response to question 5.

An optimal Industrial Strategy would combine sector prioritisation with support for cross-cutting technologies. For example, drones facilitate efficiency improvements in agriculture, construction, and emergency services—industries critical to the UK’s economic and social infrastructure. The Government should establish an agile framework to identify emerging sectors based on technological advancements and economic potential. This would allow for the creation of targeted support mechanisms such as tax incentives, regulatory adjustments and funding initiatives to stimulate adoption and innovation in drone technology and other high-impact fields.

• Construction and Manufacturing: The construction sector benefits from drones through enhanced site management and hazard identification. Drones complete surveys up to five times faster than traditional methods, streamlining planning and improving on-site safety. In manufacturing, drones help with inventory management, quality control and facility inspection, optimising operational efficiency and reducing downtime. This sector could realise an £8.6 billion productivity boost by integrating drones into routine processes. For example, Balfour Beatty used DJI drones on the M4 Smart Motorway project to conduct aerial surveys, reducing survey time from days to hours and enhancing safety by minimising on-ground work near live traffic. The drones provided real-time data that improved project tracking and decision-making. 

• Energy and Utilities: For the energy sector, drones are vital for rapid and cost-effective infrastructure inspection and maintenance. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can pinpoint hotspots on power lines, wind turbines, and pipelines, significantly reducing inspection time and minimising service disruptions. With estimated productivity improvements of £2.9 billion, drones in this sector contribute to safer, more reliable infrastructure and reduced maintenance costs. At Hinkley Point C, DJI drones enabled Balfour Beatty to inspect hard-to-reach areas safely, using high-resolution and thermal imaging to track progress and identify maintenance needs. This approach reduced inspection costs and enhanced site safety by avoiding manual checks in hazardous zones. 

5. How should the Government approach economic sectors which have not been prioritised, including the foundational industries and supply chains that the growth-driving sectors depend on?

Growth-driving sectors rely on foundational industries and resilient supply chains. The construction sector, for example, benefits from drone-enabled site management and hazard assessment, reducing project timelines and enhancing safety. Manufacturing, logistics and public sector operations depend on efficient and modernised infrastructure, which can be significantly enhanced through drone integration.

To support foundational industries, the Government should introduce targeted incentives for SMEs to adopt transformative technologies, ensuring they remain competitive and contribute to national productivity. Expanding existing initiatives such as the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to include drone-specific applications will provide businesses with the resources needed to integrate these innovations effectively.

Additionally, we believe there is room for inclusion of other sectors, such as logistics and the public sector, which were not focused on as these are vehicles for success of the strategy and have room for improved innovation and efficiency, and therefore enable further economic growth.

• Logistics and Delivery: Drones are transforming last-mile delivery, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where traditional logistics are inefficient or costly. By reducing reliance on road transport, drones not only cut logistics costs but also lower carbon emissions. For instance, in delivering essential medical supplies to remote communities, drones offer a timely, eco-friendly solution that can reduce healthcare disparities. 

• Public Sector and Emergency Services: Drones enhance public safety by supporting police, fire and rescue operations. In emergency response, drones provide real-time aerial views for search and rescue missions, natural disaster response and hazardous materials assessment. They help emergency services make informed decisions, reducing risk to personnel and improving response times. Public sector adoption could achieve cost savings of up to £4.9 billion, increasing operational efficiency across diverse government services. The Welsh Ambulance Service is working with the University of Warwick and industry partner SkyBound – who use DJI drones – to explore the drone-based delivery of defibrillators. This approach is already used in Sweden and can allow the patient to receive potentially life-saving treatment before an ambulance arrives. 

6. What is the right balance of investment in ‘horizontal’ policy, such as skills, infrastructure, clean energy, and transport, and sector-specific investment?

A balanced approach is important, combining investments in horizontal policies—such as skills, infrastructure, and clean energy—with sector-specific initiatives. Expanding STEM education to include drone operation, data analytics and automation will create a workforce prepared for high-tech industries. Collaborations between educational institutions and private sector leaders should be encouraged to ensure that training programs align with industry needs.

Additionally, investment in shared infrastructure, such as drone testing corridors, will accelerate commercial adoption while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance. Public-private partnerships in technology hubs can serve as incubators for new applications, fostering innovation while providing structured pathways for regulatory engagement and policy evolution. Below we highlight our suggestions for areas of horizontal policy:

Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Regulations 

BVLOS capabilities are crucial for scaling drone applications in sectors like logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure, where drones can perform tasks over long distances without being directly observed. By establishing a clear regulatory framework that includes risk-based safety standards and an efficient approval process for BVLOS operations, the Government can accelerate sector growth. Streamlining approvals would allow drones to be used for real-time asset monitoring, large-scale delivery services and continuous surveillance in sectors where uninterrupted operations are beneficial. Introducing dedicated BVLOS corridors or designated zones for pilot testing and operational use could further support high-growth areas while ensuring public safety. 

STEM Education and Skills Development 

The long-term growth of the drone sector depends on a skilled workforce proficient in drone operation, programming, data management, and engineering. To build this talent pipeline, the Government should invest in drone-specific STEM programmes that foster these skills at the school and university levels. Existing programmes, such as CyberFirst and STEM clubs, should be expanded to include courses in drone technology, aerodynamics, and data analytics, providing hands-on experience. By working with technology leaders like DJI to design these curricula, the Government can equip the future workforce with critical technical skills, ensuring the UK remains competitive in advanced technology sectors. 

Public-Private Partnerships 

Collaboration between Government, industry leaders like DJI, and academic institutions can drive innovation, knowledge-sharing, and workforce training. These partnerships can facilitate pilot programmes that test new drone applications, gather data, and assess regulatory needs in a controlled setting. For example, partnerships could focus on testing drones for medical deliveries, remote infrastructure inspections, or environmental monitoring, where safe implementation can be evaluated and adjusted before full deployment. Such collaborations allow the public sector to benefit from private-sector innovations while the private sector gains insights into public needs and regulatory requirements, creating a supportive ecosystem for drone technology growth. 

8. How should the government modernise key institutions and ‘levers’ to support its industrial strategy, in particular to:

• Foster higher levels of innovation which diffuse more effectively through the economy.
• Make better use of public procurement.
• Mobilise equity investment and banking finance.
• Sharpen the spur of competition.

To support levers of the industrial strategy in planning, infrastructure, and transport for drone technology, several targeted policy solutions could accelerate adoption and stimulate regional growth through support of the drone industry and increasing drone adoption.

To foster a thriving drone industry, the Government could prioritise regulatory reforms that address barriers to innovation and support the safe, scalable integration of drone technology. For companies like DJI, which leads in advancing drone solutions across sectors such as logistics, public safety, and agriculture, a supportive regulatory environment is crucial for unlocking the full potential of technologies like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems. These targeted reforms—ranging from clear BVLOS frameworks to incentives for public sector adoption—will encourage investment, facilitate innovative applications, and solidify the UK’s position as a global leader in drone technology. 

Establish a Comprehensive Framework for BVLOS Operations 

There is transformative potential of BVLOS operations across sectors, but achieving this requires dedicated regulatory support. For sectors like logistics and public safety, where drones can optimise delivery and emergency response, a structured BVLOS framework is critical. Recommendation: Develop clear guidelines and risk-based regulations for BVLOS, supported by pilot programmes to test safety protocols and technology under real-world conditions. Regulatory bodies should work with industry stakeholders to establish designated airspace or corridors for BVLOS to enable longer-range applications. 

Expand Access to and Support for UTM Systems 

DJI’s role in developing advanced drone technology aligns with a need for UTM systems, which would facilitate the safe integration of drones into UK airspace. A comprehensive UTM could support sectors like energy and utilities, where drones inspect vast infrastructure networks, by managing multiple drones across shared airspace. Recommendation: Develop a national UTM framework that coordinates drone movements and integrates with existing air traffic control. This system would track drones in real-time, mitigate collision risks and accommodate more complex use cases, such as BVLOS and autonomous operations. 

Introduce Targeted Incentives for Public Sector Drone Adoption 

DJI drones are already used in public services, from emergency response to infrastructure monitoring, where they provide essential support for faster decision-making and enhanced situational awareness. Expanding public sector adoption would not only drive improved efficiency of public services but also encourage further innovation, as increased demand from government agencies could lead to tailored solutions, drive technological advancements and set higher standards for safety and reliability in public applications. Recommendation: Redistribute funding and policy support for public sector agencies to incorporate drones into essential services. This could include grants for emergency services to use drones for disaster response, environmental monitoring and routine inspections of public infrastructure.  

Streamline the Approval Process for Pilot Programmes and Innovation Trials 

DJI’s focus on innovation aligns with the need for a regulatory environment that fosters experimentation and real-world testing. Pilot programmes allow new applications—like last-mile delivery or precision farming—to be tested and refined before scaling, but existing approval processes can be lengthy and complex. Recommendation: Create a streamlined pathway for pilot programme approvals, allowing companies to trial new technologies quickly under close monitoring. A "sandbox" regulatory model, where companies can operate with regulatory flexibility within a controlled framework, would support innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of new drone applications. 

About DJI

DJI is the world’s largest civilian drone manufacturer, pioneering advanced drone technology and aerial imaging solutions that serve consumers, enterprises, and public bodies globally. In the UK, DJI has established itself as a key partner across multiple sectors, providing innovative solutions to government departments, local councils, police, fire, and rescue services, and other emergency services. DJI’s drones are actively used for critical public sector functions such as delivering medical supplies to remote communities, supporting the upgrading of road and rail networks, and supporting the operations of the police. DJI drones are used by a range of organisations, including the Met Police, London Fire Brigade, Police Scotland, National Rail, Heathrow Airport, and National Grid. Our commitment to the UK market is reflected in our collaboration with industry and government stakeholders to promote the safe and effective use of drones, driving economic growth, boosting productivity and delivering myriad benefits for citizens.