CRADLE Prosperity Partnership

The Centre for Robotic Autonomy in Demanding and Long-lasting Environments (CRADLE) is a £10 million initiative that bridges academia and industry in robotics and AI for critical mission industries. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), The University of Manchester, and Amentum (formerly Jacobs), the programme delivers robotic deployments and demonstrations to stakeholders in sectors such as infrastructure (e.g., roads, railways), nuclear, space, and healthcare.

As the Academic and Technical Project Manager of CRADLE, I lead teams from the university—including academics, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students—in collaboration with subject-matter experts from Amentum. Together, we use our unique IdEAs methodology to create a nurturing environment where academia and industry engage with challenge holders in robotics and AI. This approach drives concept development, technical sprints, and technology deployments that benefit multiple sectors.