Research at RHC
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-24)

The Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) is an independent expert committee that identifies the implications of technological innovation.

Reports

The Governance of Engineering Biology - January 2025

This report sets out a framework for governing engineering biology as platform technology. This framework addresses the challenges surrounding the effective governance of products across a broad range of enterprises.

Read the report on the Governance of Engineering Biology (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-governance-of-engineering-biology)

The Future Regulation of Space Technologies - April 2024

This report explores how enabling regulation can support the responsible adoption of critical technology in space. The report puts forward recommendations to government paving the way for a sustainable future in space, ensuring environmental protection and fostering peaceful and equitable use.

Read the report on the Future Regulation of Space Technologies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-future-regulation-of-space-technologies).

Regulating Quantum Technology Applications – February 2024

This report, proposes developing a pro-innovation regulatory framework that can help retain domestic developers and investors, as well as attract those from abroad who seek regulatory certainty and want to develop their products responsibly.

Read the report on the Regulating Quantum Technology Applications (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-regulating-quantum-technology-applications).

The Role of Regulation in Supporting Scaling-up – January 2024

This report, as part of the Council’s ‘Closing the Gap’ Series, highlights the role of regulation in supporting businesses to scale in the UK. It provides recommendations and policy suggestions to Government on creating a regulatory environment that better supports the start-up and scaleup community.

Read the report on the Role of Regulation in Supporting Scaling-up (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-role-of-regulation-in-supporting-scaling-up).

The regulation of RAS in agriculture and horticulture - October 2023

This report suggests policy interventions on how the UK can support the adoption of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) in the agricultural and horticultural sectors through changes to the regulatory system.

Read the report on the regulation of RAS in agriculture and horticulture (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-unlocking-the-potential-of-robotics-and-autonomous-systems-ras-in-agriculture-and-horticulture).

The regulation of hydrogen fuel propulsion in maritime vessels - July 2023

This report makes recommendations on how the UK can promote the safe uptake of hydrogen fuel in the domestic maritime sector through changes to the regulatory system.

Read the report on the regulation of hydrogen fuel propulsion in maritime vessels (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-regulation-of-hydrogen-fuel-propulsion-in-maritime-vessels).

The regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a medical device - November 2022

This report makes recommendations about the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Medical Device.

Read the report on the regulation of AI as a Medical Device (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-regulation-of-artificial-intelligence-as-a-medical-device).

Neurotechnology regulation - November 2022

This report makes recommendations about the safe and rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read the report on neurotechnology regulation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-regulation-of-neurotechnology).

Closing the gap: getting from principles to practice for innovation friendly regulation - June 2022

This report makes recommendations on how the UK can further support innovation through regulation.

Read the report on closing the gap (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closing-the-gap-getting-from-principles-to-practice-for-innovation-friendly-regulation).

Drones regulation - November 2021

This report makes recommendations on how the UK can unlock the benefits of drones and support wider commercial deployment through regulation.

Read the report on the regulation of drones (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-the-regulation-of-drones).

Genetic technologies - September 2021

This report makes recommendations on how the UK can support innovation in genetic technologies through regulatory and non-regulatory changes.

Read the report on genetic technologies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-report-on-genetic-technologies).

Medical devices regulation - August 2021

This report makes recommendations on how the UK can encourage international investment, innovation and improve safety in the medical devices area through regulatory and non-regulatory changes.

Read the report on medical devices regulation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-report-on-medical-devices-regulation).

Fusion energy regulation - June 2021

This report provides several recommendations on how the UK can continue to move towards an innovation-friendly, long-term regulatory framework to support the rapid and safe introduction of fusion energy.

Read the report on fusion energy regulation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-report-on-fusion-energy-regulation).

Research and other publications

Closing the Gap Series overview

The Closing the Gap Series aims to provide actionable insights and foster collaboration on solutions to address regulatory challenges.

Read the overview on Closing the Gap Series (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-closing-the-gap-series-overview).

Evaluation of the Regulatory Horizons Council: findings from Tranche 1 - March 2022

A summary of findings from the evaluation conducted by the Regulatory Horizons Council into its first 4 deep dive projects.

Evaluation of the Regulatory Horizons Council: findings from Tranche 1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-regulatory-horizons-council-findings-from-tranche-1).

Evidence-based decision making framework - December 2021

This framework outlines the methods that the Regulatory Horizons Council uses to collect evidence and how it uses this data to form its recommendations.

Read the evidence-based decision making framework (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-based-decision-making-framework-used-by-the-regulatory-horizons-council).

RHC response to consultation on better regulation (October 2021)

Regulatory Horizons Council: response to BEIS consultation on reforming the framework for better regulation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-horizons-council-response-to-beis-consultation-on-reforming-the-framework-for-better-regulation).

Future of technological innovations and the role of regulation - August 2021

This paper captures opinions on the future socio-economic context within which technological innovations will be delivered from 2021 to 2030 including:
- how innovations might shape that content
- what could be done to bring about a preferred future
- how regulation can act as an enabler
Read the paper on the future of technological innovations and the role of regulation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-technological-innovations-and-the-role-of-regulation).

Horizon scanning - December 2020

The RHC conducted a horizon scan to capture a large selection of pan-economy innovations likely to come to market over the next ten years. This generated raw data of 542 emerging innovations, that were then prioritised.

The prioritisation of future innovations (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-prioritisation-of-future-innovations) describes an evidence-based approach to prioritising these areas of emerging innovations.

Call for input

Tell us about an area of regulation (relating to technological innovation) which you would like the Regulatory Horizons Council to investigate further by completing this form (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2CT-u_kWn1pKkmgeaxr6OnpUOVNQSTZDUFM4UkNGR0ZDUTNURFg1SDhFSi4u).