Robots and driverless vehicles spotlight Lincolnshire’s tech ambitions
Futuristic exhibition positions county as a global leader in innovation
In a display of technological innovation, Lincolnshire Showground hosted a futuristic exhibition featuring robots, driverless vehicles, and aspirations for space exploration, positioning the county as a global leader beyond its rural image.
Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns set the tone, arriving on stage via a driverless bus—symbolizing the county’s potential future of public transport. She praised Lincolnshire being a leading county in Agricultural technology and how this is impacting our area.
She said: "If you speak to farmers in agricultural technology, they can't always afford the workers. So if we can ensure we are leading the way in ag- tech it's going to benefit our farmers".
Highlighting Lincolnshire’s potential alongside existing strengths in agriculture, aviation, and energy, Dame Jenkyns noted: “We can show people we’re not just a rural county, we’re a world leader."
Speaking about her ambitions for the future of Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns said: "I want to build a space centre here, I want to ensure we have the best defence technology in AI but most importantly it's about growth".
Her vision includes adapting smart city concepts like AI and automation, inspired by experiences from tech-forward cities in Texas, to Lincolnshire’s rural landscape.
The driverless vehicles at the event offered visitors rides around the Showground, a preview of transportation advances soon expected to extend across the county.
With a dynamic exhibition including dancing robots and traditional businesses, the county’s global aspirations attracted delegates from 12 countries, including the USA, Taiwan, Poland, and Bangladesh, seeking to "sell Lincolnshire" internationally.
“We might be a rural county, but our ambitions are global,” Dame Jenkyns emphasized.
The event featured notable figures, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss and Newark Reform MP Robert Jenrick, underscoring the high-profile nature of Lincolnshire’s evolving role in technological advancement.