Britain's push to rebuild its industrial base could center on two technologies: semiconductor manufacturing and drones.
That is according to the Financial Times, which reports that chip building and drones will be "at the heart" of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's drive to "reindustrialise" the country. The framing comes from the government's minister for AI, who said the technology would be "front and centre" in the effort.
The FT presents the comments as a signal of where political attention and, potentially, investment may flow as officials look to revive domestic manufacturing. Rather than a broad, sector-neutral approach, the emphasis on chips and drones points to a bet on advanced, high-value technologies as the engine of any industrial revival.
Beyond those headline priorities, the available reporting is limited. The sources do not detail specific funding figures, timelines, target locations, or named companies tied to the plan, and they do not spell out how the AI minister's remarks connect to concrete government policy or to Burnham's own devolved powers.
What is clear is the direction of the messaging: semiconductors, the tiny components that power everything from phones to data centers and AI systems, and drones, increasingly used across defense, logistics and industry, are being positioned as strategic pillars rather than niche interests.
Why it matters: how the UK chooses to "reindustrialise" will shape where jobs, factories and technology investment land in the coming years, and pinning that ambition on chips and drones suggests officials see advanced tech, not traditional heavy industry, as the country's path back to manufacturing strength.