Arup has invested in Singular Machines, a UK engineering automation start-up spun out of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
The strategic investment, alongside UKI2S, Oxford Science Enterprises and Miraisozo Investments, will support the development of coEngen – an agentic AI platform designed to automate complex engineering workflows while maintaining traceability, assurance and professional judgement.
Singular Machines was founded in 2024 and has grown out of the UKAEA and the UK fusion programme. Through the partnership, Arup will provide technical, commercial and strategic support, helping to shape and test coEngen using real-world engineering workflows, while also exploring future market applications.
The collaboration builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations, combining Arup’s practical engineering expertise with Singular Machines’ specialist AI and automation capability.
The companies said the aim is to help engineers work more efficiently, reduce repetitive tasks and enhance quality assurance across complex projects, while keeping engineering expertise at the centre of decision-making.
Michael Osborne, director for energy, water and resources at Arup, said: “Singular Machines is a startup with significant potential across the engineering and technology space. This investment will not only help drive productivity across our business, but also create exciting opportunities in fusion, robotics and automation, where Singular Machines brings deep technical expertise and specialist skills.”
Ian Lumsden, associate director for digital services at Arup, added: “We’re excited about this partnership with Singular Machines, bringing together Arup’s engineering and digital services expertise with cutting-edge AI innovation. Together, we have an opportunity to combine our shared technical and digital capabilities to transform how complex challenges are solved, unlock new insights and create lasting value for our clients.”
Adrian Van Arkel, founder and chief executive at Singular Machines, said: “The scale of engineering the world needs over the coming decades is enormous, and we cannot meet it by working the way we do now. coEngen takes the repetitive work off engineers, so they can put their time where their judgement counts. That builds the capacity to meet the demand, and it makes the work more rewarding at the same time.
“Arup brings some of the finest engineers and shares our belief that technology should serve the engineer, not replace them. Working with a partner of their standing puts us in the strongest position to shape coEngen for the demands of real engineering.”
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