The £10.4m contract will involve Interserve Construction in the development of specialist laboratories and testing facilities.

These will be used to investigate everything from driverless cars, to hospital robots, to ensuring that robots and artificial intelligence are safe.

The York Global Initiative for Safe Autonomy, based on the Heslington East campus, is expected to help strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in the safe introduction of advanced technology.

It will bring together industrial partners and world experts in the field, housing up to 100 researchers and support staff.

Work on the new building, which will include a rooftop lab and specialist robotics design and testing equipment, will start this month and is scheduled to finish in 2021.

The project develops a long-standing relationship between Interserve and the University of York having previously delivered a range of facilities including the Hull York Medical School, the £27m Piazza Learning Centre and the redevelopment of the Heslington campus.