BCC Launch 'Smart Belfast: Supporting Urban Innovation'

Belfast City Council has been working with city partners to develop a framework that seeks to build on the city's growing strengths in the digital sector to encourage greater innovative collaboration between businesses, universities and government.

The aim is to harness the power of data science and new technologies in order to tackle traditional urban challenges. It is hoped that this will also foster an environment in which businesses can experiment and build great products and services for twenty-first century cities.

To support these aims the Council and Invest NI have developed a Smart Belfast Collaborative Challenge. Aimed at SMEs the programme will provide support for Northern Ireland companies that want to enhance their competitive edge by working together to address challenges that Belfast and other cities are facing today. Initially, £25,000 will be available for up to eight networks seeking to explore innovation in urban transport, tourism, circular economy, healthy living or public estate management. Further funding may be available for those network proposals that have business growth potential.

Hosted by Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Nuala McAllister, and featuring contributions from leading urban technologists, the launch event will provide you with more details on the Smart Belfast framework, the five urban challenge areas, and the practicalities of participating in the challenge programme. There will also be a Smart Belfast marketplace providing opportunities for companies to network and showcase their digital innovations.

We believe this will be an exciting opportunity for those businesses seeking to innovate in the burgeoning Smart City market which most commentators agree is likely to offer substantial business development potential over the coming decade.

(MH)