How Leeds City Region is leading Smart City tech
15 November 2018
Leeds City Region is transforming modern life through the development and implementation of smart technologies for the 21st Century and beyond.
A team of experts from some of the region's largest educational institutions, councils and businesses are joining forces at Smart Cities Expo 2018 in Barcelona this week. The aim is to position Leeds City Region as an innovation hub and a testbed for technology that can transform lives for the better. The international event attracts 20,000 attendees from over 700 cities.
The Leeds City region delegation includes representatives from a range of organisations including: Arup, Connexin, Department for International Trade, Konnektis, Incremental Solutions, Leeds City Council, Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (the University of Leeds), Munroe K, Shoosmiths, Sweco, the City of York Council and York St John University.
The digital sector contributes £6.5 billion to the City Region economy and employs 102,000 people. The delegation is aiming to open the world's eyes to the opportunities and talent in the UK's largest City Region outside London and the South East.
The delegation will deliver a series of presentations highlighting the smart cities capabilities of businesses based here and how the public sector is using these solutions for the benefit of residents. Bradford-based Konnektis will lead a talk about bringing a digital approach to the care sector. Leeds-based Citi Logik will lead a presentation about understanding movement by vehicle, foot and public transport using 3/4/5 G and Internet of Things technologies whilst the city of York City Council will explain the city's evolution of smart transport.
Raft of new investments
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership said: "Investor confidence is building with a raft of new investments secured due to our our thriving tech sector including Channel 4, Burberry, Perform Group and Hudl."
"Smart Cities Expo provides the perfect platform to demonstrate how the public and private sectors collaborate to improve the quality of life for our residents. The size of our 2018 Smart Cities Expo delegation shows the scale of our ambition and appetite to develop and embrace tech solutions for the challenges of our age."
Leading tech hub
Shoosmiths business advisory division partner James Wood-Robertson said: "We are delighted to join the delegation and support the Leeds City Region in its vision to become the leading tech hub in the UK."
"This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with leading global players on the Smart Cities stage, and to explore how the rest of the world is seeking to improving mobility, health and well-being, energy efficiency and general quality of life in our cities through technological innovation and collaborative working."
"Living and working in the region, we share Leeds City Region's ambitions to attract leading tech companies into our region and solutions to address the challenges that our towns and cities face to boost the regional economy and improve all of our lives."
"The delegation's strong presence at this event will only further raise the profile of the region as a leading national and global tech hub, and facilitate public and private sector investment in technology and infrastructure in our region."
International audience
Mark Howells, Founder and CEO of Konnektis, developer of a digital system that enhances home care said:"It's great to attend Smart Cities Expo with Leeds City Region for the second time."
"We started by running a successful pilot in Bradford and are now rolling out our system across Local Authorities. I look forward to sharing with an international audience how a digital approach can improve the quality of life for those who receive care."