Belfast City Council is consulting on its new Smart Belfast Urban Innovation Framework 2022-2027 and is seeking views on its plans and proposals.
The framework is available as a PDF download or web page and you can share your views via the public consultation until 15 March 2022.
The ‘Smart Belfast’ framework aims to foster an environment that supports innovators from across local industry, our universities and the public sector to work better together in addressing Belfast’s major urban and economic challenges.
The framework sets out eight supporting ‘pillars’ that need to be in place in order for the city, collectively, to maximise urban innovation and contribute to Belfast’s growth and economic ambitions.
It also outlines the council’s own specific priorities for harnessing the potential of urban innovation. This includes their plans to establish a Belfast Smart District in the city centre that will enable industry, researchers, and government to rapidly develop and trial innovative solutions that directly address urban challenges associated with climate change, travel, health and the impact of new technologies across the Northern Ireland economy.
As part of the programme city partners propose to invest over £30 million in advanced digital infrastructure and to establish a £20 million urban challenge fund to encourage collaborative innovation, with funding provided by the Belfast Region City Deal.
For more information on Smart Belfast, visit https://smartbelfast.city