UK launches new smart cities forum

A new Smart Cities Forum was launched today by the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, against the backdrop of a new report highlighting how smart city technology can boost economies.

“The opportunity to develop new technologies for smart cities in the UK is massive,” said David Willetts, Minister for Science and Universities. “We want to make sure that we are at the forefront of this digital revolution so we can stay ahead in the global race designing new innovations in the UK and exporting them across the world.”

The report, Global market opportunities and UK capabilities for future smart cities, states that the smart cities industry by 2020 will be valued at more than US$400 billion globally, with the UK expected to gain a 10 percent share (US$40 billion).

“Smart technologies can help address some of the challenges of rapid urbanisation by improving services and managing their efficiency,” said Volker Buscher, Arup Director and Smart Cities Forum member, and author of the report. “We already have incredible academics and professionals in the UK so we are well equipped to capitalise on this growing market and help create a better environment for us all.”

Willets and Greg Clark, Minister for Cities, will chair the forum, alongside representatives from cities, business, and scientists. Over the last six months an advisory group has been working under the auspices of the British Standards Institution (BSI) including cities like the Greater London Authority, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Peterborough, Glasgow and Greenwich.

A wide range of firms including IBM, Capgemini, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Arup, Balfour Beattie and lesser well known and smaller firms also made up the advisory group.

A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson told Cities Today that many of these organisations will be invited to participate in the forum, although spaces are limited. The forum will aim to meet two to three times a year and organisers are considering a cloud-based approach to help members engage with the network.

The spokesperson added that there are a number of strong interest groups emerging, in particular from the Future Cities Catapult, the areas of work around Standards, managed by BSI, the Foresight Programme, UK Trade and Investment, and the activities of Government Departments.  Organisers hope that the forum will provide the mechanism for ensuring that efforts are better co-ordinated and that the UK can better exploit its smart city capability.