Skip to main content

UK set to lead the way for smart cities

Government, cities, businesses and universities are joining forces to make sure the UK is leading the global race to develop smarter cities. A new forum led by government, will see local authorities and businesses working together to ensure that growth opportunities are not missed in a market estimated to be worth more than US$400 billion globally by 2020. The Smart Cities Forum, co-chaired by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts and Cities Minister Greg Clark, will develop plans to support t
January 20, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Government, cities, businesses and universities are joining forces to make sure the UK is leading the global race to develop smarter cities. A new forum led by government, will see local authorities and businesses working together to ensure that growth opportunities are not missed in a market estimated to be worth more than US$400 billion globally by 2020.

The smart Cities Forum, co-chaired by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts and Cities Minister Greg Clark, will develop plans to support the creation of smarter cities in the UK. smart cities have the potential for businesses to plan efficient routes to transport goods, allow local authorities to create effective public health services and provide the public with access to real time data so they can plan their daily activities.

David Willetts said: “There is huge potential for the UK to be the world leader in smart cities. We are well placed to take advantage of up to a $40 billion share of the market place by 2020, so we must make sure we do not miss this opportunity. The new smart Cities Forum will bring the best minds together on a regular basis to establish a clear plan to exploit the exciting technologies that we have at our disposal.”

He went on to say that the UK Government is already investing in the development of new technologies to support this sector. US$82 million is being invested by the 2231 Technology Strategy Board in a Future Cities Catapult in London that will support businesses looking to commercialise their products and get them into the market place.

The Technology Strategy Board is also investing US$39 million to create a future cities demonstrator in Glasgow. The city will demonstrate how new integrated services across health, transport, energy and public safety can improve the local economy and increase the quality of life. It will also allow UK businesses to test new solutions that can be exported around the globe.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Smoothing out city freight movements
    May 28, 2014
    David Crawford welcomes a national first. Urban freight movements, while commercially and socially vital, are a growing logistical headache for planners and people alike. Figures from France’s Lyon Laboratory of Transport Economics indicate that goods transport in major urban areas accounts for: 20% of traffic; 35% of CO2 emissions made by all urban trips; and 50% of the diesel used; while final km delivery runs account for 20% of the total cost of the transport chain.
  • UK government provides cash for EV chargepoints
    August 1, 2013
    Hot on the heels of committing an extra US£760 million to drive forward the market for ultra low emission vehicles, the UK Government has made an extra US$56 million available to offset the cost of installing infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles (EVs). Money will be made available to dozens of local authorities, National Health Service trusts and train operators to provide charging points on their property and town and city streets. Transport minister Norman Baker commented: “With hundreds of new
  • New technology revolution in urban traffic control?
    January 26, 2012
    Urban traffic control is a well-defined and practised art. Nevertheless, there are technologies here and on the horizon with the potential to revolutionise how we do things. By Gavin Jackman and Andrew Kirkham, TRL, and Jason Barnes. Distributed monitoring and control of urban traffic networks and flows is nothing new. PC-based Urban Traffic Control (UTC) is now well established and operating in many locations around the world. However, it is worth considering the effects of the huge growth in the use of sm
  • The successful road to congestion charging
    September 19, 2024

    City authorities all over the world are finding that, for congestion charging schemes to work in shifting urban commuters out of their cars, there must be reliable alternative modes in place. “Notable schemes including Singapore ERP, London congestion charge, Stockholm congestion tax and HOT lanes in the US have proved that congestion charging is a necessary next step to encourage travellers to use public transport,” says Zeina Nazer, co-founder of Cities Forum (pictured). “Dubai RTA Salik toll was implemented in 2007, with Dubai Metro implemented in 2009.