News
18th December 2024
Sunderland has made tremendous strides in its journey to becoming the UK’s smartest city, marked by innovative projects, prestigious award recognitions and significant advancements in both technology and community impact.
As the year draws to a close, here’s a roundup of 2024’s key highlights.
Sunderland has established itself as a frontrunner in smart city innovations, leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the lives of its residents and drive economic growth. Reaffirming its position as a national leader in smart city innovations, no less than The Times has crowned Sunderland the UK’s smartest city in a write-up on 24th November 2024.
This accolade underscores Sunderland’s commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of its residents and businesses. It’s not just about new technologies, but about creating a city where wellbeing and community thrive, and a place where no one is left behind.
Sunderland expanded its world-class digital infrastructure in partnership with Boldyn Networks, enhancing the city’s 5G and superfast Wi-Fi capabilities. This digital backbone supports groundbreaking projects in transport, healthcare and environmental monitoring, ensuring Sunderland leads in using data-driven solutions to improve residents’ lives.
Key projects across 2024 included:
In January 2024, Sunderland officially launched 22 Community Digital Health Hubs, a major milestone in the city’s Digital Inclusion Programme. These Hubs provide residents with access to free public Wi-Fi, digital skills training and devices, aiming to bridge the digital divide.
From helping individuals access services online to improving digital literacy, the now 23 Hubs have quickly become indispensable resources, connecting communities across the city. In the first ten months since opening, there were 465,000 visits to our digital health hubs. These people have gained access to digital tools and skills that in turn are opening doors to opportunities that were previously out of reach.
The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) project is marking a new era of urban transportation. The SAMS shuttle will operate on predefined routes in the city centre area, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable and efficient transport.
Equipped with advanced sensors and 5G connectivity, the shuttle ensures safe navigation and seamless operation while collecting valuable data to refine autonomous technology. The project exemplifies Sunderland’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing connectivity, further solidifying its place at the forefront of urban mobility innovation.
Spring 2025 will see this groundbreaking autonomous transport trial commence as we bring to life our vision of creating a forward-thinking, sustainable transport system early in the New Year.
In December 2024, Sunderland unveiled The Pavilion, home to one of the UK’s largest immersive screens. This state-of-the-art facility promises to be a hub for innovation, education and entertainment. The immersive screen supports cutting-edge visual displays, hosting events that range from interactive educational sessions to engaging cultural exhibitions and business showcases.
The Pavilion highlights Sunderland’s commitment to providing its community with world-class facilities that blend technology and creativity.
This year also saw the opening of Sunderland’s TechHub at The Beam, a cutting-edge facility designed to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship. The space provides local businesses, start-ups and tech companies with access to modern office facilities, digital equipment and collaborative spaces tailored for innovation.
The TechHub’s launch in May 2024 underscored Sunderland’s commitment to supporting its burgeoning tech ecosystem, providing a platform for businesses to thrive in a digitally enabled economy. By fostering collaboration and growth, the TechHub is a cornerstone in Sunderland’s strategy to establish itself as a digital leader.
Sunderland further solidified its role as a digital innovator with the Sunderland Open Network EcosysTem (SONET) project. SONET will use cutting-edge 5G technology to transform stadium experiences, enabling real-time data collection, live analytics and immersive fan engagement.
This groundbreaking project will leverage the power of advanced digital solutions, enhancing opportunities and spectator experiences. The potential of SONET extends beyond sports, serving as a model for leveraging technology to enrich entertainment, sports and community events.
In another groundbreaking move, Sunderland, Totalmobile, and Boldyn Networks announced a new project, in May 2024, aimed at transforming care services through the integration of advanced technology. This project focuses on supporting independent living and improving care delivery by harnessing data and technology to tailor services to individual needs.
From remote monitoring systems to assistive technologies that enhance mobility and safety, the project represents a significant leap in how care is delivered, making it more responsive and efficient. By combining cutting-edge solutions with Sunderland’s expanding digital infrastructure, the city is setting a new standard for compassionate, tech-enabled care.
Sunderland’s Digital Inclusion Programme, supported by Boldyn Networks, is at the heart of the city’s commitment to ensuring every resident, regardless of age, income or background, can thrive in the future.
This programme brings communities together by offering free digital skills training, access to devices and guidance on utilising digital tools to improve day-to-day life.
One of the standout features of this programme is its commitment to creating more opportunities for online engagement. The afore mentioned Community Digital Health Hubs are an extension of this effort. Sunderland’s proactive approach is closing the digital divide, empowering more residents to thrive in a connected world and ensuring no one is left behind.
The impact of this programme is tangible and includes:
As part of Sunderland’s commitment to closing the digital divide, August 2024 saw the launch of the Donate Devices campaign. This innovative project encourages residents and businesses to donate unwanted laptops, tablets and smartphones, which are then refurbished and distributed to individuals and families who need them.
By repurposing unused technology, the project not only supports those lacking access to digital tools but also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing e-waste. The project has already made a significant impact, enabling more residents to connect to vital services, education and job opportunities online. Sunderland’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity and sustainability highlight its dedication to building a truly smart and equitable city.
In August 2024, Sunderland introduced its free city app, a powerful digital tool designed to connect residents, visitors and businesses to the city’s vast array of services and events. The app offers users updates on public transport, access to local amenities and details of events happening across Sunderland. It also integrates with traffic camera’s giving users a real-time position of traffic flow in the city.
One of its most valuable features is its integration with Sunderland’s free Wi-Fi network, enabling seamless navigation and instant notifications for key services. From promoting local businesses to streamlining city living, the app reflects Sunderland’s commitment to enhancing convenience, connectivity and community engagement in the digital age.
The app has been warmly received by residents and visitors alike, showcasing Sunderland’s ability to combine smart city technology with user-friendly solutions that bring real social value.
Sunderland’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and community-driven solutions was recognised on a national stage in September 2024 when the city won the Community Improvement Award at the Connected Britain conference. This prestigious accolade celebrates Sunderland’s success in using digital innovation to transform lives and close the digital divide.
The award highlights Sunderland’s achievements, including the launch of its 23 Digital Health Hubs, the Donate Devices project and the development of numerous smart technologies that empower residents and businesses. Sunderland’s recognition at Connected Britain reflects its dedication to creating a smart city where everyone can thrive.
Expo Sunderland: Delivering the Future City in October 2024 was a celebration of enterprise, creativity and partnership, demonstrating how Sunderland is shaping its future with adaptability, resilience and inclusivity at its core.
Organised by Sunderland City Council, EXPO Sunderland serves as a platform for exploring innovative solutions to achieve net-zero goals and create a thriving, sustainable city.
November 2024 marked a significant step in Sunderland’s journey toward inclusive, technology-driven recreation with the installation of a YALP SUTU smart play wall at Seaburn Park. The interactive wall at Seaburn Park and Thompson Park which opened in 2023, combine physical activity with digital engagement, creating dynamic spaces that encourage play, learning and community connection.
The installation at Seaburn Park is part of Sunderland’s broader Smart Seaside Play Park project, which leverages cutting-edge technology to transform public spaces into hubs of activity. The YALP SUTU wall in particular, features a digital interface that responds to touch and movement, enabling users to engage in interactive games, challenges and educational activities.
This development reflects Sunderland’s vision of integrating smart solutions into everyday life, fostering stronger connections among residents, and creating vibrant, accessible public spaces for all ages.
In the year since the installation of the smart, interactive football wall at Thompson Park, it has become one of the most used football walls of its kind globally. Over the past year, the wall has accumulated nearly 1,200 hours of active playtime, averaging five hours of use per day on weekends – helping residents to have fun and stay active.
Representatives from Sunderland’s Smart City Programme team were proud to represent the city at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from 5th-7th November 2024.
This prestigious event brings leaders in urban innovation from across the globe together to shape the cities of tomorrow.
In a main stage session, Liz St Louis and Dawn Mason from Sunderland City Council shared insights into Sunderland’s unique approach to digital innovation and urban transformation. The session highlighted the city’s advancements in prioritising community wellbeing, creating vibrant and resilient communities and enhancing the safety and sustainability of the city’s environment. This appearance underlined Sunderland’s role as a global leader in smart urban development and its commitment to community-focused transformation.
As part of the event’s ‘City Spotlight’ series, Sunderland took centre stage to share its transformative journey. In a session hosted by the UK’s Connected Places Catapult, Liz St Louis discussed the city’s impactful public-private partnerships with Jeremy Spencer, Boldyn Networks and Lena Lundgreen, Microsoft. These partnerships have driven Sunderland’s progress, from a pioneering network of networks to a raft of digital solutions and interactive dashboards that enhance city management.
Sunderland’s ambitious vision for the future includes becoming a truly global smart city where technology fosters economic opportunities and enhances quality of life. Through strong partnerships and a forward-thinking approach, the city continues to set benchmarks for innovation, sustainability and inclusivity.
As the year drew to a close, it was an honour to welcome HM Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Rt Hon Peter Kyle, Secretary of State and Lewis Atkinson, MP to Sunderland on 12th December.
The event provided the perfect opportunity to showcase Sunderland’s incredible regeneration story, from Riverside Sunderland’s transformation into an urban centre of the future to the smart initiatives driving economic and social improvements across the city.
We look forward to welcoming many more visitors to Sunderland to see first-hand how our smart city is leading the way in digital transformation, leaving no one and nowhere behind.
For more information on Sunderland’s Smart City achievements and to follow their smart city journey, visit Sunderland Our Smart City’s main news page.