5GIR: Driving Innovation Across the North East

From creative digital experiences and sustainable farming to smart ports, connected transport and smart city infrastructure, the North East’s 5G Innovation Regions programme has demonstrated how advanced connectivity can transform places, services and industries.

Delivered between 2023 and 2026 through collaboration between North East local and regional authorities, universities and industry partners, the programme has positioned the region as a leading testbed for real-world 5G innovation.

Key Achievements

Innovation in agriculture: Connected sensors and environmental monitoring technologies have been deployed across working farms to support research and sustainable farming.

Connected transport trials: Connected traffic signal technology has been tested to improve bus reliability, measure air quality and explore future connected logistics corridors.

The UK’s first fully connected smart port: The programme supported development of the Port of Tyne’s private 5G network, enabling AI-powered monitoring technologies to deliver improved productivity, worker safety and site security

Cultural and digital innovation: Large-scale digital screens and interactive installations in Sunderland city centre have demonstrated how connectivity can transform public events.

Smart city innovation: Deployment of advanced 5G-enabled CCTV across Sunderland city centre has improved public safety monitoring and provided new insights into crowd movement.

Find out more about our project impacts

Looking Ahead

Although the 5GIR programme has formally concluded, the infrastructure, partnerships and insights developed through the programme will continue to support innovation across the North East. The projects have demonstrated how advanced connectivity can deliver real-world benefits in areas such as transport, public safety, culture, industry and agriculture.

The relationships and capabilities built through the programme have created a strong foundation for future collaboration, investment and experimentation. As organisations across the region continue to explore new digital solutions, the North East is well positioned to build on this programme, and remain at the forefront of digital innovation and advanced connectivity in the UK.

This work has been made possible through funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with support from the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and a wide range of regional partners.