News
12th December 2025
It’s been another ground-breaking year for Sunderland in our ambitions to become a smart city that leaves no one and nowhere behind. Here’s a roundup of the innovations and installations that made 2025 a success – with thanks to our partners and a special mention to our 20-year joint-venture partner, Boldyn Networks.
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At the start of 2025, Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) hit the road. This was the North East’s first trial of a self-driving autonomous passenger‑vehicle, fully electric and running on real city-streets.
It’s another example of how Sunderland is driving innovation forward – creating a transport model others can build on, while boosting local connectivity and supporting our net‑zero ambitions. Find out more.
Launched in February, this striking focal point for Expo Sunderland enhances the heart of the city with a pioneering programme fusing arts, culture, music and innovative technology. It was created as part of our 5GIR projects funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Situated in Keel Square, the striking modern structure features one of the UK’s largest semi-transparent LED screens, along with a versatile events space perfect for various occasions and experiences – with 360 degree broadcasting enabled by the power of 5G. Find out more.
On 13th March 2025, Sunderland City Council’s smart city team was honoured to take home the People’s Choice Award at the Digital Leaders Impact Awards in London. Winning against 36 leading smart city projects in the UK, the public voted for Sunderland’s digital innovations that make a positive impact on people’s lives. Find out more.
In April, we revealed results of a pilot which aimed to reduce flooding risks in Sunderland through early warnings. This involved moving from manual inspections of trash screens and gullies to advanced sensor technology, as part of our wider internet of things (IoT) programme. The successful pilot shows that smart sensors can help reduce flood risk, free up valuable council resources, and protect Sunderland’s homes and infrastructure. Find out more.
In May, a Sunderland-led funding bid secured an additional £1.9 million for the North East’s pioneering 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) programme. This enabled us to extend work by 12 months on our transformative digital projects, including smarter port operations, connected transport systems, agritech and more. Find out more.
As the Women’s Rugby World Cup brought 43,000 fans to the city this summer, our Sunderland Open Network EcosysTem (SONET) project reached a major milestone.
Virgin Media O2 customers were the first to benefit from this 5G neutral host network, enabled by our 20-year partner Boldyn Networks. Bringing 5G to our venues means transforming fan experiences in Sunderland. Read more.
On 14th October, digital leaders, businesses and partners from across the UK and Ireland came together at City Hall for our inaugural Smart City Symposium – an event celebrating Sunderland’s innovation, collaboration and community-driven transformation. Find out more.
October also saw the launch of seven new Digital Health Hubs across the city, bringing the total to 37, and representing an additional investment of £468,000. The hubs enable thousands of residents across Sunderland’s communities to go online for the first time. Find out more.
In November, Sunderland once again proved our global standing as a leader in digital innovation, speaking alongside cities from around the world and being named one of only three finalists in the enabling technologies category at the World Smart City Awards 2025 in Barcelona. Find out more.
November 2025 brought another piece of recognition from closer to home, as Sunderland City Council won the equality, diversity and inclusion award at the Dynamites North East Tech Awards. We’ve shifted the dial from one in three city residents at risk of digital exclusion to one in four, so this recognition celebrates our commitment to leaving no one and nowhere behind.
There’s much more planned for 2026, as Sunderland City Council and our partners continue to deliver visible, measurable results – in a smart city where technology brings opportunities and improves quality of life.
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