Smart Views from Delivering the Future City

News

22nd October 2024

Topic Events, Insights
Technology 5G, IoT, Wi-Fi
Sector Events, Insights

Expo Sunderland: Delivering the Future City 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. 

Our team spent two enriching days uncovering insights symbiotic with our Smart City programme. The event showcased Sunderland’s ambitious plans for regeneration and transformation, with a focus on ensuring that the future is shaped by the people of the city, and that opportunities are created for and connected to them.  

Sunderland is enabling the success of cohesive, healthy communities while rebuilding and renewing the city in the context of devolved powers and new national leadership. The event spotlighted the range of proficient agencies and partnerships driving cooperation and development, including Sunderland City Council’s unique 20-year joint venture with Boldyn Networks. Sunderland’s Smart City agenda is a key part of the city’s long-term regeneration, ensuring that local needs and priorities are at the heart of our smart transformation. 

Insights from our Chief Executive 

Expo Sunderland: Delivering the Future City 2024 underscored Sunderland’s longstanding commitment to regeneration, emphasising that building a modern city doesn’t mean abandoning its past, but rather taking strength and resilience from it.  

As Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council, reminded us, Sunderland’s history is one of innovation and hard work, from glassmaking to shipbuilding, and now to cutting-edge sectors such as electric vehicle manufacturing.  

Patrick Melia discussed the importance of Sunderland’s city plan, which provides a framework that guides progress without limiting adaptability. Sunderland’s resilience and strong track record of smart city investment were praised, with the city being shortlisted among the top six smart cities at the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) last year. With ubiquitous 5G, fibre, and advanced wireless infrastructure transforming transport, buildings, and health services, Sunderland is pushing the boundaries of digital technology.  

The forthcoming Wearside footbridge and new creative spaces, such as Culture House, Crown Works, and creative hubs for artists and businesses, are set to make the city more vibrant. Patrick Melia also discussed the new digital screen in Keel Square, which will showcase what’s happening in the city, connecting businesses and communities. The vast range of developments across our city, alongside new housing across Wearside, will make Sunderland an even more smart and welcoming place to live and visit. 

As Patrick Melia highlighted, Sunderland remains a city of innovation, with its skilled, friendly workforce driving the city’s reimagining. He also stressed that regeneration is an ongoing process: we must remain on the journey of improving Sunderland for people and businesses. 

Transforming Sunderland: Growth Sectors 

We were pleased to be a part of a discussion focussed on Sunderland’s growth sectors. Sunderland’s evolution from a shipbuilding powerhouse to a hub for advanced manufacturing, technology, and software is a testament to our city’s resilience and adaptability. Sunderland now leads in these growth sectors, with advanced manufacturing playing a critical role in building future cities. This transformation is particularly evident in developments such as Nissan’s EV 360 gigaplant, which positions Sunderland as a key player in the electrification of the automotive industry. Our city is a major manufacturer and exporter of electric vehicles, with one car rolling off the Nissan production line every two minutes.  

This economic transformation is not occurring in isolation: the infrastructure needed to support advanced manufacturing is being developed through partnerships, ensuring that the city’s educational institutions are equipped to train the workforce of tomorrow. Expo Sunderland spotlighted these partnerships, demonstrating how they are essential in delivering the digital and industrial skills needed to drive Sunderland’s future growth. 

Key to this transformation is Sunderland’s focus on creating opportunities for autonomous transport and logistics, illustrated by projects like 5G Connected and Autonomous Logistics (5G CAL) at Vantec and Nissan. Innovative technologies will not only help streamline production but also contribute to the city’s low-carbon goals. Sunderland’s ambition to become a leader in green technology was underscored during discussions about the green economy, inward investment, and the city’s digital infrastructure.

 

The Role of the Smart City in Sunderland’s Future 

At the heart of Sunderland’s transformation is its Smart City agenda, which is integral to the city’s long-term regeneration efforts. As Liz St Louis, Director of Smart Cities and Enabling Services at Sunderland City Council explained, our goal is to make Sunderland a great place to live, work, and play, while ensuring that no one and nowhere is left behind. 

“For Sunderland, a smart city is a city using digital infrastructure and technology to drive economic and social good.” 

Sunderland’s Smart City programme is built on a foundation of ubiquitous connectivity, delivered through our joint venture partnership with Boldyn Networks. This partnership has enabled Sunderland to roll out extensive new networks and 5G coverage, creating the conditions for growth and innovation. As Liz St Louis noted, Sunderland is recognised internationally as a smart city, thanks to our free public Wi-Fi, smart buildings designed for long-term decarbonisation, and IoT sensors in over 5,300 homes helping residents live safely and comfortably. 

The programme also includes a variety of digital solutions, from air quality sensors to interactive play areas and autonomous shuttles, which will be piloted next year. Sunderland’s Smart initiatives are not just about technology: new developments intend to create a better quality of life for our city’s residents, fostering creativity, and driving growth in sectors such as esports, digital arts, and immersive experiences. 

“In Sunderland we’ve created the right conditions for growth: we’ve got the right ingredients and partnerships, with a track record of delivering.” 

One of the most compelling themes to emerge from Expo Sunderland was the emphasis on inclusivity. As Sunderland embarks on this exciting journey of transformation, it is committed to ensuring that everyone benefits from the city’s growth. This commitment is evident through the city’s Digital Health Hubs, which work to close the digital exclusion gap in communities across Sunderland. With 22 digital hubs already in place, the city is ensuring that residents have the digital skills and confidence to participate fully in the opportunities created by the Smart City programme. 

Creating Opportunities for Digital Enablement, Enterprise and Innovation 

We are fortunate to work with Sunderland Software City on our education and enterprise agendas. Sunderland Software City have reached over 6,000 young people to raise aspirations towards tech careers and industry pathways, through a programme funded by Sunderland City Council’s Smart City programme. Plus, Sunderland Software City’s enterprise programme has enlightened 8,000 on how to grow tech businesses, leading to the creation of 21 new tech businesses in Sunderland.  

David Dunn, CEO of Sunderland Software City, spoke at Expo Sunderland: Delivering the Future City about the importance of digital enablement for both individuals and businesses. He stressed that digital skills and inclusion are crucial for ensuring that Sunderland’s transformation benefits everyone. Dunn called attention to the need for businesses to engage with new technologies and take risks in order to innovate. His vision for Sunderland in 2030 is one where digital can benefit everyone, businesses thrive, and the city is synonymous with innovation and ambition. 

The session on digital enablement also touched on the importance of creating an ecosystem that supports startups and scale-ups, helping them to grow and innovate. With the infrastructure in place, including ultra-fast fibre and 5G, Sunderland is well-positioned to become a hub for tech enterprise.  

 

Roundtable Breakout Session: Smart City and Technology 

As part of Expo Sunderland’s Roundtable Breakout Sessions, our team lead the conversation regarding Smart City and Technology, exploring the question what’s next for Sunderland in our ambition to retain our position as one of the UK’s leading smart cities.  

The roundtable discussion explored key opportunities for businesses, focusing on the benefits of ubiquitous connectivity, data services, the new esports campus, and building a robust skills pipeline. Trust in smart cities was viewed by participants as essential, with a need to demonstrate the impacts and benefits of digital innovation. The discussion also highlighted that physical and digital regeneration go hand in hand, driving overall growth. 

In a subsequent wider conversation, topics such as funding opportunities, fostering enterprise, stimulating startups, and supporting scale-ups were raised. Participants noted the importance of enabling innovation by encouraging risk-taking and creating an environment conducive to growth and technological advancement. 

 

Looking ahead to a Smart Future City  

Sunderland is a city driven by a bold vision and strong leadership, with a focus on sustainable growth, digital innovation, and inclusivity, with the Smart City programme reflecting our wider ambitions. Expo Sunderland was a reminder that Sunderland is not just keeping up with the times: it is leading the way, pushing the boundaries of what a modern city can be. 

Sunderland’s journey is far from over. With a commitment to continuous regeneration and a focus on creating opportunities for all, the city is well-positioned to remain a leader in smart city innovation and sustainable growth through our enduring shared vision and place-based accountability. Sunderland will continue to evolve by adapting to new challenges and seizing new opportunities, and remaining a steward for our city’s businesses, visitors and residents alike.  

Explore more insights from throughout last week through the hashtag #DeliveringtheFutureCity. 

We look forward to continuing the conversation at Expo Sunderland’s next event, Your Future Expo 2025. Together, we can continue to build better, brighter, and smarter cities for the future. 

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