News
22nd November 2024
Sunderland’s Smart City team has been energised with inspiration after attending the recent Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona (5th-7th November 2024), where leaders in urban innovation came together to shape the cities of tomorrow.
Smart City Expo World Congress, renowned as the world’s most influential gathering on smart city innovation, brought together visionaries from government, business, and technology to spark new ideas and sustainable solutions for urban transformation.
This year, alongside David Pattison from our inward investment team, Sunderland City Council’s Director of Smart Cities and Enabling Services, Liz St Louis, and Head of Smart City Programme Delivery, Dawn Mason, were pleased to not only attend but also present Sunderland’s progress at the event. 2024 was not our first time showcasing in Barcelona, and we were excited to return for another year after our successful experiences at previous events.
It was an exciting platform to exchange insights and experiences with some of the best urban innovators from across the world, spotlighting strategies and projects that have the potential to revolutionise cities worldwide.
Representing the UK
It was a privilege for our team to be part of the UK Pavilion, a hub of collaboration where we could share Sunderland’s story while learning from UK cities facing similar challenges and celebrating their achievements. 2024 marked our second consecutive year participating in the UK Pavilion, further cementing Sunderland’s presence on the global stage.
With over 15 partner cities and nearly 30 organisations, including local authorities, academia, freeports and SMEs, the UK Pavilion offered an impressive programme of sessions showcasing innovative solutions, alongside diverse networking opportunities. Over the three days, Sunderland’s Smart City team enjoyed the opportunity to exchange ideas, foster connections, and promote a peer-to-peer approach that strengthens resilience on a global scale.
Liz St Louis, Director of Smart Cities and Enabling Services, Sunderland City Council, said, “It was absolutely fabulous being part of the UK Pavilion; and being able to interact with other UK cities. We were sharing our story, but very much learning from others too.”
Sunderland’s City Spotlight
As part of the City Spotlight series, Sunderland took centre stage to share its transformative journey towards becoming a leading smart city. 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. Together, these projects are connecting Sunderland in new and meaningful ways.
Paul Wilson, Chair of the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board, and Senior Advisor, Open and Agile Smart Cities, commended Sunderland’s progress, stating, “Sunderland has become the smartest city in the UK.” This accolade recognises the city’s commitment to a whole-systems approach to urban development, ensuring that no one and nowhere is left behind as Sunderland moves forward.
Building Tomorrow in Our Smart City
In a main stage session chaired by Areti Markopoulou, Liz St Louis and Dawn Mason 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. Through shaping a more inclusive and connected urban future, Sunderland is creating a blueprint for innovation and long-term growth.
Together the panel discussed the public-private partnership between Sunderland City Council and Boldyn Networks, key to the city’s smart transformation and shared advice to other city leaders looking to innovate in this space.
Investing in the North East’s Future
Liz St Louis joined Invest Newcastle for a panel discussion on working together to create and connect places within cities, chaired by Sam Markey, Ecosystem Director at Connected Places Catapult.
The session gathered key figures to explore strategies for building connected and thriving urban spaces. Liz joined Sally Herbert from Newcastle City Council, John Seager from Newcastle Helix, and Rob Leech from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to share ideas, discuss current projects, and envision the future of connected cities as a hub for innovation.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Our experience at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 has further fuelled our commitment to innovation and collaboration. We’re excited to return to Barcelona in 2025, and continuing to connect with other cities by sharing valuable learnings and smart use cases.
Sunderland City Council is open for business and collaboration. To explore further opportunities with our team, please don’t hesitate to contact us.