Spotlight on Sunderland’s ‘Smart City Symposium’ Event

News

8th October 2025

Topic Enabling Technologies, Energy, Environment, Events, Expert Exchange, Health & Social Care, Infrastructure, Insights, Living & Inclusion, Safety & Security, Transport
Technology 5G, AI, Assistive technology, Autonomous Vehicles, Data, Digital Twins, edtech, Fibre, Healthtech, Immersive, IoT, Light technology, LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi
Sector Enabling Technologies, Energy, Environment, Events, Expert Exchange, Health & Social Care, Infrastructure, Insights, Living & Inclusion, Safety & Security, Transport

Sunderland’s journey to becoming one of the UK’s most forward-thinking smart cities is attracting national attention. This October is Sunderland’s first ‘Smart City Symposium’, a landmark event that will shine a spotlight on innovation, technology and collaboration across our smart city. Running on 14th October 2025, leaders from government, technology, academia and industry will come together in Sunderland to explore how smart city innovation is transforming lives, supporting economic growth and creating more sustainable places.

Building a future-ready city

Sunderland has already established itself as a leader in the UK smart city movement. Through cutting-edge 5G networks, pioneering IoT solutions and digital inclusion initiatives, the city is delivering tangible benefits for residents, businesses and visitors. Projects such as Pixel Plaza, the Sunderland Open Network Ecosystem (SONET) at the Stadium of Light, and our Digital Inclusion Plan are just a few examples of how technology is being embedded into the fabric of the city to create a more connected and inclusive future.

The Smart City Symposium will provide a unique opportunity to showcase this work on a national stage, while also learning from leading experts about how cities across the world are unlocking the potential of digital infrastructure.

What to expect at the Symposium

The event will bring together a wide range of speakers at workshops and panel discussions designed to spark conversation and collaboration. Key themes include:

  • Future-ready infrastructure and enabling technologies
  • Case studies of digital innovation in action
  • Harnessing data for better decision-making

You can view the full agenda and speaker bios here.

A platform for Sunderland – and beyond

This Symposium is more than an event. It’s a statement about Sunderland’s role as a hub for innovation in the UK, proving that cities outside London can lead the way in shaping national and global smart city agendas.

By fostering collaboration with valued partners such as Boldyn Networks and Microsoft, Sunderland is demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to deliver impact at scale – from public services and mobility to education and sustainability.

Be part of the conversation

Join policymakers, businesses, community organisations and innovators to find out more about delivering our future city – click here to visit the Expo Sunderland event page. 

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