Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To present to the Committee the refreshed Smart Belfast urban innovation framework and to seek approval to use this draft as a basis for consultation with stakeholders, prior to the publication of a finalised framework in April, 2022.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

1.      note the contents of the Smart Belfast urban innovation framework;

2.      approve an eight-week stakeholder consultation on the framework, commencing on 11th January 2022; and

3.      note the plans for individual party briefings from early in 2022.

3.0       Main Report

            Smart Belfast framework refresh

3.1       First devised in 2017, the Smart Belfast framework aims to foster an environment that supports collaborative innovation between our partners from across industry, academia and the public sector in order to address urban and economic challenges. It is based on the understanding that Belfast’s more complex challenges will often require novel solutions that are difficult for the public sector to develop on its own.

3.2       This refreshed framework incorporates the practice and learning of the past four years,  and reflects the challenges and opportunities of this pandemic era. We have sought to consider how digital innovation can best contribute to the Council’s priorities for city growth, economic recovery and our response to climate change.

3.3       Smart Belfast also reflects the growing impact of new technologies on urban policy and planning. It seeks to maximise opportunities represented by new investments, including the Belfast Region City Deal digital programme, and the emergence of Innovation City Belfast as a regional partnership for innovation.

3.4       The framework has two main sections. In the first, we set out specific plans for a Belfast ‘Smart District’ and how this location can act as a place where the Council and its partners can directly develop and test real-world innovative policies and interventions in an environment that supports innovation and experimentation.

3.5       It is proposed that the Smart District will be particularly important in leveraging innovation to support the delivery of the new Bolder Vision for the city centre. As such the initial geography of the District is co-terminous with the city centre. Thematic areas where the District is likely to make a significant contribution include:

-       Re-imagining the future of the high street

-       Supporting the creative environment for the planned Belfast Stories investment

-       Bringing innovation in design and development to support healthy urban neighbourhoods

-       Contributing to sustainable multi-model travel

-       Supporting the energy transition to zero carbon

-       Digitising and modernising city operations and services.

-       Building community capacity and skills to navigate the opportunities and challenges of our data-driven society and economy. 

3.6       In the second section of the framework, we describe the wider urban innovation ecosystem that is needed to deliver innovation initiatives. Based on the learning from the last four years and building on global research, we propose eight ‘pillars’ for this ecosystem that partners, collectively, have a role to play in strengthening.

            The initial Project Pipeline

3.7       A number of major projects associated with the District are already under way or at an advanced development stage. This initial project pipeline includes:

-       The delivery of €7.9 million ‘Hub-In’ Horizon 2020 project that aims to transform the Maritime Mile through community-based innovation and local enterprise.

-       The development of a new £20 million ‘Innovation for Societal Impact Fund’ to support collaborative innovation between the city region SMEs, researchers and public bodies. The fund will seek to address major urban challenges while at the same time supporting the growth of our region’s most innovative sectors.

-       The £2.5 million Connected Places Catapult ‘Homes for Healthy Ageing’ programme seeking to bring innovation to issues around loneliness in older people.

-       The €1m ‘Access to Finance’ project that is working with local SMEs and Economic Development teams to design new tools for designing future grant programmes and interventions.

-       The Innovative Procurement Playbook project with Sejong, South Korea, which aims to improve our understanding of the challenges of innovative procurement and of exporting innovative products to international markets.

-       We are also working with the mobile industry, asset owners, businesses and public sector partners to develop a £30 million Belfast Region City Deal proposal that aims to accelerate the roll-out of advanced wireless connectivity across the Smart

-       District, university campus areas and Titanic Quarter.

            Consulting on the New Framework

3.8       From January to April 2022, we will be engaging through a number of channels:

-       Party briefings

-       The Belfast City Council ‘Your Say’ platform where organisation and individuals can respond formally to a series of questions on each element of the framework

-       A public Smart Belfast webinar series will offer insights into urban innovation practice form keynote speakers and more detail on the delivery of the programme

-       Community focused workshops on the citizen in a smart city.

3.9       Following a successful consultation, it is proposed that the framework is publicly launched in April 2022.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.10      Resource planning for new projects will form part of the detailed planning for the new framework. Current projects have been identified in the existing City Innovation team budget.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications /

            Rural Needs Assessment

3.11      An equality screening will be carried out as part of the consultation programme.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.