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14/06/2012 - Future Cities Demonstrator Competition

The Technology Strategy Board believes that a large-scale demonstrator, covering a substantial population and a significant urban area, will help both business and city governments in the UK to test ideas and build confidence.

In turn this is expected to help businesses develop new approaches and solutions that can be exported worldwide and help UK cities to improve their international competitiveness.

Through the Future Cities Demonstrator Competition, proposals are being encouraged to set up a future cities demonstrator. The purpose is for cities to work with suppliers to test the additional value that can be created by integrating city systems.

Cities will initially be invited to bid for funding to carry out a feasibility study and develop their demonstrator project proposal. Following this stage, cities will complete their feasibility study report and can also submit a proposal for the large-scale demonstrator.

The Technology Strategy Board is investing up to £25 million in this programme.

• Stage 1: Up to £1 million will be made available for feasibility studies and the development of full proposals. Each feasibility study (up to 20) will receive grants of £50,000 covering 100% of eligible costs.
• Stage 2: Up to £24 million will be made available for a single large-scale demonstrator project. The project will be publicly funded at 100% of eligible costs.

The sponsor is particularly interested in proposals that:

• Show the integration of multiple systems in novel ways.
• Tackle specific challenges in the host city.
• Have the potential for a large impact on the economy, quality of life and environmental impact of the city.
• Combine recent or current investment in city infrastructure with the demonstrator funding to create a more effective test environment.
• Provide a platform that allows innovative companies, particularly SMEs, to test their ideas.
• Offer the potential for innovations in how services are delivered.
• Have the potential for further development and use beyond the initial two years of funding.

The competition is for cities or equivalent local authorities in the UK that are responsible for an urban area. Cities will need to work with many partners to deliver the demonstrator.

The deadline for registrations is 28 June 2012. Following registrations, there are two stages for applications, as follows:

• Stage 1 applications must be submitted by noon on 5 July 2012.
• Feasibility study reports and full stage 2 applications must be submitted by noon on 14 November 2012.

Click here for more details (opens in new window).

Source: Technology Strategy Board, 11/06/2012

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