WIREDGOV

Ten UK firms with an expertise in connected cities visited South East Asia to pitch their ideas to businesses, investors and government.

Some of the most exciting British businesses developing technologies to improve the way we live and work in cities have been to Malaysia and Singapore on a Mission organised by Innovate UK and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

The businesses were able to showcase their technologies – ranging from smart street lighting to seamless ticketing, intelligent building management, mapping and security systems – and to speak to potential customers, investors and partners in South East Asia.

The 10 companies that took part in the Connected Cities Trade Mission between 14 and 18 March were:

• Aralia Systems Ltd
• Block Dox Ltd
• Bronze Software Labs Ltd
• The Carbon Trust
• Demand Logic
• Design for Social Change Ltd
• Multipass UK Ltd
• Ordnance Survey International
• Preliminal Limited
• Telensa Ltd   ​

South East Asia a global leader in smart cities

South East Asia is at the forefront of global work on connected cities and is potentially a huge market for UK firms.

A report by the Future Cities Catapult identified more than 32,000 UK companies providing innovative solutions for the connected cities market.

Niraj Saraf, lead technologist for urban living at Innovate UK, said:

”These companies’ innovations are key to addressing the challenges that large cities face. These challenges include growing populations, increased demand for energy and the integration of technology into citizens’ everyday lives.

We believe these companies have huge growth potential and could become a vital part of the global connected cities industry in the near future.”

Highlights of the mission

• hearing how Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Iskandar and Forest City in Malaysia are creating sustainable smart cities
• learning how the Malaysian government is investing heavily in supporting smart cities and smart city solutions through Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology, PlaTCOM Ventures, Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre and Iskandar Regional Development Authority  
• discovering how Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative is the country’s main focus
• learning how the Singapore government is supporting the Smart Nation initiative through Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore,Housing Development Board, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Urban Redevelopment Authority Singapore and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore  
• hearing about the smart city opportunities in Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand​

Find out more about Innovate UK’s work on cities.