UK’s First Smart Infrastructure Initiative Launched

28 Oct 2015 02:23 PM

SmarterUK will be the national champion for smart infrastructure development in the UK.

techUK, the voice of the UK technology industry, has yesterday launched the UK's first smart infrastructure initiative, SmarterUK. With a focus on Energy & Utilities, Transport and Smart Cities, SmarterUK will be the national champion for smart infrastructure development in the UK, committed to growing the market and overcoming obstacles to its development.

Dan Byles, Chairman of SmarterUK commented: "Smart infrastructure will revolutionise the way we use and interact with technology. It will drive efficiencies in transport, energy and the built environment and many other areas. Such efficiencies will be a boon to productivity and the government's Northern Power House agenda. Crucially, we believe that the possibilities of smart infrastructure should be high in the mind of all regions as they are granted increased devolved powers."

Julian David, CEO of techUK said: "Smart infrastructure has the potential to add value to our economy and improve the quality of life of our citizens. With our existing areas of expertise, world-leading communications infrastructure and world-leading, innovative companies, the UK is well placed to be global leader in the market, which is estimated by McKinsey to be worth trillions of pounds globally.[1]"

In his opening address to The Telegraph's Smart Cities Conference 2015, Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey MP said: "I welcome the new industry body, Smarter UK. It is always a sign of maturity, when a sector starts forming bodies to badger us."

SmarterUK is an evolution of SmartGrid GB, which has been run by techUK since 2011. Launched by the then Energy Minister, Charles Hendry MP, SmartGrid GB was the UK's only independent, cross-industry group seeking to advance the modernisation of the UK's energy system.

[1] http://readwrite.com/2015/06/29/internet-of-things-11-trillion-obstacles-open-source