A northern UK smart city partnership is running a six-week Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G accelerator programme this September and is inviting tech start-ups to take part.
Sunderland City Council is working with communications infrastructure provider BAI Communications (BAI) and tech support firm Sunderland Software City.
Ten start-up teams will be selected and each will receive up to £10,000 in grant funding. Applications are invited from 4 July, although expressions of interest are invited now.
Organisers said the accelerator is different in that it is being run at no cost to the start-ups, equity will not be taken for participation, and the IP will remain with the teams involved.
In terms of scope, organisers added that project themes were broad but a focus on IoT challenges affecting skills and education, manufacturing and smart homes, “will be considered favourably”.
Billy D’Arcy, CEO of BAI UK, said this was a “significant opportunity to participate and contribute to the scaling of the advanced smart city programme”.
Liz St Louis, assistant director, smart cities, at Sunderland City Council, said: “We are in the enviable position of being one of the few cities in the UK that is equipped to host this kind of programme.”
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