Birmingham City Council has set four challenges for SMES around the use of technology and data in the management of housing, parks and waste.
It has opened the Diatomic Accelerator competition with national innovation accelerator agency the Connected Places Catapult (CPC), indicating that it will make around £500,000 in funding available to up to 12 SMEs.
The programme involves four challenges, the first of which is to use data insights to help the relevant teams understand the condition of assets, streets, equipment and recreation, and to gain insights into how citizens live and use the city.
The second is focused on performance, notably to improve the visibility of asset repairs and maintenance, utilise intelligence gathered by service teams and fleets, and optimise their energy usage.
Knowledge sharing
Third is to improve knowledge sharing through building networks, providing up-to-date, contextual and consistent information, and providing information for long term decarbonisation objectives.
Finally, a focus on citizen engagement will include sharing the ways in which decarbonisation and green infrastructure can have a direct, positive impact on people’s lives.
Along with the funding, the companies selected will receive technical and commercial support and be able to take part in networking and showcasing events.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street commented: “This funding and support from the Diatomic programme will help innovators right across our region trial cutting edge digital technologies for the benefit of local people – tackling some of the key challenges we face here in the West Midlands.”
