Milton Keynes has rapidly developed into a vibrant hub for the digital and technological sector, becoming a leader in innovation and smart city technologies. Its location and infrastructure have attracted a range of technology companies, from multinational corporations to agile startups, creating a dynamic ecosystem that thrives on digital solutions and cutting-edge technologies.
The tech sector already makes up a significant part of Milton Keynes’ £14bn economy, with reports showing that as many as one in three jobs in the city are in tech.
In 2022, Milton Keynes existing strengths as a tech city were identified in the Milton Keynes Tech Ecosystem report. It is estimated Milton Keynes already generates over £3.4bn of tech GVA4, placing the city above the likes of Cambridge, Oxford, and Reading.
The city’s Smart City project is one of its most notable initiatives, aimed at enhancing sustainability, connectivity, and digital infrastructure. Through smart data platforms, sensors, and IoT (Internet of Things) technology, Milton Keynes has pioneered advancements in areas such as intelligent transport systems, energy efficiency, and urban management, positioning itself as a model for other cities globally.
As of January 2024, we have three active Smart City trials, exploring the future of connected and autonomous vehicles, urban drone deliveries, and advanced radio communications. The City Council owns the city’s Smart City Infrastructure including a 5G network used exclusively for research and development trials. We also operate a 5G data exchange.
The local ecosystem is further enriched by its growing tech start-up scene and the presence of leading innovation centres like the Transport Systems Catapult one of ten elite technology and innovation centres established and overseen by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.
These initiatives provide a breeding ground for talent and foster collaboration between academia, businesses, and public institutions. We have developed a ‘City as a Test Bed’ approach for Milton Keynes, where businesses use the unique urban design of our city to trial and commercialise their future facing services and products in a real-world environment. This provides the opportunity to benefit both our local economy, helping businesses to gain essential insight to potential markets and to test solutions, and for our citizens who benefit from improvements to services and their environment. The city’s emphasis on software development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics makes it a magnet for high-tech companies and talent, driving significant growth in sectors such as fintech, cybersecurity, and digital health. This strong technological foundation, combined with forward-thinking urban planning, has positioned Milton Keynes as one of the UK’s most progressive tech ecosystems.