Milton Keynes City Council has unveiled an ambitious Smart City Action Plan aimed at tackling climate change, enhancing public health and delivering more cost-efficient public services.
The action plan supports the city council’s Tech, Smart City, Digital and Creative Industries Strategy designed to grow MK’s global reputation as a smart city and home of innovation. It sets out the city council’s goals from its smart city and innovation work, and the workplan over the next two years.
A fundamental part of the plan is to enable advanced technologies to operate in the city and encourage more innovative trials to address societal challenges, including sustainability, access to healthcare and the rising operational costs of public services. Key initiatives include:
- Enhanced partnerships – working closely alongside partners, including The Open University to drive marketing and engagement through the MK:Smart programme – a joint partnership to align smart city work
- Engagement – launching a comprehensive plan to involve residents through the new Experience Centre at centre:mk – a joint initiative between private sector partners and the city council, serving as a shop window for customers to experience and interact with robots and digital technologies
- Developing the Testbed – The city council’s plans to build a world leading ‘city as a testbed’
The city council will continue to support nationally strategic innovation projects, positioning MK as a hub where cutting-edge technologies can be tested and scaled to benefit modern urban environments.
Any organisation with an interest in trialling new technologies in an urban environment can contact the city council through Invest Milton Keynes on enquiries@investmiltonkeynes.com.
A council decision to approve the Smart City Action Plan is set for next week.
Last month more than 1,000 people attended the city council’s Artificial Intelligence Festival which brought together tech experts and businesses to showcase cutting-edge technologies that the city will benefit from in the coming years. Plans are already underway for next year’s Milton Keynes Tech Week event.
Milton Keynes has an enviable reputation as a ‘testbed’ where researchers can trial initiatives to help modern cities become greener and more pleasant places to live and work. Current live trials in the city involve self-driving shuttles, urban drone deliveries, and advanced radio communications. Already one in three jobs in the city are in tech, and the city council is determined to encourage further local tech investment, creating more skilled jobs for local people.
“We’re really passionate about tech and innovation in Milton Keynes, especially if it means we can tackle climate issues, improve access to public health, create local jobs and deliver better public services for our residents. Our Smart City Action Plan ensures we continue to break down barriers between emerging tech and everyday life to prioritise how our residents can benefit. If you have an idea for a smart city trial that can improve the lives of Milton Keynes residents, we want to hear from you.”