Catapult convenes smart city leaders at global congress in Barcelona

Twenty-five organisations from Great Britain including some of our largest metropolitan authorities gathered at the UK Pavilion – hosted by Connected Places Catapult – inside Barcelona’s Gran Via conference centre between 5 and 7 November. 

They were there for three days of networking and to discuss the latest technologies and thinking designed to improve transport, housing and communications in and around cities. 

25,000 attendees representing over 800 cities from across the globe were in Barcelona for the event; looking to better understand what is new and emerging in urban innovation. 

“It’s great to be in Barcelona. Three years ago, I was here as part of a UK Government delegation and there was no UK stand at all. We said we really need to be here, and here we are.”

“For us it’s about bringing together UK cities to showcase what they're doing in terms of innovation and data in the UK.” 

Connected Places Catapult’s Chief Executive, Erika Lewis

Making the trip out to Barcelona allowed attendees from the UK, she added, to “get to see what all of the other countries around the world are doing, understand how they're approaching innovation, and how they're using data.” 

Erika added that the Government has committed to invest in the UK’s infrastructure over the coming years; around new towns, roads and new ways of thinking about transport. “With that brings lots of opportunities about how we can think about innovation and how it is used to build places and spaces.” 

She added there is a lot that can be done very quickly to better understand how data can be harnessed for the common good, such as through the Digital Twin Hub, and how procurement can be used to encourage innovation.

“We can’t have growth without innovation – the world is moving through a fourth Industrial Revolution and the cities that harness innovation the best will achieve growth.”

Ben Russell, the Head of Investment Zones at the Department for Business and Trade

He explained that Investment Zones – where clusters of companies can work collaboratively on innovations in multiple locations – help bring people together to generate growth and opportunity. 

“It has been fantastic pulling everyone together under one stand here in Barcelona, and seeing lots of friendly faces from around the regions,” he later said. “Creating spaces for innovation is where success lies.” 

During the event, Connected Places Catapult hosted 15 partners, 25 organisations and welcomed over 650 visitors to the UK Pavilion. Twenty panel sessions were held at the UK Pavilion, featuring over 70 speakers; plus there were two networking events. 

Among the sessions was a focus on smart cities as a driver for international collaboration, featuring a look at Belfast’s innovation twinning collaboration with Sejong in the Republic of Korea; which is supported by the Catapult. 

“Having a smart cities programme allows innovators to foster relationships, and we have been bombarded by requests to engage,” said Belfast Innovation Commissioner, Dr Adrian Johnston MBE during a panel discussion. 

Deirdre Ferguson of Belfast City Council added that the Catapult helped Belfast to understand what it has in common with Sejong, and develop a positive international relationship that has “escalated at a pace we have never seen before”. 

“It's been really positive working with the Catapult and showcasing Manchester to the world. And it's really good for us to be here as part of all the UK cities to really show off what we're doing well; but also to learn from other cities. Connected Places Catapult enables us to know who's doing what, and to share that best practise.”

Manchester City Council’s Digital Strategy Lead, Sherelle Fairweather

Read about the work of the DT Hub.

Read more about the thoughts of some of the cities and regions at the UK Pavilion.