Manchester-based project aimed at improving services for the city’s residents has been named the winner of the government’s £10m Internet of Things contest.
The competition was jointly run by the government and Innovate UK to form part of a wider commitment to the IoT.
The project was led by the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and was picked from 22 entries involving 34 cities around the UK.
According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, City Verve was picked because of its “ambition scale, coordination across the public and private sector and potential for success.”
City Verve is exploring a number of different options for IoT technolgoy around Manchester in different areas such as health and social care, transport and environmental monitoring and public safety.
It will explore talkative bus stops with location-based services, sensors and beacons and intelligent digital signage. It aims to let people check in to a bus stop and let the operator know they are waiting.
Verve City also aims to create a biometric sensor network to improve responses to patients with chronic respiratory conditions.
Ed Vaizey, digital economy minister, said: “The project will bring real benefits to people who live and work in Manchester, one of our Northern Powerhouse cities.
“The UK’s tech sector is renowned for its creativity, as well as pioneering research and development. The Manchester project will help the UK to be a world leader in the adoption of Internet of Things technologies and inspire others around the world to create smarter cities.”
Richard Leese, Manchester City Council leader, said the lessons that will be learned by CityVerve in Manchester could be applied across the UK and beyond.