Scotland’s 8th city – the smart city

March 13, 2018


Smart City = Integration of data and digital technologies into a strategic approach to sustainability, citizen well-being and economic development.

The ‘Scotland’s 8th City – the Smart City’ ERDF Strategic Intervention is an ambitious programme of collaborative innovation across Scotland’s cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, and Stirling.

By working together the seven cities have bought into a vision to make cities more attractive, liveable and resilient through data and digital technology.

The programme’s aim is to expand Smart City capabilities and deliver city priorities through improved community engagement, integration of service delivery and innovation

Collaboration is key to this Strategic Intervention with all seven cities working to develop projects which are open, interoperable, scalable, and replicable. The cities are also committed to knowledge exchange, sharing of experiences and learning, mutual support, and sharing of assets.

The ‘8th City’ programme is being progressed via ‘Phase 1’ ERDF grant of £10M enhanced by Scottish cities match funding (including Scottish Cities Alliance ‘Cities Investment Fund’) of £14.5M to create a £24.5M programme of Smart City projects across all cities. It is anticipated that a similar level of support may be available to support Phase 2 of the programme, running from 2019 to 2022.

The 8th City programme currently includes 29 different projects being delivered in support of the following ERDF Operations:

  • Open Data
  • Smart Communities: Mobile Working
  • Smart Services: Energy
  • Smart Services: Mobility
  • Smart Services: Waste
  • Smart Services: Public Safety
  • Smart Infrastructure: Innovation Labs
  • Smart Infrastructure: Intelligent Street Lighting
  • Smart Infrastructure: Water Management

Different cities are engaged in projects for each Operation – for example, Dundee and Perth are delivering ‘Smart Services: Public Safety’ projects; the Smart Services: Waste Operation includes projects in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, and Stirling.

The Open Data Operation is a core element in the 8th City programme. Here, cities are engaged in collaborative work around Data Standards, Open Data Platforms, Data Analytics, and Community Engagement and Capacity Building. At MIPIM 2018 the Open Data Platforms for Dundee, Inverness, and Perth will be previewed – affording an opportunity for an early look at how these cities (alongside others in Scotland) intend to use data platforms to promote engagement, innovation, and a culture of openness and transparency.

By engaging collaboratively on the 8th City programme, Scotland’s cities are also working in partnership to enhance their ‘Smart City’ status – globally recognised as a key attractor for investors.

Scottish cities are working within the framework of the Scottish Cities Alliance – a partnership of the seven cities and Scottish Government. Smart Cities Scotland is the over-arching title for this, and other, Smart City activity being developed and delivered across Scotland. More information at www.scottishcities.org.uk/workstreams/smart-cities

For information on the 8th City Programme please contact the Programme Management Office at 8th_city_pmo@glasgow.gov.uk.