{"id":5861,"date":"2015-12-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.ferrovial.com\/news\/sheffield-smart-lab-selects-nine-innovative-urban-solutions\/"},"modified":"2024-12-12T22:46:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T21:46:52","slug":"sheffield-smart-lab-selects-nine-innovative-urban-solutions","status":"publish","type":"new","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ferrovial.com\/en\/news\/sheffield-smart-lab-selects-nine-innovative-urban-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield Smart Lab selects nine innovative urban solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The urban innovation programme Sheffield Smart Lab<\/a>, run by Sheffield City Council, Amey and the Ferrovial Services Centre of Excellence for Cities, has selected 9 innovative solutions to address two major challenges that Sheffield faces: to energise the city centre, and to support people to live independently. This initiative, open to entrepreneurs and start-up businesses around the world, was launched in late June. There have been more than 50 entries from 10 different countries.<\/p>\n

In a ceremony held at the Sheffield City Council, the 9 selected winning ideas were presented. The event was attended by the Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, John Mothersole; the Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, Cllr Leigh Bramall; the Head of Policy and Improvement at Sheffield City Council, Mark Tuckett; as well as Fernando Herrero, Deputy Director of Innovation & Smart Cities of Madrid City Council; Nick Gregg, Amey\u2019s Local Government Managing Director; I\u00f1igo Jodra; Ferrovial Services Centre of Excellence for Cities Director, and Mark Saunders, UK Projects Director, Centre of Excellence for Cities, among others.<\/p>\n

End to end support to urban entrepreneurs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 9 winning solutions will participate during the first quarter of 2016 in an incubation and acceleration programme, where they will be able to develop their idea, product or service in a \u2018smart lab\u2019 facility, supported by both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. After having the opportunity to develop their original solution, they will then be put to the test in a real life situation in the city from April 2016. All winning solutions will also be included in Ferrovial Services\u2019 Innovative Solutions Catalogue.<\/p>\n

Cllr Leigh Bramall, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, said: \u201cAs a council, it is important to us that we drive innovation to Sheffield. There\u2019s an energy and appetite for it in the city and we recognise that in order to do this we need to partner with start-ups and innovators. That\u2019s what Sheffield Smart Lab is all about and by attracting entrepreneurs we can support and help them to build on their ideas, making them a reality, benefitting both them and the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick Gregg, Amey\u2019s Local Government Managing Director, said: \u201cWell done to the 9 teams that have been shortlisted. I\u2019m confident that the solutions that have been selected could make a big difference to the city of Sheffield. By bringing the use of technology to the city in an innovative way, we can enhance the services that we already offer and improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors\u201d.<\/p>\n

Well-known TV scientist Professor Heinz Wolff and a group of Sheffield students are amongst the Sheffield Smart Lab winners. \u00a0Professor Heinz Wolff explained that: \u201cWe are not just pleased but thrilled and grateful for having our project Give & Take Care CIC included in the Smart Lab programme. It will encourage collaboration in a scheme for improving the quality of life for elderly people who want to be cared for in their own homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winning solutions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Helping people to live independently:<\/em><\/h4>\n