Belfast City Council has announced that the Belfast 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) is collaborating with various sectors to promote 5G and advanced wireless networks in the region.

Advanced wireless networks are crucial for developing innovative products and services across sectors like health, manufacturing, transport, logistics, creative industries and public services. Led by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office, the programme aims to equip local businesses and organisations with the tools to leverage advanced wireless connectivity for economic growth. They are creating resources and strategies to position the region as a leader in advanced wireless adoption.

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They are also working with partners – Belfast Harbour, Ulster University and Studio Ulster, Queen’s University Belfast’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre and Translink – to deliver a series of commercially focused use cases that leverage 5G’s potential in the transport and logistics, creative industries, construction, and advanced manufacturing industry sectors.

The programme includes a region-wide funding competition offering grants of up to £100,000 for projects using 5G or other advanced wireless connectivity to benefit the Belfast Region. The competition opens in August 2024, with projects running until March 2025. The competition will be open to applicants from the following council areas: Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid and East Antrim, and Newry, Mourne and Down.

The Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of their UK 5G Innovation Regions programme which aims to drive innovative applications powered by 5G.