£40m Fund for UK Local Authorities to Drive 5G Innovation
Funding available for local and regional authorities across the UK to establish themselves as ‘5G Innovation Regions’.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is leading the government’s approach to driving innovation and unlocking opportunities for economic growth through making use of world-class digital infrastructure.
DSIT is inviting applications for local authorities across the UK to establish themselves as ‘5G Innovation Regions’ (5GIRs).
5GIRs is part of a wider programme to drive 5G adoption, with a focus on key sectors where there is local capability and opportunities. Funding will enable places throughout the UK to unlock opportunities across the digital economy which utilise advanced wireless connectivity.
Projects are expected to meet the following competition objectives:
- Drive economic growth across the UK by supporting places to adopt advanced wireless technologies for services based around local opportunities for growth
- Accelerate commercial investment in 5G and other advanced wireless technologies by aggregating and demonstrating demand
- Foster the 5G ecosystem enabling “learning by doing”.
The lead applicant must be a UK local authority. Applications from local authorities working together are encouraged.
A total of £40 million is available.
DSIT expects to make available grant funding of up to a maximum of £3.8 million to each successful project.
Applications must be submitted online by the deadline of 10 September 2023.
(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)
