News story

Festival of the Future City: solving challenges of urban living

City planners, academics, architects, residents, businesses and community leaders debate urban living issues and challenges.

Urban growth has created problems in areas such as transport and pollution.

Urban growth has created problems in areas such as transport and pollution.

Our cities are vibrant places but they aren’t always the easiest places to live, work or play. Urban growth has created problems in areas such as transport, housing, health, energy and pollution. Solutions might be found in new technologies harnessing data, the Internet of Things and a more joined-up approach to solving the problems.

Future cities UK: Investing in better places to live, work and play

Innovate UK is one of the sponsors of the Festival of the Future City which is bringing together academics, city planners, artists, writers, filmmakers, games makers, architects, politicians, community leaders, businesses, scientists and think tanks to debate future cities. The event is open to the public and takes place in Bristol from 17 to 20 November 2015.

Launch of Future Cities UK impact report

Solutions to the challenges for urban growth might be found in new technologies harnessing data.

Solutions to the challenges for urban growth might be found in new technologies harnessing data.

Innovate UK also used the festival to launch its report on the Future Cities UK project. The report describes how a £1.5 million investment helped 30 cities deliver more than £100 million in private investment to make their cities smarter.

Glasgow, overall winner of the Future Cities UK funding competition.

Glasgow, overall winner of the Future Cities UK funding competition.

Published 18 November 2015