Belfast City Council Tech Development Funding

Belfast City Council to spend £500,000 on various projects, which may include a digital innovation centre and 5G smart district.

22:09 24 May 2018

As part of Theresa May’s promise to support a city deal for Belfast following last year’s general election, Belfast city council will be given £500,000 to develop various projects, which may include a multimedia tourist centre that tells the story of Belfast, a digital innovation centre, an academic medical research institute and 5G smart district.

 

A council spokesperson said: “A one-off allocation of £500K was agreed by our SP&R Committee in November 2017 to support the development of the Belfast Region City Deal. This money will be primarily spent on the development of projects to be included in the deal,”

 

“A City Deal for the Belfast region would result in a 10 year investment plan to improve infrastructure, digital connectivity, tourism assets and innovation hubs as well as delivering a major skills programme.

 

“The aim of the deal is ultimately to create more and better jobs across all of our growth sectors, pushing the ‘fast-forward’ button on economic growth here and ensuring that those opportunities are accessible across all of our communities.”

 

“Such an investment would also give added momentum to our ambitious plans to deliver a new and exciting world-class visitor attraction that integrates with existing assets and organisations and builds on our growing visitor economy,” the spokesperson added.

 

“[The project would] act as a cornerstone and create an experience that is authentic and distinctive to Belfast, to tell the Belfast Story through the mediums of music, art, literature, our people and our achievements.”