Glasgow's Aim to Become IoT Leader

Glasgow aims to be Europe's largest Smart Things and IoT Hub, with a £2.5M investment forming a partnership for co-working and lab space.

16:34 10 January 2024

Glasgow is embarking on a mission to establish itself as Europe's largest hub for smart things and IoT innovation, marked by a partnership involving the UK Government, Glasgow City Council, and the Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC). The collaborative effort entails a significant £2.5 million investment from both the public and private sectors, channeling funds into a cutting-edge facility named "the beyond" at SkyPark, Finnieston in Glasgow. A notable portion of the investment, £257,000, comes from the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Paul Wilson, CEO and co-founder of STAC, with a background spanning mobile computing, IoT smartphones, smart homes, and industrial IoT, leads the initiative. Inspired by the success of public-private partnerships fostering startup ecosystems during his time in Canada, Wilson aims to replicate this model in Scotland. The focus is on bridging the gap between innovation, talent development, and international competitiveness.

The partnership designates Glasgow City Council and the city itself as a test bed for locally grown innovations facilitated by STAC. The holistic approach extends beyond funding, emphasizing the development of homegrown innovations to meet the city's diverse needs, spanning city management, social housing, healthcare, and more.

Supported by industry veterans from prominent organizations, STAC has already nurtured 36 startups through three program cohorts. The next phase involves expanding physical spaces, encompassing coworking, industrial labs, maker spaces, and event spaces. STAC has also launched an investment platform and plans to establish its own investment arm in mid-2024.

Glasgow's collaborative spirit, coupled with its talent and innovation, positions it as a frontrunner in the "Era of Things." The initiative identifies Glasgow as a hub for developing tomorrow's technologies to compete in global markets.

Several Glasgow-based IoT companies are making strides, including Nebu~Flow, focused on advanced nebulisers for drug delivery; Weeteq, developing circuit-level AI solutions; Utopi, using IoT for real-time ESG data collection; Krucial, employing space technology for resilient connectivity; and Kingdom Technologies, specializing in robotic lawnmowers for large terrains.

This concerted effort aims to propel Glasgow into a leadership position in the evolving landscape of IoT and smart technologies.