Executive team members from the MK:Smart project have been engaging with smart city experts from around the world at the 2014 World Smart City Expo and Congress in Barcelona.
Geoff Snelson from MK Council meets British Ambassador, Simon Manley
As part of the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) pavilion at this major event, Milton Keynes Council Leader Peter Marland joined Director of Strategy, Geoff Snelson and Alan Fletcher, MK:Smart Chief Project Liaison Officer, to represent the MK Future City Programme. Stewart Bailey and Alby Miller form Virtual Viewing, a key SME in MK who deliver 5D mapping of infrastructure to integrate Buildings Information Management into Smart City thinking, were also supporting the MK presence.
Over three days the team have engaged with cities from around the world, corporate solution providers and SMEs. Of particular interest to everyone who visited the UKTI pavilion were the Autonomous Pod programme for Milton Keynes and the MK Data Hub. The Milton Keynes team have a portfolio of discussions to continue that will contribute to MK:Smart over the next two years.
The UK ambassador to Barcelona, Simon Manley, was notably impressed with the Milton Keynes offering when he visited the pavilion for the formal ambassador’s reception.
Geoff and Stewart both had opportunities to showcase MK expertise as a city and as a centre of innovation excellence. Their presentations were well attended and provoked lively discussion.
Corin Wilson, UKTI Smart Cities Project Manager said, “It’s been great having Milton Keynes representing real collaboration between Local Authority, Higher Education and Business. What is happening in MK is truly remarkable and I know that we at UKTI will be maintaining a keen interest in the developing Smart City activity of Milton Keynes.”