Partners in the challenge include Bethnal Green Ventures, Transport for London, National Grid, Shell and London boroughs
Fourteen tech start-ups have been shortlisted in a competition to come up with innovative solutions to some of London’s most pressing social and environmental problems including housing, dementia and isolation.
The new Civic Innovation Challenge (CIC) is an initiative that aims to match start-ups and SMEs with leading corporates and public organisations to solve some of UK capital’s biggest challenges.
Announced in June 2018, CIC forms part of the London mayor, Sadiq Khan’s Smarter London Together roadmap, which sets out how he will realise his ambition for London to become the world’s leading smart city.
Proposals from more than 100 applicants were whittled down to 14 companies which will now be further developed in response to the seven challenges set out by the mayor.
“London’s tech community boasts some of the most dynamic and creative businesses and entrepreneurs anywhere in the world”
Later this year, the final seven – one for each challenge – will each be awarded £15,000 to jointly test and refine their ideas with a group of corporate partners.
The seven challenges are:
The range of partners brought together by the mayor, along with delivery partner Bethnal Green Ventures, to offer the companies valuable mentoring and support as they develop their solutions, include: Transport for London, National Grid, Shell, Lloyds Banking Group, the London boroughs of Hackney and Ealing, and a group of London NHS trusts.
“London’s tech community boasts some of the most dynamic and creative businesses and entrepreneurs anywhere in the world,” said Khan.
“City Hall wants to bring that expertise, energy and vision to bear on some of the challenges our city faces – using technology for good, to help tackle problems like air pollution, loneliness, financial exclusion and access to affordable housing.
He continued: “We want London to be the world’s smartest city – and harnessing the power of tech and data to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing Londoners in their daily lives in an important part of that.”
“We were overwhelmed by the quality of start-ups that responded to the mayor’s call to solve some of London’s major challenges,” added Jessica Stacey, partner at Bethnal Green Ventures.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with the finalists over the next month as they get ready to develop and test their innovative solutions.”
If you like this, you might be interested in the following:
London bids to become most ‘walkable’ city
Streets will be designed, built and managed to support people walking with new infrastructure, better signposting and maps, and more pedestrian crossings
London mayor’s fund to help cut emissions
The UK capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, continues his campaign for cleaner air with the launch of a £500 million investment fund
London mayor launches smart roadmap
Sadiq Khan publishes his plan to make London the world’s smartest city and launches a city-wide tech talent initiative