Is your organisation interested in working with us to use innovative digital tech to help us to better manage our urban parks and open spaces?

Contracts of up to £20,000 will be awarded for a period of four months to successful applicants.

We are particularly interested in how we can make our open spaces safer for citizens while keeping them accessible and ensuring that we respect the privacy of our users. (Read the challenge brief to find out more.)

The competition is in the form of a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and is focused mainly on Belfast (Northern Ireland) but there may also be opportunities to develop proofs of concepts in the Dublin (Rep. of Ireland) as well.

SBRI competitions are open to all organisations within the EU (not just SMEs). Your application should be able to demonstrate tech innovation related to the challenge, and show a potential route to market for your ideas.

  • Competition opened: 18 October 2018 
  • Application deadline: 14 November 2018 (12 noon GMT)
  • All selected projects must be completed by: 31 March 2019

Come talk to us!

We’re holding three information sessions for interested organisations. If you can make it, please do come along. (If you can’t make it, drop us an email and we can arrange to have a chat instead):

  • 1pm to 2pm (BST) 23 October, Catalyst Inc, Fintech Hub, Donegall Square West, Belfast
  • 1pm to 2pm (GMT) 29 October, Ormeau Baths, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast
  • 1pm to 2pm (GMT) 7 November, Innovation Factory, 385 Springfield Road, Belfast

How do you apply?

You need to register with the Northern Ireland Government E-Tendering system where you will find the application form and full background details.  We strongly recommend that you register even if you are still only considering whether to apply because if we make any changes to the competition, we can let you know right away. E-Sourcing Northern Ireland

For your convenience, you can also download copies of the competition documents from the links below. But please bear in mind, the latest, most up-to-date, official copies of all documents are on the E-Sourcing site. Really, do yourself a favour and register – it will only take five minutes!

If you have any questions email us: smartbelfast@belfastcity.gov.uk

Belfast City Council and the Department of Justice have been granted £100,000 for this competition. Belfast City Council is adding a further £10,000 while Dublin City Council is potentially contributing £10,000 bringing the total funding pot to £120,000.

Staged payments will be made on satisfactory completion of each element of the work.