The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has formed a board of academics, entrepreneurs and businesses to develop a plan to create a ‘Smart London’ that puts technological innovation at the centre of making the capital a better place to live, work and invest.
Headed up by Professor David Gann, head of innovation and entrepreneurship at Imperial College Business School, the board will look at how the capital can best invest in technology and data to ensure it remains one of the world’s most efficient and liveable cities.
“London has been at the forefront of technological wizardry for generations, but in a rapidly changing world we will need to work harder than ever to stay ahead of the game,” said The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
“We must harness the huge potential that new technology offers us and by drawing on the expertise of some of the brightest minds around we can make our great city an even smarter one too.”
He added: “I’m delighted to welcome on board a fantastic line up of experts to help spur the kind of innovation and entrepreneurship that will secure London’s future as the best big city on earth.”
For a full list of the Board’s members, click here.
London’s reputation as a ‘smart city’ was brought into disrepute recently, when SAP’s global VP of Urban Matters, Sean O’Brien, said that the UK’s cities are falling behind their global peers as austerity stifles innovation in the development of smart city applications, which could be of benefit to millions citizens across the country.
O’Brien also claimed the UK government doesn’t recognise that the majority of growth is driven out of its cities, which should propel increased investment in making them smarter, more efficient and easier to live in.
Upon the launch of the new board to tackle the problem, Professor Gann said: “With the help of the Smart London board we will harness London’s knowledge base - from London’s universities to its innovative entrepreneurs, from open to big data, from libraries to museums - in new ways, using new technology to create jobs and growth for the capital, and an even better London experience.”