The rise and rise of the smart city [Smart Cities Urban Britain]

THE UK SHOULD be seen as a world leader, the country not just with the smartest cities but also with the companies that develop the smart technology. This is according to the Smart Cities Forum (SCF), which is all about putting these ambitions front and centre in their drive to make our urban areas better places to live in. With the global market for smart city solutions expected to be worth around $400bn by 2020, the aim of the UK government's initiative is to get the private sector and local governments working together to garner 10 per cent of that value. Science Minister David Willets believes that the UK is well placed to do just that and has to act now to take advantage of the situation.