The Belfast 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) programme, spearheaded by Belfast City Council, has been granted a one-year extension and additional funding from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) following a successful initial year.

The programme has now secured a total of £5.1 million to facilitate the adoption of 5G and digital technologies across key sectors in the region, including transport and logistics, creative industries, construction, manufacturing, and the public sector, with the aim of driving innovation and stimulating economic growth.

During its first year, the 5GIR programme successfully delivered nine 5G-focused projects in collaboration with prominent organisations such as Belfast Harbour, Queen's University Belfast's Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Ulster University and Studio Ulster, Translink, Stena Line, Manfreight, and Retinize. Drawing on the practical experience gained from these projects, the programme has also developed a 5G Adoption Toolkit, offering valuable guidance and resources for local businesses and industries looking to leverage the technology.

Looking ahead, the programme will launch a new funding competition in early summer 2025, with grants of up to £100,000 available. This funding round aims to support even more businesses and organisations within the Belfast region in harnessing the power of 5G-enabled digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency and boost productivity. Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, commented on the programme's success and future potential: "We know that 5G is driving innovation across key growth sectors and we want to make sure that, as a city region, our businesses are getting opportunities to explore its potential within their own sectors. Our Belfast 5GIR programme is delivering real-world innovation and impact in the region and this additional £1.3 million of funding will enable us to support even more businesses and organisations to benefit from the transformative effect of 5G and digital technologies."

He added: "We are also working with our Belfast Region City Deal partners to build the region's advanced wireless ecosystem, through a range of outreach and engagement activities to attract investment, build skills and capacity, share knowledge and identify opportunities for economic growth."

Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Chair of the Belfast Region City Deal's Digital Advisory Board and Innovation Commissioner for Belfast, highlighted the future impact of 5G: "Over the next few years, 5G will become the dominant wireless connectivity technology across our economy and will enable us to achieve our digital innovation ambitions in the Belfast region. City Deal partners have harnessed the DSIT funding to accelerate the development of innovative projects, from proof-of-concept right through to technology adoption, to enable key sectors in the region to benefit from 5G."

Dr Johnston also pointed to the opportunities for businesses: "This additional funding is a great opportunity for businesses and high-growth industry sectors to combine the unique benefits of 5G with digital technologies, such as IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics and immersive applications, to deliver 5G use cases."

Notably for the construction sector, Queen's University Belfast is already leveraging 5G to support the design and construction of its £100 million state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), demonstrating the technology's potential to enhance efficiency and innovation within the industry.

The Belfast 5GIR programme, which will now run until March 2026, is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of its UK 5G Innovation Regions programme. Its core objective is to stimulate economic growth and foster innovation by unlocking the transformative opportunities presented by advanced wireless connectivity and digital technologies across various sectors.

Find out more about the Belfast 5GIR programme and download the 5G Adoption Toolkit at www.smartbelfast.city