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Smart city firm says £11 million funding for innovative Dundee projects is just the beginning

Urban Foresight helps local government and business to use technology, data and new ways of working to transform local services and infrastructure.

The Newcastle-based venture was established in 2011 by its chief executive David Beeton after a career in global innovation consultancy and economic development.

Urban Foresight expanded into Dundee in 2017 following six years of working in partnership with Dundee City Council to develop strategies and projects to promote electric vehicles and sustainable transport locally.

The firm currently has a total UK workforce of 21.

The Dundee team is now 10-strong – compared to just one person three years ago. The company moved to bigger premises at Flour Mill in the city’s Commercial Street just over a year ago.

Mr Beeton’s wife, Rachel, who grew up in Dundee, is the firm’s director of finance and operations.

She said: “Over the years, we’ve written bids which have secured more than £11  million of investment into Dundee and helped the city to achieve global recognition for its pioneering work in electric vehicles.

“This includes collecting an award at a ceremony in Japan, where Dundee was named Europe’s most visionary electric vehicle city.

“Our Dundee team is also leading our pioneering work in smart and sustainable mobility. This includes a unique city data platform and mobility-as-a-service solutions.

“We’re also working with multinational companies to shape Europe-wide standards and business models for connected and autonomous vehicles.

“A key milestone later this year is that we’re hoping to welcome representatives of cities and national governments around the world to Dundee as part of a project that we run for the International Energy Agency’s hybrid and electric vehicle technology collaboration programme.

“We have significant plans for growth. We have already secured additional contracts to take our unique innovation partnership model to other local authorities and to export the learning that we’ve gained from pilots in Dundee to other cities.”

Rachel said her firm has been proud to help shape the development of Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee.

Urban Foresight’s other current projects north of the border include a sustainable energy and climate action plan for Angus Council, developing hydrogen infrastructure and an EV charging hub in Perth, and creating a Covid-19 charter and strategy to help tourism businesses in St Andrews to safely welcome visitors back to the town.

Rachel said her firm has been fortunate to work with ambitious organisations around the world on projects that improve lives, protect the environment and boost local economies.

Source: The Courier

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