Weather and transport data project kicks off in Sunderland

Movers and shakers across the UK gathered at the Sunderland Software Centre to mark the start of a ground breaking project aimed at bringing new opportunities to the region’s software companies.

Almost 40 development partners from the region attended the scoping session, the first of a four phase Integrated Transport and Weather Information project centred in Sunderland on Wednesday, (October 23), to understand how unique weather and transport data can be commercialised.

The session included representatives from partners Connected Digital Economy Catapult (CDEC), Transport Systems Catapult (TSC), the MET office and Sunderland Software City (SSC), Nexus and the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority (TWITA).

The project marks the first time two catapult centres – newly established national, independent research, development and innovation centres – have worked together on a project.

David Dunn, CEO of Sunderland Software City, said: “The CDEC is about understanding and managing big data and the TSC is about increasing mobility and these together with newly available MET Office data make this a nationally important project and an opportunity for North East software companies to build new markets and generate new revenue.”

The Integrated Transport and Weather Information project will test the market demand for real-time and more accurate weather data – the first time such data will be made available by the MET Office.

North East SMEs will then utilise this data to design innovative solutions for the transport and logistics industries, ideas which can be developed and promoted by CDEC and TSB to demonstrate the quality of UK innovation.

MET Office data, along with transport data from Nexus and TWITA, was presented at the event and formed the basis of discussion on how the information will be presented to North East IT and software companies.

Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council said: “Sunderland Software Centre – as part of an exclusive network of smart hubs – is helping to really connect the North East to movers and shakers in the country and the Integrated Transport and Weather Information project is a prime example of that. The opportunity to play host to such a significant event represented an excellent platform to really showcase the exciting developments that are putting Sunderland at the fore as a destination for technology and software.

“The work we have undertaken in Sunderland really is pioneering and events such as these can help further our vision of being a city that is right at the cutting edge.”

The next stage of the project will be to work with the software community in the region in preparation for an Innovation Challenge to be held in Sunderland in February 2014. This will mark the start of a six month period in which companies can access exclusive data for the purposes of generating new business and revenue models.

Ross Cooney, software developer at Smith Electric Vehicles in Washington, who was invited to join the session to discuss how businesses can utilise such data, is confident the project can benefit the company and its customers in the near future.

He said: “I’m confident our involvement in the project will allow us to successfully predict vehicle range in advance, allowing us to re-certify routes, differentiating ourselves from competitors and offering customers a unique service.

“The event was a great success, with first-class expertise and advice and I’m looking forward to the next three stages as we look to drive forward the business.”

Neil Crockett, chief executive officer at CDEC, believes Sunderland Software Centre was the ideal location to host the event.

He said: “The Connected Digital Economy Catapult team was excited to be involved in the kick off discussions about the Integrated Transport and Weather Information Pilot project in Sunderland. We found it a fresh and exciting environment that gave us a real feel of the city’s vibrant software community.

“With the project, we and the other organisations collaborating in the project, aim to gauge the demand digital innovators the North East have for integrated sets of near real-time and robust data, including weather data, and how this can catalyse the creation of new products, new businesses, new jobs and new economic growth.”

Sunderland Software Centre is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visitwww.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding