Milton Keynes tech sector to be ‘supercharged’ with investment

Posted 1st August 2024

Milton Keynes has made a name for itself as a ‘smart city’ in its time, especially after being at the forefront of growth in technology and artificial intelligence in recent years. Researchers have found themselves in Milton Keynes to trial new initiatives aimed at transforming modern cities into greener and more pleasant places to live and work, and it now boasts the world’s largest fleet of autonomous delivery robots.

Current live trials in Milton Keynes include self-driving shuttles, urban drone deliveries and advanced radio communications.

Milton Keynes City Council has recently secured an investment from the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which it is match funding, to support the Milton Keynes tech ecosystem, and assist the City Council in delivering its Technology, Smart City, Digital and Creative Industries Strategy.

The Milton Keynes tech ecosystem initiative will play a key part in the city council’s ambitions to grow the city’s global reputation as a smart city and home of innovation.

The Ecosystem Partnership Programme delivered by Barclays Eagle Labs and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, provides funding to UK start-ups to help them succeed and scale up their business. Milton Keynes City Council successfully applied for funding from the Programme and is match funding the investment received.

New themed play-park for Crownhill
Milton Keynes City Council has unveiled an improved play park in Crownhill inspired by HM King Charles III’s Coronation. HM The King visited Milton Keynes in February 2023 to officially recognise MK’s new city status.

The park includes Coronation-themed features including a throne seat and references to Westminster Abbey, and also has a roundabout, rocking horse and swings.

Milton Keynes City Council worked in partnership with Timotay Playscapes to deliver the improved play area after feedback from local residents. It joint funded the new park with the FCC Community Action Fund, a national landfill charity that funds local initiatives.

New technology to fix even more potholes!
The council will be investing £100,000 on a new Roadmender Elastomac machine, a new state of the art machine to fix more potholes. The system uses new technology that improves the quality and speed of repairs while being more sustainable and reducing carbon.

The council has been trialling the machine here in recent months and results from MK, and other local authorities, have been positive. Conventional repair methods can create lengthy disruption to roads due to requiring potholes to be excavated for repairs, this new technology uses a pioneering material which is poured into and over the top of defects, wielding itself to the surface and improving the road surface.

Purchasing the new machine will ensure more efficient use of existing budgets and allow more potholes to be fixed. The council will pay for the purchase by using part of an underspend of the council budget last year.

Pete Marland Leader of Milton Keynes City Council