Published 31 July 2023
Last updated 11 August 2023 — See all updates
5G
Innovation Regions application guidance
5G Innovation Regions
competition: clarification questions with responses (updated 11
August 2023)
5G
Innovation Regions application form
5G
Innovation Regions cash flow profile
Details
Update: 11 August 2023
5G Innovation Regions clarification questions with responses
updated.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
(DSIT)
is leading the government’s approach to driving innovation and
unlocking opportunities for economic growth through making use of
world-class digital infrastructure.
DSIT
is inviting applications into a £40 million fund
for local authorities across the UK to establish themselves as
‘5G
Innovation Regions’ (5GIRs).
5GIRs is part of our
wider programme to drive 5G adoption, with a
focus on key sectors where there is local capability and
opportunities. Funding will enable places throughout the UK to
unlock opportunities across the digital economy which utilise
advanced wireless connectivity.
A briefing event for this competition will be held on 1 August
2023. Please
register here for more details.
Objectives
Projects applying to this competition are expected to meet the
following competition objectives:
- drive economic growth across the UK by supporting places to
adopt advanced wireless technologies for services based around
local opportunities for growth
- accelerate commercial investment in 5G and other advanced
wireless technologies by aggregating and demonstrating demand
- foster the 5G ecosystem enabling
“learning by doing”
Competition process and dates
The competition will run for six weeks.
The key milestones and deadlines are set out below.
|
Milestone
|
Deadline
|
|
Competition opens
|
31 July 2023
|
|
Competition briefing event
|
1 August 2023
|
|
Deadline for clarification questions
|
3 September 2023
|
|
Deadline for receipt of applications (competition closes)
|
23:59, 10 September 2023
|
|
Assessment of applications
|
Mid-September 2023
|
|
Successful applicants notified
|
Mid-late October 2023
|
|
Project mobilisation
|
November 2023
|
|
Grant funding period (subject to successful applicants’
satisfactory completion of pre-grant requirements and
commercial agreements)
|
November 2023 - 31 March 2025
|
Eligibility
This competition is open to applications from UK-based Local
Authorities. Specific eligibility criteria for the competition
can be found in the competition guidance.
How to apply
To submit your proposals, please refer to the ‘how to apply’
section of the competition guidance, and submit all required
documents via the Find a
Grant site; by 23:59, 10 September 2023.
Background
Advanced wireless technologies will be key to driving the
government’s ambitions to harness digital transformation to build
a more inclusive, competitive and innovative digital economy.
Over the next decade, we will see the development and maturation
of innovative technologies from Artificial Intelligence, to
self-driving vehicles, to digital twins; all of which will demand
advanced wireless connectivity.
This programme supports the implementation of our UK Wireless Infrastructure
Strategy, which sets out a clear vision for how advanced
wireless infrastructure can become an integral part of the fabric
of the UK’s economy and society by 2030, and how we want people,
business and public services across the UK to realise the full
benefits of 5G and other forms of
advanced wireless connectivity.
Improving digital connectivity is one of the government’s
Levelling Up
priorities. We want places and communities across the UK to
share in the benefits of good connectivity, enriching lives and
driving local growth. Our intervention also supports the
government’s vision set out in our Digital Strategy for a
competitive and innovative digital economy, and delivers on our
Science and Technology
Framework and our commitment to grow the economy.
Tailoring interventions to their specific local needs and
existing strengths, 5GInnovation Regions
will promote the development and scaled adoption of 5Gand other advanced
wireless technologies, in businesses and in the delivery of
public services, to generate value and growth at the local level.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like more clarification,
please contact us on 5gadoption-enquiries@dcms.gov.uk.
Please note that the deadline for clarification questions
is 3 September 2023.
Your question and respective answer will be aggregated,
anonymised and added to a public question and answer
clarification document unless it is commercially sensitive.
