RM1043.8-1-BELFAST CITY COUNCIL Augment the City

Description

Summary of work PROJECT GOALS 1 Contribute to de risking future City Deal investments in tourism and regeneration The project will enable BRCD partners to better understand the potential of emerging digital technologies within a visitor experience and destination to inform and de-risk future designs, planning, commissioning, and public procurement. 2 Contribute to de risking delivery and implementation of BRCD ISI Challenge Fund Programme. The project will pilot delivery of interventions, capturing valuable learning regarding the planning and operations of the £34 million ISI challenge fund. 3 Support innovation within the creative digital sector. The project will support innovation in the high growth Creative Digital sector by providing access to funding for the development of proofs of concepts and proto-types providing access to potential future customers to support product development and provide an environment that will allow iteration of the design of solutions, based on real world visitor feedback. SUMMARY OF WORK The Industry and Technical Expert is tasked with providing critical technical expertise and support to the BCC CIO team and partners in the delivery of the SBRI Challenge. The SBRI will require SMEs to develop innovative solutions to a challenge focused on 5G and emerging XR technologies and their impact on tourism and place making investments. The ITE is expected to possess depth expertise in IOT, XR, and 5G, and their real-world applications, possibilities, global solutions, market conditions, and integration potential for regeneration and placemaking effort. ITE RESPONSIBILITIES Facilitating in person workshops to define and support the SBRI challenge framing process Advise and guide the project board and delivery team on the breadth of technologies and their potential applications to the challenge. Engage with the local creative sector to invigorate, inspire and encourage applications to the SBRI competition and solution development support. Along with other panel members, assess SBRI applicants and selecting 10 applicants for phase 1 (each receiving £10,000). In phase 2 selecting up to 5 applicants (each up to £35,000) and up to 3 applicants at phase 3 (receiving a final award of £100,000). To participate in any pitch panels from competition entrants and to provide appropriate feedback. It is intended that the products will be tested on real visitors in the Visitor Attraction Rooms at Belfast City with the ITE monitoring the testing activity. The ITE is expected to capture insights and learnings across the project delivering a closing learning report. Where the supplied staff will work Northern Ireland Who the organisation using the products or services is BELFAST CITY COUNCIL Why the work is being done Over the upcoming decade, the BRCD (Belfast Region City Deal) partners have outlined ambitious plans for significant capital investments. Simultaneously, the rapid evolution of technologies like VR/AR, 5G, edge computing, and IoT (Internet of Things) is poised to take on an increasingly vital role in shaping the delivery and operational aspects of visitor experiences and place-making throughout Northern Ireland. The absence of a comprehensive understanding of these technologies, and their pivotal role in enhancing user experiences, creates the risk that future visitor attractions might not be optimized to their fullest potential. The business problem Belfast City Council has been approved to spend BRCD funding to deliver an SBRI procurement competition that will encourage SMEs to develop XR solutions to support visitor attraction and place making. While BCC has experience delivering innovative procurement and SBRI competitions, they do not possess XR and 5G expertise, global industry expertise, significant local market understanding, or the eco-system, though leaders / expert network connections, to fully support this programme and best position local companies for success. The people who will use the product or service User type: BCC R&D Users Definition: The programme's outputs will be used by BBC and the BRCD partners to better understand the potential of emerging digital technologies within a visitor experience and destination. This will inform and de-risk future designs, planning, commissioning, and public procurement. Also, to be used by BCC’s Tourism, Culture and Arts teams and the actual tourists and visitors who will engage with the immersive attractions. The ITE's services are aimed at assisting the programme manager in successfully executing the SBRI programme. The ITE will provide industry expertise and guidance to navigate the program's course. Furthermore, the ITE's support will extend to SMEs, encompassing thorough challenge definition, along with motivation and encouragement to help them realise their maximum potential Any pre-market engagement done Pre-tender engagement involved engaging with a few established AR/VR ITEs to seek advice and guidance on how to approach the specification. Work done so far A full Outline Business Case has been completed for the overall programme. This gained approval from the Investment Decision Maker - The Department for the Economy NI applying BRCD funds. The securing of an Industry and Technology Expert is one component of this business case and a brief outlining the potential benefits of this role was approved as part of that process. The venue for enabling a visitor testbed and showcasing the innovations has been secured within Belfast City Hall. Which phase the project is in Not started Existing team Belfast City Council: Programme Lead - Brenda Murphy, Programme Officer - Ciara Campbell, Project Team - Alistair Charles, PR/Communications - Paula Fee, SRO - Mark McCann Address where the work will be done Belfast City Council, City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS Working arrangements The supplier will be expected to attend and facilitate the workshops, participate in the assurance activities and deliver lessons learned in person, not remotely. There is no additional budget to cover expenses. Security and vetting requirements Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Latest start date 8 January 2024 Expected contract length Contract length: 2 years 0 months 0 days Optional extension: 1 years 0 months 0 days Budget Indicative maximum: £60000 Indicative minimum: £58000 Further information: The budget is net of VAT. There is no additional budget for expenses. Contracted out service or supply of resource? Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Terms and acronyms Term or acronym: ITE Definition: Industry and Technical Expert Term or acronym: BRCD Definition: Belfast Region City Deal Term or acronym: ISI Definition: Innovation for Societal Impact Term or acronym: CIO Definition: City Innovation Office Term or acronym: NI Definition: Northern Ireland Term or acronym: BCC Definition: Belfast City Council Term or acronym: ATC Definition: Augment the City Term or acronym: SBRI Definition: Small Business Research Initiative Term or acronym: SIB Definition: Strategic Investment Board Term or acronym: DFE Definition: Department for Economy NI