Hull City Council gets dirty with new smart bins initiative

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Hull City Council and technology company Connexin have partnered to launch a groundbreaking new pilot project which will introduce sensors in smart bins across the city. Hull City Council hopes pilot will show potential to make bin collection routes and timetables more efficient, while the use of smart bins can provide real-time data on waste. A total […]

Upside Energy secures funding for cloud-based smart grid platform

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Manchester-based smart energy startup Upside Energy has secured investment totalling £5.5 million. The firm received the financial support to grow its team and speed up commercialisation and deployment of its cloud-based smart grid platform. Its platform aggregates the energy stored in everyday connected devices, such as batteries and hot water tanks, to create a virtual energy store that can […]

Sheffield NHS Trust seeks electronic baby tagging supplier

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One of the UK’s busiest maternity wards plans to implement an electronic baby-tagging system for newborn children. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking to install the technology at the neonatal unit of the Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital, which is part of Royal Hallamshire Hospital near the city centre. The trust is seeking a […]

Government launches £68 million AI and robotics fund

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The Government has announced more than £68 million of investment from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) for a programme of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) projects aimed at improving safety in extreme environments. The programme will develop robots and artificial intelligence to take on jobs in the freezing depths of the North Sea, dealing […]

Industrial IoT firm Prismtech expands Gateshead presence

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Industrial IoT firm PrismTech has taken space at a refurbished building on Gateshead’s Team Valley. PrismTech supplies data connectivity and IIoT platform solutions, tools and professional services its customers need to build Industrial IoT systems. PrismTech has twice been named a ‘Cool Vendor’ by Gartner. Now, it’s moved to a property formerly known as Talipot […]

Smart home security startup Cocoon raises £2.46m on Crowdcube

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Smart home security system provider Cocoon has raised £2.46m in equity crowdfunding on Crowdcube, with support from 1,117 investors and reaching a $15m valuation. The startup launched on crowdfunding site Indiegogo in November 2014 and went on to raise $250,000 (approximately £198,000)It has also attracted £2.69m in strategic investment from Aviva Ventures and Breed Reply […]

Entry deadline extended for the UK’s longest running digital awards

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The deadline for submissions for the Big Chip Awards until 5pm on Monday 20th March to enter. The Big Chip awards have celebrated excellence in digital and technology companies, organisations and individuals across the region for almost two decades – in areas including animation, search, user experience, eCommerce and digital transformation. Businesses, individuals and students from […]

Former Tesco exec joins smart home security startup Cocoon

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Robin Terrell, former Chief Compliance Officer at Tesco, MD of both Amazon UK and John Lewis Direct, joins Cocoon as Chairman as the firm embarks on an equity crowdfunding campaign with CrowdCube. The campaign was launched on 1 February and currently stands at £1.68 million, so 67% of the £2.5 million target. First launched on […]

Yorkshire wearables tech firm makes strides with international patents

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A Yorkshire technology company is aiming to capitalise on the fast-growing wearable tech market after securing several US and UK patents to integrate NFC chips into wearables, specifically jewellery that communicates with smartphones and chip readers. Wetherby-based Kiroco Technology has obtained the patents and is now working globally to develop applications, like contactless payments, activated by […]

Leeds smart home security business to crowdfund £1.5m

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Leeds smart home technology company Cocoon Alarm is looking to raise £1.5m in its latest fundraising bid on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. The company has looking to secure a £2.5m round by 4 March 2017, with original investors Aviva Ventures and Breed Reply Investments already committing £1m. It will use the latest investment to reduce unit […]

Durham firm Kromek to raise £21m through share placing

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County Durham radiation detection technology firm Kromek has announced its plans to raise £21m through a share placing, which will allow the company to strengthen its balance sheet. The Sedgefield-based business, which focuses on developing tech that can be used in the medical, security and nuclear markets. The share sale – consisting of a firm […]

Plans for a new innovation campus which could boost economy by £100m submitted

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Plans for a £60m expansion of the Citylabs campus have been submitted and if approved – the development is expected to boost Manchester’s economy by £100m bringing 750 jobs to the region by 2020. The new development is being proposed by Manchester Science Partnerships in a joint venture with Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation […]

Manchester’s Smartlife secures investment for wearable technology

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Manchester-based wearable technology business Smartlife has secured equity investment to help commercialise its product. Smartlife has developed technology which can be integrated into garments such as sportswear to read biometric signals and convert it into real time actionable insight. The patented technology is paired with electronics which feed back information including heart rate, respiration, activity […]

Liverpool IoT firm secures £1m deal on India trade trip

Baltic Triangle-based Red Ninja, a Liverpool healthcare technology company has landed a £1.1 million deal to use internet technology to help save lives. The firm now aims to expand its healthcare technology products in India after securing the deal while on a trade trip with the Prime Minister. As well as connected devices, the firm […]

Edge Hill uni unveil UK’s first 3D virtual environment

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Lancashire’s Edge Hill University is on course to unveil he UK’s first super immersive 3D virtual environment as part of its new £13m Technology Hub. The four screen CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment) will offer both students and businesses the chance to fully immerse themselves in a virtual room. Using real data, users will be able […]