TORONTO — Urban infrastructure solutions firm Urban Living Futures Inc. has announced the launch of UPPlift: Toronto, a pilot program that is “seeking technological innovations aimed at resolving challenges in urban areas and their existing infrastructure.”
The program, launched Jan. 17, is aimed at increasing the city’s livability through such innovations as Internet of Things technologies, energy efficiency programs, traffic analysis software and retail forecast apps, said a media statement.
Urban Living Futures, with offices in Toronto and London, U.K., is partnering with Microsoft and QuadReal Property Group in the program, and the City of Toronto is also participating.
UPPlift: Toronto will operate as a “virtual technology accelerator with a goal to help resolve city challenges and increase the city’s livability” through innovative urban solutions, the statement explained.
“We’re seeing a rising trend in the creation of smart cities, but we can’t forget that there is existing infrastructure that needs to move with us into the coming decades,” said Mikele Brack, founder of Urban Living Futures.
The program is now accepting submissions from innovators with working prototypes hoping to have their technologies piloted. Shortlisted applicants will be announced in February. Successful entrants will receive technology, support and expertise from Microsoft and Intel and they will be coached through the development of business plans for their pilots.
Selected projects will receive additional in-kind support from Fasken, Toronto Hydro and Communitech. Eventually five to 10 participants will be selected, with pilots to be run in QuadReal office buildings in the downtown core.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed