The Tay5G Challenge Fund has been launched, offering grants worth £450,000 to support organisations trialling products and services using 5G networks.
Applicants can be from anywhere in the UK, but projects must impact or take place in the Tay Cities Region.
Tay5G is a programme established by the Tay Cities Deal to help businesses, individuals, the public sector and the third sector to engage with the next-generation mobile internet networks.
The Tay5G Challenge Fund is funded by the Scottish Government, with partners including the Scottish Futures Trust, the Scotland 5G Centre, Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Fife Council, Perth & Kinross Council and Abertay University.
The goal is to trial 5G mobile communications with use cases for all kinds of sectors from entertainment to manufacturing, healthcare to construction and fashion to automated transport. 5G networks are especially useful in enabling advanced communications such as virtual reality, automation and the Internet of Things - a key tool for developing 'smart cities'.
The funding is available to support up to six applicants who can demonstrate impactful projects for products, services or solutions which use 5G networks. Applicants from across the UK are eligible to apply, but must have a Scottish organisation within its consortium.
Dundee City Council city development convener Mark Flynn said: “The Tay5G Challenge Fund has been designed to help the Tay City Region growth sectors embrace 5G networks and enhance their business by optimising processes, increasing capability through to enabling new products and services.”
Business Minister Ivan McKee added: “The Tay5G Challenge Fund can help transform the regional economy of Tayside and demonstrate the opportunities available through adopting new technologies.
“The Scottish Government’s £450,000 funding through the Tay Cities Deal is helping build sustainable and productive communities and I look forward to seeing the projects which emerge from this important investment in the development of technologies of the future.”
The fund is being managed by Urban Foresight, a consultancy firm located in Dundee and Newcastle.
It officially opened for applications in December at an event in Dundee held by the Scotland 5G Centre. Applications close on the 31 January.
Three online drop-in sessions are being held throughout January to give potential applicants an opportunity to learn more about the fund and discuss their application with experts.
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