Urban Business Lab

The Urban Business Lab programme was a practical, hands-on, and highly interactive initiative for entrepreneurs, delivered by Fronesys for CityLabs. Over two and a half days, participants worked with a select group using the MK:Smart data-led business canvas to explore and define the steps needed to develop their concepts into reality. The programme equipped start-ups and established SMEs with the understanding and practical tools to address business issues in product and service development within the digital economy. Once signed up with CityLabs, SMEs could join the next Urban Business Lab programme.

Tech Design & Prototype Evaluation

The Tech Design & Prototype Evaluation programme enabled SMEs to work with technical teams from the Open University and ZTE to develop concepts into prototypes. With extensive experience in evaluating technical ideas, the teams helped businesses understand the challenges of turning concepts into new products or services. Support was tailored to individual needs through group workshops and one-to-one sessions, guiding participants on the journey from idea to prototype for products and services in the digital economy.

MK Data Hub

The MK Data Hub was a data innovation infrastructure with a private cloud, developed as part of MK:Smart to place data at the heart of the smart city. It was available free of charge to all CityLabs registered users as a supported development environment for creating data-centric applications and services. Already powering Milton Keynes with MK:Insight as an example of dynamic data delivery, the CityLabs team supported users in prototyping and implementing their concepts.

How CityLabs Worked

CityLabs was a collaborative, grant-funded project supported by the ERDF, in which The Open University, ZTE, and Fronesys combined their expertise to create an environment that engaged SMEs in research and business development. By signing up, SMEs could access the full range of CityLabs services, sharing details about their product concepts or current challenges. The CityLabs team then contacted participants to develop a personalised programme of support.