Belfast’s HUB of Innovation is located at the city’s iconic Maritime Mile. To reach its full potential, the area is undergoing a process of urban transformation and has recently become part of the city’s new Innovation District, which will provide a further catalytic step for transformation.

The Belfast HUB is the entire Maritime Mile and will be the destination where creatives and cutting-edge technology companies will collaborate with existing businesses and communities and bring their unique perspectives to support the preservation, sustainability and enhancement of the Maritime Mile through innovation. It will give value to the intangible heritage of the area, making it a source of inspiration and will increase community participation and skills.

This HUB of Innovation will support a long-term Urban Innovation Framework where the transformation of the Waterfront promenade will embrace innovation whilst being heritage led.

The Belfast Actions

1. Develop a framework for a full connected Belfast Waterfront Promenade

Waterfront Promenade Framework will provide challenge fund applicants with information and visualisation of the Belfast Waterfront promenade for the next 20 years. The framework will give applicants a better understanding of the long-term aspirations of the area and where their projects could fit and support those aspirations.

2. Sustainability audit of businesses in the area (potentially digitised)

The Sustainability Audit will:

• Provide an overview for how individual businesses are approaching sustainability and what accreditation process they are signed up to, if any
• A dashboard visualising the results
• Identify what data is currently being captured and any gaps
• More target promotion of a green waterfront due to audit data and insights
• Benchmarking with other Green Waterfront areas
• Identify the most appropriate accreditation for the area Attract new businesses to locate to the Maritime Mile
• Attract new visitors to an Accredited Green Waterfront area
• Encourage sustainable use of the Maritime Mile with residents and surrounding neighbourhoods.

3. Develop and launch a Challenge Call

The successful projects may support the:

• Set up a central platform to communicate what’s on the Mile and highlight storytelling
• Storytelling via creative digital experiences to enhance the experience of the area for visitors and local communities
• Set up an open accessible shared hub for people to access and contribute information on historic environment
• Change the look and feel of the area and provide a focal point to drive new footfall by animating the Buildings and the River Belfast Action Plan
• Collaborate on the digitisation and gamification of the Maritime Mile
• Identify potential outdoor locations to showcase live music, theatre and entertainment
• Organise regular events to animate the Mile
• Create opportunities for community education and skills development via the Challenge Call and other HUB-IN initiatives.