Smart bins boost as Perth and Dundee share in Euro funds

More high-tech innovations such a “smart bins” and “intelligent street lighting” will be installed in Perth and Dundee, thanks to a European funding boost.

A further £15 million has been invested in the Scottish Cities Alliance’s Smart Cities scheme.

The aim is to make all of Scotland’s cities more energy efficient, easier to work in and more flexible for changing technology.

Part of the money will be spent on open data platforms to bring the cities in line with Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The new tranche of funding brings the total invested in all of Scotland’s seven cities to £60m.

The money will also focus on further developing the technology that allows people to work outside their offices.

Information gathered from connected devices, such as bins that measure the waste inside them or lights that can determine when it is best to turn themselves on and off, will be used to improve decision making and service delivery, say the scheme’s proponents.

Chairman of the cities alliance, Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “Taking seemingly ordinary things such as street lights, bins and public transport and transforming their possibilities through Smart technology means cleaner, safer streets and this Smart technology also boosts the sustainability of our cities.

“Sustainability is increasingly an important factor for investors when they are looking at locations,” he added.

“We are one of the only countries in the world to take all of our cities on the Smart journey together, sharing learning and best practice, which has meant we as a collective have been cited as a model of best practice on numerous occasions.”

Ivan McKee, Scottish Government minister for trade, investment and innovation, said: “This European Regional Development Funding will enable the local authorities to strengthen their collaboration and bring even more cutting-edge technologies to residents across Scotland.”