The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) has awarded £1m to projects to maximise the use of existing and developing digital innovations.
Three universities – Harper Adams University, Hartpury University and Cranfield University – are being supported in projects that will demonstrate how modern technology can be used to enhance and improve environmental and business outcomes in the agricultural sector as well as for the public.
The universities will work with farmers and landowners in the River Severn Partnership area to show how advanced wireless technologies can be adapted to monitor crops, maintain security and regulate energy usage and will include a flagship project in partnership with landowners near Telford to monitor and regulate water flow to meet agricultural demands in local rivers and tributaries.
Mark Barrow, co-chair of the River Severn Partnership, said:-
“Shropshire Council is overseeing the management of the RSPAWIR and it is rewarding to see projects starting to come through the pipeline.
“These are our first projects to go live, and they have the potential to showcase exactly how the very latest wireless connectivity technology can be put to use to benefit our environment, ecology and economy.
“There will be more opportunities for businesses and voluntary organisations to benefit from the resources the RSPAWIR will bring during the year-long initiative.”
The RSPAWIR has been awarded £3.75m of funding from the Government to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in some of its key economic sectors.
The Partnership comprises the eight English and Welsh councils that cover the River Severn catchment area including Shropshire Council, and is one of 10 UK Innovation Regions to gain funding. The RSPAWIR will focus on accelerating the adoption of advanced wireless enabled technologies across three sectors which have particularly strong roots in the River Severn catchment area:-
- Water management
- Agri-tech
- Public sector
Further information
The award from the Department for Science Innovation and Technology is focused on the delivery of the Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023. The Partnership will look to its key sectors and communities to take full advantage of the transformative effect of using wireless networks to generate value and growth at the local level.