The UK Government, Glasgow City Council, and the Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC) have launched a significant initiative, backed by substantial government investment, to establish Glasgow as Europe's premier smart things and IoT innovation hub.

This collaboration involves a £2.5 million investment from both public and private sectors into a 250-desk, cutting-edge facility named "thebeyond" at SkyPark, Finnieston in Glasgow.

The partnership is aiming to place Glasgow as a leading city in key future technologies such as drones, robots, AI, IoT, nanotechnology, medical technology, and clean technology. This ambition aims to revolutionise various industries while delivering considerable economic, social, and environmental benefits. Glasgow City Council, in collaboration with STAC, will utilise the city as a testing ground for homegrown innovations. STAC, inaugurated in 2021, aims to position Glasgow as an innovator in the application of crucial future technologies.

In partnership with STAC, Glasgow City Council will transform the city into a proving ground for local innovations. Since its inception in 2021, STAC has been focused on establishing Glasgow as a frontrunner in the implementation of essential future technologies. The initiative aims to support the establishment of up to 100 companies in the Scottish city by the end of 2024.

Paul Wilson, CEO, and Co-Founder of STAC, and driving force behind the partnership, said: "Glasgow can be a powerhouse in the key technologies that will enhance life and industry for the next decades. As we build the leading tech cluster around STAC's thebeyond we will gain a reputation and attract international investment. That's the goal, ambitious and realisable. We believe thebeyond will be Europe's largest Smart Things and IoT space.

"Glasgow has all the elements - talent, innovation, and a collaborative spirit - needed to lead in what is known as the 'Era of Things'.  We believe we are on the cusp of something extraordinary. From thebeyond tech companies will develop tomorrow's technologies to compete in global markets."

"We have the talent and innovation from our universities, now we are boosting entrepreneurship and increasing the ambition to position Glasgow as a leader in the development and application of key future technologies that will allow it to compete on the global stage,” commented Volvo Cars CEO and STAC Advisory member Jim Rowan.

"Technology innovation being driven through STAC's accelerator programme can provide companies like Meta a vital source of "first of kind" technologies, that will change how people live, communicate, and play in future. That's the play here at thebeyond," said Sean Murphy VP, Global Supply Chain at Meta and STAC Advisory member.

Councillor Ricky Bell, Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council, remarked: "This collaboration will help Glasgow become a leading technology-driven city, with our services and buildings powered by homegrown innovation to the benefit of everyone who lives, works and studies here. We will empower Glasgow's startups to hone their technologies here and then compete internationally, enhancing our position on the global tech stage and bringing a great number of new jobs and careers in this sector."