Smart City-zens Brings Community-Led Innovation to Sandy Row
Smart City-zens is coming to Sandy Row as part of a new phase of work supporting communities to play a more active role in research, data, and local innovation.
The initiative has been developed by Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP), in partnership with local community organisations, and is funded by Belfast City Council’s Innovation Team. It uses citizen science to give residents practical opportunities to explore local issues, gather evidence, and take part in conversations about the future of their neighbourhoods.
At the heart of Smart City-zens is a simple but important idea: communities should not just be consulted about change, they should help shape it.
Through workshops, community research, and the use of environmental sensing technologies, residents will be supported to identify issues that matter locally, collect information, understand the findings, and consider how that evidence can be used to support positive change.
The project builds on an earlier pilot delivered in Belfast’s Market area in 2023. That pilot worked with young people aged 16–18 and explored how communities could use data and environmental sensing to better understand local challenges. It showed that, with the right support, residents can engage meaningfully with research and data in ways that are practical, accessible, and relevant to their area.
The first phase also highlighted important lessons, including the need to sustain participation over time, create clearer links between community evidence and decision-making, and give participants a stronger role in interpreting the information they help collect.
This next phase brings Smart City-zens into Sandy Row, creating a new opportunity for local residents to get involved in community-led research and innovation.
The project also connects with the wider Smart Belfast Urban Innovation Framework, led by Belfast City Council through the Belfast Region City Deal. Smart Belfast aims to bring together government, academia, industry, SMEs, and communities to help make Belfast a more inclusive, sustainable, and productive city.
While technology and innovation are becoming increasingly important in how cities develop, it is vital that local communities are included in those conversations in a meaningful way. Smart City-zens aims to address this by making innovation more accessible, community-led, and connected to real local priorities.
Over the coming months, participants in Sandy Row will work together to explore issues affecting the area, use citizen science methods, and contribute to discussions about how data and innovation can better reflect the needs of local people.
By combining community knowledge, research, and practical technology, Smart City-zens aims to show how residents can play a central role in shaping a more inclusive future for Belfast.
Do you want to make a difference in your community?
Project running from May to December 2026
No experience is needed, just an interest in getting involved and having your say.
To register your interest, contact:
Email: Register@belfastsouth.com
Phone: 029 9024 4449
