Source: SmartCitiesWorld News
Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team
Date published: 2025-10-16
[original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end]
Manchester City Council has launched a report that aims to explore the current and future role of the Tech for Good community in achieving Manchester’s vision of becoming an inclusive, leading digital city.
Manchester’s Tech for Good community has long championed the use of technology to enable social change. The council reports that the community’s influence and drive have been integral to building Manchester’s reputation.
Human-centric systems
Recognising the Tech for Good community as a distinct ecosystem, the Tech for Good in a Human Centred Economy report offers insights into approaches that could strengthen Manchester’s Tech for Good community and enable grassroots solutions to social challenges. It outlines a vision for a ‘smarter’ city and economy, where human-centric systems and frameworks are embedded in smart city approaches.
Recommendations in the report have been developed using a systems map connecting the Tech for Good ecosystem on to the systems and structures of a human-centric ‘smarter’ economy, and a Score analysis highlighting the strengths, challenges, opportunities, responses and effectiveness (Score) of the systems map.
“We’re proud to champion ethical and responsible tech development that drives our 10-year ‘Investing in Success’ plan to grow Manchester’s economy and make it more inclusive”
“Manchester’s Tech for Good ecosystem plays a vital role in enabling socially conscious innovation. Through examining the current tech and digital landscape and identifying new opportunities for systemic transformation, this report shines a light on strengths and barriers within the ecosystem and offers a roadmap for building a greener, fairer and more collaborative economy,” said Angela Harrington, director of inclusive economy at Manchester City Council.
“We’re proud to champion ethical and responsible tech development that drives our 10-year ‘Investing in Success’ plan to grow Manchester’s economy and make it more inclusive.”
The report has been compiled by social enterprise Bassajamba CIC and the Federation, an ethical innovation community. Recommendations in the report will be used by Manchester City Council to inform future decision-making and to drive inclusive growth.
The report outlines two broad recommendations to strengthen Manchester’s Tech for Good community. These are:
- Develop a Smarter Economy Demonstrator to test and implement new capabilities within the economy
- Develop applications to assist funding and financing for a Smarter Economy Demonstrator.
Six further objectives guide delivery of the recommendations, focusing on practical actions to strengthen the Tech for Good ecosystem.
“Through examining the current tech and digital landscape and identifying new opportunities for systemic transformation, this report shines a light on strengths and barriers within the ecosystem and offers a roadmap for building a greener, fairer and more collaborative economy”
“This report highlights the powerful ’for purpose’ work already seen in parallel strands of the Tech for Good ecosystem in Manchester, in both the for profit and non-profit sectors of the economy,” said Reina Yaidoo, CEO at Bassajamba.
“Our recommendations include alternative ways that smarter city economic models could bring these two systems together to unleash opportunities for social and economic dynamism, open new avenues for data and digital value based insight and transform innovation and inequality in the city, giving Manchester a strategic lead within Tech for Good and an ethical underpinning to the growth of Smarter Economies as part of a Smarter City.”
By taking action to unlock the full potential of Manchester’s Tech for Good ecosystem, Manchester City Council reports that it hopes to lead the way in shaping a more connected, ethical and inclusive economy.
Launched in 2021, Manchester’s Digital Strategy sets out an aspirational vision to support and grow Manchester’s digital ecosystem. Encompassing the entire city – businesses, charities, social enterprises, and residents – the strategy outlines four key priorities for collaborating with people and organisations to realise Manchester’s ambitions to become a world-leading digital city.
To read the report, go to: Tech for Good in a Human Centered Economy Report.
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https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/manchester-outlines-vision-for-a-smarter-city-and-economy-12054