The challenge

Munroe K, a property and asset management company, sought to establish Ingenuity, a purpose-designed smart cities innovation hub in Morley, near Leeds.

Working in collaboration with Leeds City Council, Leeds University, and local private partners, the hub aimed to become the UK’s leading destination for smart cities innovation.

To secure funding and ensure long-term viability, a robust commercial case was needed. This required defining the smart cities market, assessing global trends and local opportunities, and identifying market needs to develop a sustainable operating model.

Urban Foresight was commissioned to conduct this work and support the development of a successful business case.

Why it’s important

Smart cities technologies offer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, urban mobility, and digital inclusion.

With an estimated global market value of $98.15 billion, growing at 29.3% annually, smart cities represent a significant economic opportunity.

Leeds and its wider region are well-positioned to lead in this space, boasting over 8,500 digital businesses that could contribute to smart city innovation. However, a dedicated hub was needed to connect challenge holders with solution providers, facilitate testing, and drive collaboration.

By establishing Ingenuity, the region could harness local expertise, attract investment, and create high-value jobs, while addressing socio-economic challenges in Morley through innovation-driven growth.

Our approach

Urban Foresight led a structured research programme to develop the commercial case, including:

• Market Analysis: Defining the smart cities sector, identifying emerging trends, and profiling 12 comparable hubs worldwide.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Conducting 20 interviews with key industry and local stakeholders, plus a focus group workshop with six engaged ecosystem representatives.
• Service Development: Creating a longlist of 28 potential support services grouped into key categories such as real-world testing, innovation acceleration, and data facilitation. Each service was assessed against strategic, market, and financial criteria to prioritise initial delivery focus areas.
• Business Model Development: Evaluating four operating options—from maintaining the existing office space to developing a fully staffed innovation hub—and providing financial analysis to support decision-making.

These insights directly informed the Towns Fund application and helped define a commercially viable approach to establishing Ingenuity as a leading innovation hub.

The impact

Our work enabled Ingenuity to develop a compelling and evidence-based commercial case, which contributed to securing funding from the UK Government’s Towns Fund.

The hub is now positioned to fill a crucial gap in the region’s innovation ecosystem, providing a unique facility that combines real-world testing, business acceleration, and collaboration opportunities.

By aligning with market needs and leveraging local assets—including Leeds City Council’s data and the White Rose Park’s controlled testbed environment—Ingenuity will act as a catalyst for smart city solutions, attracting investment and fostering regional economic growth.

How Urban Foresight can help you

Urban Foresight specialises in defining viable business models for innovation hubs, ensuring they are positioned to secure funding, attract partners, and deliver lasting impact. Our expertise in market analysis, stakeholder engagement, and commercial strategy helps clients develop strong, evidence-based business cases.

Whether you are looking to create a new innovation hub, unlock funding, or define the commercial potential of emerging technologies, we can help you turn ambition into reality. Contact us at hello@urbanforesight.com to learn more.