// CITY_ASSESSMENT
How smart is Sunderland?
Sunderland, United Kingdom, scores 70.4% against the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework in 2026 — ranked #75 of 388 cities assessed, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Smart score
70.4%
Rank
#75 / 388
Criteria present
41 / 86
Evidence coverage
91.9%
Sunderland's smart city score by area
9 present · 4 partial · 0 absent · 2 not assessed
6 present · 5 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
4 present · 9 partial · 0 absent
2 present · 8 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
8 present · 3 partial · 1 absent · 1 not assessed
8 present · 0 partial · 0 absent
4 present · 9 partial · 1 absent
Where Sunderland is strong
- ▸Open Data & Transparency
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information
- ▸Health & Digital Health
- ▸Innovation & Economic Development
- ▸Culture, Tourism & Recreation
Where the gaps are
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin
- ▸Active & Shared Mobility
- ▸Governance & Smart-City Operating Model
- ▸Public Safety & Emergency
Evidence highlights
Open Data & Transparency · Clear open licensing
Sunderland City Council publishes datasets, such as 'Sunderland Museums', under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL), which is an explicit open license.
https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/open-data-licenceOpen Data & Transparency · Programmatic API access
The UTMC Open Data Service explicitly states it provides traffic and travel related data sets through an 'open Application Programming Interface (API)' that is detailed on its site, allowing free access to live data.
https://www.netraveldata.co.uk/api/Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Fibre / high-speed broadband coverage
CityFibre is undertaking a £62m full fibre investment to bring connectivity within reach of almost every home and business in Sunderland, with work having started on August 16, 2021.
https://www.cityfibre.com/news/cityfibre-gets-to-work-on-future-proofing-sunderlands-digital-foundations-with-62m-full-fibre-investmentConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Public Wi-Fi network
Sunderland has a "superfast ground-breaking free Wi-Fi network" as part of its smart city initiatives, with usage statistics available through its open data platform.
https://www.sunderlandoursmartcity.com/networks-and-solutions/Funding Sunderland can bid for
118 open calls — grants, tenders and innovation competitions Sunderland is eligible for, including UK-wide schemes any place can apply to. Every entry links to its source.
- NationalgrantCloses 15 Sept 2026Help The Homeless Grant Scheme
Help the Homeless
up to £5kApply → - NationalcompetitionCloses 16 Sept 2026Accelerating adoption of quantum enabled sensing and PNT
Innovate UK
up to £14.3m24 month projectEnds 30 Nov 2028 - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Energy Efficiency
Innovate UK, Department for Transport (DfT)
- NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Electric Power
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure Two (ZEVI 2): Alternative Fuels
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Quantum computing applications for large scale impact: CR&D
Innovate UK
up to £13m - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Healthy Heart Grants 2026
Heart Research UK
- NationalgrantCloses 17 Sept 2026Researcher Challenges Grants 2026
British Council
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Coastal Communities Fund Grant Scheme 2026
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant
Environment Agency
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Second Year Of Moray Coastal Community Fund Opens For Bids
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Moray Council’s Coastal Community Fund
Moray Council
£10k–£50k
Showing 12 of 118 — see them all in the explorer.
About this assessment
Sunderland was assessed against the 86 criteria of the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework on 2026-09-03 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, and every finding links to where it was found. Scores refresh continuously as cities publish new evidence.