MAKING ERIE A SECURE CYBER AND CONNECTED SERVICES DESTINATION

Secure Erie Accelerator & Secure Smart City™ Initiative

ABOUT THE ERIE INNOVATION DISTRICTThe Erie Innovation District is an organization with the goal of reshaping the city and promoting economic growth. The district is pursuing three main initiatives: startup incubation and investment, technology partnerships, and competition. The startup incubation and investment initiative strives to encourage new cyber business creation and accelerate business growth with partnerships from major companies with interests that range from IT to Insurtech. For more information, visit erieinnovationdistrict.com.

ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITYSingularity University is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world's biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all. SU's collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations across the globe to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis and is partnered with leading organizations including Google, Deloitte, Genentech, and UNICEF. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @SingularityU.

Erie Innovation District

SECURE ERIE ACCELERATOR SECURE SMART CITY™ INITIATIVEWHAT IS SEA?The Secure Erie Accelerator (SEA) is a first-of-its-kind startup accelerator focused on solutions for securing the massive amounts of data and devices for smart cities.

WHAT IS AN ACCELERATOR?An accelerator is an entrepreneurial program designed to rapidly take early-stage technology companies from concept to market. SEA will accept 10 companies and provide up to $100,000 in funding. Companies will relocate to Erie for the three-month program and receive mentorship and exposure to corporations, pubic officials and investors.

WHY IS AN ACCELERATOR THE FOUNDATIONFOR THE ERIE INNOVATION DISTRICT?SEA will play an integral role in the foundation of the Erie Innovation District as it seeks to attract startups that will provide diverse technical resources and skill sets to the region. Such resources and skill sets are directly related to the Secure Smart City™ initiative, big data and insuretech.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF SEA?The accelerator aims to demonstrate why Erie is an ideal place to open an outpost or scale technology companies. The EID can offer many kinds of incentives to companies looking to establish a presence in Erie. SEA will bring together some of the leading corporations, startups and public officials in the area of security to expedite the market introduction of exponential security technology solutions. As an economic development tool, SEA will change the perception of Erie and northwestern Pennsylvania, establishing Erie as a smart city and leader in security and big data technology.

WHO IS BEHIND SEA?The Erie Innovation District supported by Singularity University, Dell EMC, Erie Insurance, Mercyhurst University, Ben Franklin Partners, Velocity Network and other partners are all helping to make the accelerator possible.

WHAT IS A SMART CITY?Smart cities seamlessly integrate information and communication technologies with the Internet of Things (IoT) to increase efficiency, reduce costs and enhance communications between networks. Doing so enables cities to leverage their technology to create a more cohesive environment across multiple public services, including public safety, transportation and resource management.

WHAT IS A SECURE SMART CITY™?With information and communication technologies integrated into a consolidated platform, smart city infrastructure poses unique security challenges. A Secure Smart City™ is designed with security in mind to protect against IoT security threats and vulnerabilities, safeguarding the city’s operations, citizens’ privacy and public safety.

WHAT IS THE ERIE INNOVATION DISTRICT’S ROLE IN THE SECURE SMART CITY™ INITIATIVE?The EID plans to build and enhance cyber services for the next generation of secure connected communities in the city of Erie. As we continue to build partnerships and collaborations, the EID will emerge as a center for regional and global cyber security, leading to a nexgen Secure Smart City™ designation for Erie.

HOW WILL THE SECURE SMART CITY™DESIGNATION BENEFIT THE ERIE REGIONAs the EID leads the way on designing safe, secure and resilient solutions for Erie, citizens can expect improved quality of life. In addition, by establishing Erie as a model Secure Smart City™—one that efficiently manages resources and invests in infrastructure and human and social capital—the EID will drive sustainable economic development in a safe and secure connected environment.

As a Secure Smart City pilot, Erie and the EID will:• Bridge the “digital divide” through broadband Wi-Fi• Enhance safety and security of our citizens throughout the city• Offer a test market and city for the creation and evaluation of cyber/IoT solutions

WHEN WILL ERIE START TO EXPERIENCE THESECURE SMART CITY™ PILOT SOLUTIONSThe EID—along with partners Quantela, Velocity Network and others—has already begun to plan and implement the cyber solutions for the Secure Smart City™ pilot. After executing two pilot solutions on a smaller scale in Erie, the EID will operate, maintain and test the solutions over the next few months. Following this evaluation, the plan in approximately 18 months is to move from pilot solutions to the initial city-wide rollout of services and infrastructure.