Belfast City Council: Leading Transformation
Belfast City Council (Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste) is the local authority for Belfast — Northern Ireland’s largest city. Serving an estimated population of 348,005 (2022), we are the largest district council by population, despite being the smallest by area.
Through the £1 billion Belfast Region City Deal, we are driving forward major regeneration projects, creating world-class visitor attractions, enhancing connectivity, and strengthening infrastructure across the region. We are also investing heavily in digital innovation, with the development of cutting-edge innovation hubs and testbeds.
Belfast City Council is proud to support this event, which brings together public and private sector leaders to tackle shared challenges and shape the future of our region. Together, we are building on our ambitions and continuing Belfast’s journey of transformation.
Belfast City and Region: Where Innovation Meets Opportunity
Belfast — Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital — sits at the heart of a dynamic network of thriving towns and cities. Perfectly placed between Europe and the UK, we’re primed to become a powerhouse for global trade, innovation, and growth.
Our region is alive with opportunity. Home to world-leading businesses, cutting-edge researchers, ambitious start-ups, and global brands, Belfast offers a unique advantage. Thanks to the Windsor Framework, companies here enjoy unrivalled access to both the UK and EU markets — making us a standout destination for investment.
The Place Race 2025, hosted by Belfast City Council, brings together trailblazers from the public, private, and third sectors to shape the places where people want to live, learn, work, visit, and invest.
Backed by strong partnerships across our Local Authorities, we’re on a mission to make Belfast and the wider region world class — collaborating, innovating, and sharing best practice across the UK and Ireland. Together, we’re building a greener, fairer, more connected future for all.
OCO Global is a technology enabled advisory firm focused on trade, investment and economic development.
We work with our clients to ensure that their international business thrives, by delivering innovative and sustainable outcomes and connecting them to opportunities across the world that create prosperity, employment and economic growth.
The Place Association of Ireland is the new home for placemakers — a dynamic community of professionals, leaders, and organisations passionate about creating vibrant, inclusive, and resilient places across Ireland.
Whether you work in urban planning, regeneration, community development, architecture, economic development, cultural programming, or real estate — if you shape the places where people live, work, visit, and thrive, this is your network.