GREATER Manchester has laid out its ambitions to harness the power of technology and spark a new digital revolution which will connect people, businesses and communities.

New mayor Andy Burnham says a landmark summit to be held in July will boost the city region’s claim to be the UK’s tech leader and set out a bold programme of skills and infrastructure development.

The former Leigh MP added that it will bring together Greater Manchester’s tech trailblazers and residents to shape a vision for a genuinely smart city region where technology is used as a vital part of the solution to the biggest issues faced by society.

Cllr Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Council, will be the portfolio lead for digital city region in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority cabinet.

Mr Burnham said: “I want Greater Manchester to be a digital city with a difference, one with a bold digital economy which actively encourages businesses to invest and grow and also one where technology is used to deliver positive change, from connecting young people with opportunities to tackling social problems such as homelessness.

"This bold vision places the needs of people firmly at the heart of technological innovation.

“We are already ahead of the game on this.

"Here in Greater Manchester we are on the digital frontier with some of the most cutting-edge tech firms in the world. This gives us a remarkable opportunity to take that expertise and innovation and work with local people to create a smart digital future which has a unique Greater Manchester stamp.

“We want to fuse technological advancement with culture, ethics, communities and places to build a world which is connected, creative and cooperative, and a modern and prosperous Greater Manchester where no-one is left behind.

“I don’t want Greater Manchester to be just a smart city, I want it to be the smartest city.”

To ensure the summit is industry-led, Mr Burnham has enlisted the support of digital leaders in Greater Manchester to help drive the plans forward, including...

• Sandy Lindsay, founder and chair of leading communications consultancy Tangerine and founder of The Juice Academy, the UK's first industry-led social media apprenticeship programme

• Lawrence Jones, founder and chief executive of UKFast, the largest privately-owned web hosting provider in the UK

• Katie Gallagher, managing director of Manchester Digital, the independent body created by Greater Manchester's digital community to represent and champion it

• Kirsty Styles, head of talent and skills at Tech North, a government-backed initiative charged with accelerating the growth of the digital business sector in the north of England.

The summit will be held at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on July 6.