In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Living-in.EU movement has emerged as a powerful force, supporting cities and communities across Europe in their journey towards digital transformation. Unlike other initiatives, Living-in.EU emphasizes digitalisation with a purpose, aligning with EU values and delivering tangible societal benefits to citizens. At its core, the movement advocates for citizen-centric and city-led solutions, promoting interoperability, open standards, and responsible data management.
Launched in December 2019 by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Living-in.EU was created through collaboration between a group of cities, city representative groups Eurocities, OASC, ENoLL, and with support from the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions. Today, it boasts nearly 150 signatories and 145 supporters, inviting cities, regions, member states, NGOs, and businesses to join the community through the Join, Boost, Sustain’ Declaration.
The primary objective of Living-in.EU is to foster collaboration among cities, enabling them to leverage data technology and jointly procure digital solutions such as data spaces or local digital twins. These efforts aim to address a wide range of challenges, including urban mobility, energy efficiency, and digital public services. By working together, cities can accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies and strategies, leading to more efficient and sustainable urban environments.
One of the key innovations within the Living-in.EU movement is the concept of local digital twins. These virtual representations of cities or specific areas within them harness the power of AI, data analytics, and machine learning. Local digital twins can be updated and modified in real-time, providing decision-makers with crucial insights and visualisation tools. This real-time management approach enables informed strategic decisions and facilitates citizen engagement in policy-making processes.
In October 2023 Living-in.EU will launch a digital maturity assessment tool called LORDIMAS that will allow cities to assess where they stand in their digital transformation, compare with others and receive some insights to foster their journey around the development of data platforms and digital twins. Furthermore, Living-in.EU has developed a European Interoperability Framework for Smart Cities and Communities (EIF4SCC) available now in all EU languages https://living-in.eu/groups/commitments/education-capacity-building
Living-in.EU offers a diverse range of working groups focused on different aspects of digitalisation, including Financial, Technical, Legal, Education & Capacity Building, and Monitoring and Measuring. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive coverage and expertise in the various dimensions of digital transformation, promoting efficient and effective implementation. By pooling resources, knowledge, and experiences, cities can learn from each other and drive positive change at a larger scale.
There are several EU wide smart cities initiatives, and the Smart Cities Marketplace is where we all come together, to build synergies and amplify the reach of our work. Example of this is the joint participation in international events such as the Barcelona Smart City Expo, where all the EU Smart City projects, including Living-in.EU, presented their work under the coordination of the Smart City Marketplace.
Living-in.EU embodies a vision of digital transformation that goes beyond mere technological advancements. It seeks to create a European model of digitalization that upholds fundamental EU values, encourages citizen participation, and delivers meaningful societal outcomes. By joining forces, cities, regions, member states, NGOs, and businesses can drive positive change, building smarter, more sustainable, and inclusive communities across Europe. Together, we can shape the future of digital transformation and create a better quality of life for all citizens.