In a bid to navigate the complexities of implementing sustainable and green city projects, municipal representatives from Portugal congregated for a dynamic 1-hour webinar. Hosted by the Smart Cities Marketplace, the virtual event witnessed an impressive turnout of 192 attendees, primarily comprising municipality representatives eager to explore solutions to implement their projects.
The webinar commenced with an insightful welcome session delivered by Pedro Folgado, Mayor of Alenquer Municipality, and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities. Mayor Folgado shed light on the Portuguese Smart Territories Strategy, illuminating key implementation barriers, particularly focusing on the financing challenges encountered by municipalities in their journey towards smarter urban development.
Following Mayor Folgado's engaging discourse, Jorge Rodrigues de Almeida, a prominent figure within the Smart Cities landscape, took the platform to introduce attendees to the Smart Cities Marketplace. With a keen focus on facilitating access to financing resources, Rodrigues de Almeida delineated the Marketplace's range of services for cities, with particular emphasis on Financing Masterclasses and technical assistance opportunities available to municipalities.
The webinar further delved into practical insights with Leandro Vaz, who introduced two case studies showcasing the successful deployment of technical assistance provided by the Smart Cities Marketplace. By highlighting implementations in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and El Escorial, Spain, Vaz underscored the transformative impact of tailored support mechanisms in driving forward sustainable city initiatives.
The session ended in a Q&A segment, characterised by active participation from attendees, who eagerly posed queries and exchanged ideas on navigating financing challenges in the Smart Cities landscape.
Overall, the webinar served as a pivotal platform for Portuguese municipalities to gain valuable insights, share experiences, and collaborate on forging innovative pathways towards sustainable urban development in the digital age.