Milan considers the idea of a smart city as being not technology-driven, but centred on its citizens. The concept ‘smart city’ for Milan covers smart mobility, a smart environment, and smart inclusion and citizenship. This sets out a bold agenda, which will see the re-orientation of demand for transport services; the standardisation of payment technologies and methods; and the adoption of a range of energy-efficiency solutions.
Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, has a smart city strategy that places its citizens and their needs at its core. Technology is just a means to an end. The city aims to become smart, sustainable, competitive, participatory, creative, innovative and citizen-centric. Lisbon has drafted an urban development strategy for the coming decades, and has committed to invest EUR 307 million in related projects (Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa 2020).
The capital city of the United Kingdom unveiled the Smart London Plan in 2011. The Smart London Board is the city mayor’s top line-up of academics, business representatives, infrastructure providers, and ICT and energy companies. It helps the Greater London Authority to shape and implement its strategy for how to apply technology to all areas of city policy (transport, energy, social and infrastructure policy). Smart technology and city data are becoming increasingly prominent in the urban planning discourse.
With a population of 377 587 people and 12 million tourists per year, Florence is not only a place with an impressive artistic heritage and literary history, beautiful landscapes, high-quality fashion and lifestyle, agricultural and gastronomy products, but it also has efficient digital public services, high-level industries in innovation and technology, and excellent training institutes.
The city of Amsterdam has over 850,000 residents from 180 different countries, who own more than 600,000 bicycles. The wider Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has close to 2.5 million inhabitants. The city has a strong commitment to encourage green research, development and investment in sustainable initiatives. As a result, the area is enjoying a rapid uptake of electric transportation and a growing number of companies are developing sustainable products that influence global business. Amsterdam is exceptionally well connected, both physically and digitally.
Aarhus is the second biggest city in Denmark with 300 000 inhabitants. With the aim to become carbon neutral by 2030, the city moves forward with its climate and smart city strategy with a number of sustainable actions and projects, amongst which is READY.
Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, has been working on climate change mitigation and adaptation since the 1990s. The city is a real frontrunner with well implemented climate action plans and pioneering policies to ensure it meets its ambitious environmental targets. The carbon dioxide emissions have been cut by 25 % per citizen since 1990.
Situated on the banks of the River Rhine, Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany and home to key players in business and industry. The city is committed to the EU’s goal of achieving a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20 % increase in the share of renewable energy and a 20 % increase in energy efficiency by 2020 based on 1990 levels. It aims to reduce CO2 even further, with a 50 % reduction by 2030.
Voted European Capital of Innovation 2014, Barcelona is a vast metropolitan hub with a long tradition of industry and entrepreneurship. Barcelona City Council encourages strategic initiatives aimed at generating international collaboration, and promoting a global and forward-looking vision to businesses and public bodies, as well as scientific and technological centres.
Eindhoven is the centre of the Brainport Region, one of today’s three top economic engines of the Netherlands, delivering about 14 % of the national gross domestic product (GDP). Two districts - Strijp-S and Eckhart Vaartbroek - will be transformed into sustainable living environments as part of TRIANGULUM.
