Page 62 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication
P. 62
62 Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation
CONNECTING THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE
Connecting the cities of the future
By Anna Lisa Boni (pictured), secretary general, EUROCITIES
The cities of the future will have challenges, while making efficient use across different sectors, our members
a strong citizen focus. People of resources. Good governance is aim to add economic and social value
will be empowered to make critical to success. to smart city projects. Through our role
their city more efficient and in the European Innovation Partnership
inclusive. At EUROCITIES, our network At EUROCITIES we work at different action cluster on business models,
of over 140 major European cities is levels to ensure that smarter city financing and procurement, we try to
connecting cities for a smarter future. developments are city-led and citizen ensure that cities’ realities are kept
focused. By linking together public front of mind when looking for smarter
Smart cities use knowledge of local and private sector partners at the local solutions.
situations to tackle common urban and international level, and working
We underpin this work through several
EUROCITIES-led initiatives, including
the Green Digital Charter, and EU
funded projects, such as CityKeys and
Sharing Cities.
TRANSFORMING URBAN HORIZONS
The strength of our Sharing Cities
project is in working with citizens
and sharing and replicating results
between cities. In Sharing Cities,
EUROCITIES is leading on replication
efforts and ensuring a good quality
exchange between cities. Three
‘lighthouse’ cities (London, Lisbon and
Milan) have partnered three ‘fellow’
cities (Bordeaux, Burgas and Warsaw)
to share ideas on how digital, energy
management and e-mobility solutions
can be integrated into complex urban
environments. Through our replication
efforts, cities can exchange and learn
from each other in different formats
such as peer learning, work shadowing
and mentoring. This exchange
happens at both political and technical
level.
Lisbon recently hosted Bordeaux
in a work shadowing visit. While
technological solutions are most
often touted as the key enablers of
smart city success, our experience
shows that it is a means rather than
an end, and embedding new ways of
thinking is just as important. Learning
to collaborate across city departments,
breaking down siloed work practices,
and including citizens, is helping
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