Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast: Recent Episodes

BABLE Smart Cities

Hop on the journey toward a better urban life and hear from front-line experts with hot takes on Smart City trending topics: energy, mobility, health, waste, water, ICT, data, and more. At BABLE, we aim to connect the players in the Smart City industry with high-quality information and ideas through our platform and services. Visit us at www.bable-smartcities.eu

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In this episode, we sit down with Councillor Shanika Mahendran, the youngest cabinet member for economy, sustainability, and innovation in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. She shares her journey into politics and her vision for the city's future, discussing how Milton Keynes is leveraging innovation and strategic partnerships to address urban challenges like sustainability, health, and social equity.

From autonomous vehicles to drone deliveries, this episode dives into the city's forward-thinking projects and the collaborative culture that drives its success as a leading Smart City in Europe.

Want to know more about the Smart City initiatives in Milton Keynes? Visit our BABLE Knowledge Hub and read all about the different Use Cases implemented in the city:

  • StreetCAV: street-side connectivity enables autonomy
  • DronePort: MK - opening the skies above Milton Keynes
  • Digital health solutions facilitating independent living at home
  • Robotic embodiment: universal remote control for city robots using virtual reality

[00:01:44] Teaser Question: "If you could have dinner with any historical figure who inspired your journey in public service and environmental advocacy, who would it be and why?"

[00:04:03] Our guest's background: Shanika Mahendran's journey into politics and her role in Milton Keynes

[00:06:09] Setting the stage: Overview of Milton Keynes, its challenges, and its approach to innovation

[00:08:55] Discussion on innovative projects in Milton Keynes, including autonomous vehicles and drone services

[00:11:42] Public reception and acceptance of innovation in Milton Keynes

[00:12:06] Sustainability in Milton Keynes: Addressing climate change and integrating sustainability into city planning

[00:14:25] Prioritising impactful projects: How Milton Keynes selects which projects to focus on

[00:15:47] The role of collaboration in fostering an innovative environment in Milton Keynes

[00:17:10] The culture of innovation in Milton Keynes and what prevents other cities from adopting similar approaches

[00:18:53] Balancing innovation with social equity and addressing potential gentrification

[00:21:19] Accelerating progress: What changes are needed to achieve Milton Keynes' ambitious goals

[00:23:48] Encouraging diverse voices in politics and policy-making

[00:27:18] Top or Flop Segment

[00:29:28] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference, our guest Valentina Schippers, Coordinator of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement at the City of Haarlem, Netherlands, discusses how innovative public procurement can strategically address social, ecological, and economic challenges, sharing her experiences and strategies from Haarlem.

The discussion also highlights the importance of simplifying procurement processes, engaging local politicians, and integrating sustainability and social responsibility into public procurement.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:35] Teaser Question: "Imagine that the city is like your favourite dish to cook. If public procurement were an ingredient, which ingredient would it be?"

[00:03:47] Our guest's background

[00:07:42] Misconceptions about public procurement

[00:09:57] Strategic use of public procurement to address social challenges

[00:12:22] Achieving sustainability through public procurement

[00:14:24] Strategies to include smaller companies in procurement processes

[00:16:24] Common obstacles faced by public authorities in improving procurement processes

[00:19:16] Use of AI and best practices in procurement

[00:24:40] Importance of storytelling in demonstrating the impact of public procurement

[00:28:52] Addressing concerns about the costs of socially responsible and sustainable procurement

[00:30:13] Challenges in Haarlem and its relationship with Amsterdam

[00:32:10] Importance of pre-procurement market consultations and contract management

[00:34:00] Top or Flop Segment

[00:36:44] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference, Lykke Leonardsen, Programme Director for Resilient and Sustainable City Solutions at the City of Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses the integration of resilience and urban development, and the innovative water management solutions implemented in Copenhagen.

She also addresses challenges in advancing urban climate action, the importance of breaking down silos in city planning, and future trends in urban resilience and climate adaptation. Additionally, she shares insights on balancing long-term climate resilience with immediate social and economic needs and highlights some of her favourite projects that transform urban spaces while enhancing resilience.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:20] Teaser Question: "You have one wish from a genie to make one change in Copenhagen to make it more climate resilient overnight. What would it be?"

[00:02:36] Our guest's background

[00:05:12] Defining resilience and sustainability

[00:08:44] Integrating resilience and urban development

[00:14:26] Innovative water management solutions in Copenhagen

[00:16:53] Biggest challenges in Copenhagen and resilience strategies

[00:19:50] Trends and emerging technologies in urban resilience

[00:25:31] Addressing investment concerns and social issues

[00:28:04] Tools and resources needed for accelerating resilience efforts

[00:36:16] Shoutout: our guest mentions a person, an organisation or a city they think deserve more recognition in the field.

[00:38:13] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference, Anna Wierzbicka, Director at the City of Łódź in Poland, discussed with us the city's history, its transition to addressing climate issues, and the importance of community involvement in urban development.

She emphasised the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability, economic growth, and collaborative efforts with other cities and stakeholders.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:55] Teaser Question: "If your city were an animal, which animal would it be?"

[00:05:55] Our guest's background.

[00:09:00] Discussion on the biggest challenges Łódź is facing.

[00:13:04] Achievements of the European Climate Pact and its impact.

[00:15:09] Cross-sector collaboration in Łódź.

[00:17:16] Balancing economic growth and sustainability.

[00:22:28] Communicating the urgency of climate action.

[00:24:16] Examples of successful initiatives in Łódź.

[00:28:46] Anticipating future technological changes and challenges.

[00:32:42] Inspire Us: our guest shares a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired them recently.

[00:33:21] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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This episode was recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference, where we sat down with Christophe Najdovski, the Deputy Mayor of Revegetation, Green Spaces, Biodiversity & Animal Welfare at the City of Paris.

He shared his insights and experiences in redistributing and redesigning public spaces in Paris, highlighting key initiatives such as the pedestrianisation of the Seine Banks and the development of cycling infrastructure. We discussed the environmental and social impacts of these transformations, the challenges of maintaining green spaces amidst urban development, and how Paris prepared for the upcoming Olympic Games as an accelerator of ecological transition.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:35] Teaser Question: "If the parks and green spaces of Paris could talk, what stories do you think they would tell us?"

[00:03:24] Our guest's background

[00:06:03] Discussion on the transformation of Paris into a garden city and the political will behind these changes

[00:09:56] Challenges in redistributing public space and ensuring community support

[00:12:39] The success and public reception of the pedestrianisation of the Seine Banks

[00:15:05] Coping with climate change and the importance of greening the city

[00:19:57] Financial investment in urban greening and its benefits for the community

[00:21:25] Integrating green spaces in the context of the upcoming Olympic Games

[00:25:31] Engaging with the public and handling conflicts around urban development

[00:29:22] Learning from other cities and sharing best practices in urban sustainability

[00:33:36] Hot Take of the Day: Increasing parking prices for SUVs in Paris

[00:37:21] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In the sixth and last episode of our SMCNetZero series, we discussed the project's key achievements with Clara Plata Ríos, Project Director at Smart City Cluster, and Goran Lampelj, Project Coordinator at ODRAZ-Sustainable Community Development.

They shared their insights on the project's goals, the collaborative efforts among different stakeholders, and the significance of the market analysis in identifying key opportunities and challenges. They also addressed concerns about the feasibility and scalability of net-zero goals, emphasising the importance of tailored solutions and citizen engagement.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:01] Teaser Question: "What is the best memory of the project so far, and also the worst?"

[00:04:15] Our guests' backgrounds: Clara's and Goran's professional journeys.

[00:05:36] Project Goals: Description of the SMCNetZero project and involved stakeholders.

[00:07:53] Achievements and Benefits: Significant achievements and benefits for cities.

[00:11:33] Collaboration Among Stakeholders: Fostering collaboration among local governments, businesses, and community organizations.

[00:14:19] Market Analysis: Utilisation of market analysis in the project.

[00:18:17] Common Challenges: Similarities and challenges of Small and Medium-sized Cities.

[00:23:41] Addressing Feasibility Concerns: Ensuring strategies are adaptable to unique city needs.

[00:29:22] Next Steps: Future initiatives and steps for SMCNetZero.

[00:34:38] Flip the Script: Our guests ask each other questions.

[00:36:40] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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This episode was recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference with José Besselink, Senior Urban Planner for the Municipality of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

With her, we discuss the city's efforts in creating pedestrian-friendly spaces, enhancing green areas, and promoting active mobility through initiatives like the City Lounge framework, the Green and Healthy Neighborhood program, and tactical urbanism projects. She highlights successful interventions, the importance of community involvement, and strategies to balance competing urban planning priorities.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:51] Teaser Question: "If you could describe your work for the city of Rotterdam with just three emojis, which emojis would they be?"

[00:02:18] Our guest's background

[00:03:41] Investment in public spaces: Examples of transformative projects in Rotterdam

[00:05:39] Next steps: Future green city projects and their significance

[00:07:06] Greening strategies: Various approaches to greening the city

[00:08:10] Tactical interventions: Explanation and examples of successful tactical urbanism in Rotterdam

[00:10:34] Measuring impact: How to assess the success of tactical interventions

[00:13:26] Green and Healthy Neighborhood Program: Combining climate adaptation, biodiversity, mobility, and health

[00:16:52] Community involvement: How data and community energy drive project locations

[00:19:24] Promoting walking and cycling: Strategies and the importance of considering pedestrians

[00:22:01] Data insights: How data informs walking initiatives

[00:23:22] Accelerating change: Tools and strategies to move faster in urban planning

[00:25:39] Social aspects of mobility: Investing in the social dimensions of cycling and mobility

[00:26:57] Urban Decision Dilemmas: how would our guest navigate fictional city planning or decision-making scenarios?

[00:30:58] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode, we talked with Milan Sarzik, Business Development and Marketing at iTranSys, about their AI-powered public transport optimisation tool. The discussion covered how this innovative solution addresses driver shortages and inefficient scheduling in Slovakia, showcasing significant improvements in cities like Povazska Bystrica.

The conversation also delved into the challenges and insights gained from various regional implementations and examined the potential for international expansion.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:02] Teaser Question: "If iTranSys was a type of food, what type of food would it be?"

[00:03:34] Our guest's background

[00:05:32] The problem iTranSys aims to solve for cities

[00:12:08] Planning and real-time management powered by AI

[00:14:59] Learnings from implementations

[00:17:23] Balancing stakeholder needs

[00:19:49] Future development plans

[00:24:55] Roll With the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instinct!

[00:28:52] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode, we talked with Simone Mangili, Executive Director of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA), about how cities are innovatively pushing the boundaries to achieve carbon neutrality.

With him, we explored key topics such as scope 3 emissions, sustainable urban development, food systems transformation, climate justice, and addressing residual emissions through policy innovations and nature-based solutions.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:53] Teaser Question: "How would you describe the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance if you only have three words?"

[00:02:21] Our guest's background

[00:04:31] Goals and mission of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA)

[00:07:46] Explanation of scope 3 embodied emissions

[00:08:38] Examples of cities addressing scope 3 embodied emissions

[00:11:54] Sustainable urban development in the built environment

[00:15:54] Innovative approaches in transforming food systems

[00:22:41] Circular economy practices in cities

[00:28:37] Managing residual emissions

[00:34:02] Climate justice and equitable approaches in climate action

[00:37:27] Areas where cities need to push the boundaries further

[00:40:29] Hot Take of the Day: we hear an opinion from our guest that might be slightly controversial or debated!

[00:42:07] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this fifth episode of our SMCNetZero series, we talked with Mario Rajn, Mayor of the City of Krizevci, Croatia.

With him, we explored Križevci's journey towards energy independence and sustainability, focusing on the city's green agenda, citizen engagement in renewable energy projects, and innovative initiatives to enhance the quality of urban life.

Visit the SMCNetZero Website to learn more about the project.Overview of the episode:[00:01:51] Teaser Question: "If Crosstown were an animal, which creature would it be and why?"

[00:03:55] Our guest's background

[00:07:03] Current challenges and priorities of Križevci

[00:13:05] Key challenges in Križevci's journey towards energy independence

[00:17:07] Involving citizens in energy transition through crowdfunding and cooperatives

[00:21:08] Scalability and sustainability of community-funded energy projects

[00:22:45] Roles of KLIK and Energy-Climate Office in Križevci's energy policies

[00:26:24] Other citizen-focused initiatives in Križevci

[00:33:32] Advice for decision-makers in smaller cities

[00:36:20] Top or Flop: our guest responds quickly with their positive or negative review on a variety of topics.

[00:41:03] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode, we welcomed one of the winners of our Urban Shark Tank session: Peter Ball, International Project Manager for Karos Mobility, as well as Juan Carlos Escudero, Head of Mobility and Data Science at the Environmental Studies Centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

They presented and discussed the AI-driven carpooling pilot project in Vitoria-Gasteiz aimed at reducing carbon emissions and improving urban mobility, illustrating both the challenges and successes of implementing smart mobility solutions in modern cities.

Want to learn more about the co-winning project of the Urban Shark Tank session at Autonomy 2024? Have a look at the Use Case on our BABLE Knowledge Hub.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:45] Teaser Question: "Describe the impact of AI-driven carpooling using three emojis."

[00:06:40] Our guests' backgrounds

[00:08:55] Presentation of the goals of the AI-driven carpooling pilot for daily commuting in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

[00:10:33] What solutions did the project bring to the mobility challenges of Vitoria-Gasteiz?

[00:12:44] How was the project implemented? What were the steps?

[00:14:35] What challenges were faced and what was the community feedback?

[00:17:47] What was the AI technology involved?

[00:22:31] How does this align with sustainability goals?

[00:26:32] Are there any plans to scale this project?

[00:38:19] Freaky Friday: our guests switched places and answered a question in each other's shoes!

[00:40:57] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we welcome Peter Brown, the Director of Public Works for Belmont, California, to discuss the evolving challenges and innovative solutions in urban infrastructure amidst climate change.

Our guest shared insights from his experience in urban planning within various Californian coastal cities, focusing on major infrastructure projects designed to adapt to climate realities like sea level rise and extreme weather events. The conversation also touched on community engagement strategies and the financial hurdles cities face in prioritising and funding essential infrastructure developments.

Overview of the episode:

[00:00:45] Teaser Question: "If you could add one magical feature to Belmont overnight, what would it be?"

[00:03:06] Guest Background

[00:04:51] What unique challenges do California's coastal cities face?

[00:06:37] What key projects are shaping Belmont's response to climate change?

[00:10:30] What are the latest trends in transport infrastructure in coastal cities?

[00:12:27] How are project priorities set in constrained environments?

[00:14:39] How is community feedback shaping urban infrastructure?

[00:17:55] Hot Take of the Day: Our guests ask each other the questions!

[00:23:45] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this episode, we dive into the world of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with Thomas de Bassompierre, MaaS Project Manager at Floya for Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB), Belgium, and Damian Bown, CEO of Trafi.

With them, we explored how Brussels is integrating various transportation modes into a unified service platform, discussed the challenges faced in implementation, and looked at the future of urban mobility.

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In this fourth and last episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with one of our previous guests Raffaele Gareri, Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures & former CDO of Rome, and with Islam Bouzguenda, Lecturer & Researcher in Smart Sustainable Cities' Governance & Planning at the University of Twente, Netherlands.

With them, we explored the critical skills and educational frameworks necessary for future urban innovation leaders. The discussion emphasised the integration of practical experiences with theoretical knowledge in academic settings to better prepare students for real-world challenges in urban environments.

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organisation. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:55] Teaser Question: "Describe your daily work life in three emojis?"

[00:04:52] Our guests' backgrounds

[00:08:28] Discussion on Education in Urban Innovation

[00:12:37] Bridging Academic Preparation with Real-World Demands

[00:15:41] Integration of Practical Experience

[00:19:15] Emerging Trends in Urban Innovation

[00:22:11] Challenges in Educating Future Leaders

[00:28:46] Practical Example of Collaboration

[00:39:31] Inspire Us: Our guests share a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired them recently

[00:42:32] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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In this fourth episode of our SMCNetZero series, we discussed decarbonisation in Small and Medium-sized Cities with Luca Leomanni, CTO and Co-Founder of Social Tech Projects, focusing on infrastructure maintenance and the role of AI in urban planning.

The discussion explores innovative solutions for sustainable mobility, particularly cycling infrastructure, and the importance of community engagement in policy implementation to achieve a more proactive approach to city management.

To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website.

Overview of the episode:

[00:00:43] Teaser Question: If you could have any superpower to assist in your work with Social Tech Projects, what would it be and why?

[00:03:44] What is your background and what led you to Social Tech Projects?

[00:04:55] What exactly is Social Tech Projects? What is the mission, and could you also mention the AI road system?

[00:09:42] How are you working with, for example, small and medium-sized cities, and what challenges do you think these cities are facing, especially related to decarbonization?

[00:13:29] Are you mostly working in mobility or are there other types of products that you're also doing?

[00:14:12] How has working with the European Space Agency shaped what you're doing with small to medium-sized cities? Were there particular sites or other advancements that emerged from that collaboration?

[00:24:29] Inspire Us: Our guest shares an inspiring story about the city of Oulu, Finland.

[00:26:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this third episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with Honorata Grzesikowska, Founder and CEO of Urbanitarian & spatial and equity designer, and Mela Atanassova, a Facilitator in Innovation Design.

With them, we delve into the topics of collective learning, urban innovation, and the significant influence of city design on societal behaviours. Our guests highlighted the importance of embracing collective knowledge, challenging the glorification of individual achievements, and exploring innovative approaches to urban planning and design that prioritise communal well-being and environmental sustainability.

Additional material :

  • Sensemaking Methodology - what it is and how you do it
  • Case studies:
    • "Portfolio Approach" - Resolving Uncertainty Through Learning
    • ‘Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones’ — A Portfolio Approach to Governance in Malawi
  • Sensemaking Toolkit

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:03] Teaser Question: If you could redesign any city, which one would you pick and why?

[00:04:18] What is your background, and how did you get to where you are today?

[00:06:23] Why do you think we struggle with learning from what's already out there, and what makes collective learning so challenging?

[00:08:10] How can we practically apply the concept of collective learning in our work and decision-making processes?

[00:13:15] How do we address the challenge of not learning collectively, especially in urban development and innovation?

[00:16:16] What new professions or approaches are emerging in the field of urban design and planning?

[00:18:00] How important is asking the right questions in the process of urban development and planning?

[00:19:30] Can you discuss the "Not Invented Here Syndrome" and its implications?

[00:22:30] How does urban design influence societal behavior and identity?

[00:24:11] What is collective sense-making, and how can it be effectively integrated into organizational processes?

[00:28:43] Any final thoughts or important aspects you believe our listeners should know about urban planning and design?

[00:33:55] Urban Dilemmas: Our guests steer the story, crafting cities one fictional challenge at a time.

[00:36:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Smart in the Cities'in ilk bölüm Türkçe bölümünde MBB'den Veri ve Teknoloji Merkezi Direktörü Samet Keskin ve mimar ve Kıdemli Şehir Politikası Uzmanı olan İrem Kurtuluş ile bir araya geldik.

Sohbetimizde Marmara Belediyeler Birliği (MMB) ve BABLE arasındaki yerel yönetimleri güçlendirmeyi amaçlayan, dinamik işbirliğini keşfederken MARUF23’ün bizde bıraktığı izleri konuştuk.

MMB Türkiye'nin Marmara bölgesindeki 190 belediyeyi temsil eden bir bölgesel organizasyon olarak hizmet veriyor.

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And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

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In this second episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we welcomed Jose Antonio Ondiviela, who after 29 years of experience leading Microsoft's Smart Cities initiatives, is now spearheading his own research department at the Universidad Francisco de Victoria in Madrid, Spain.

The discussion focused on talent attraction and development within cities: the global competition for talent as a cornerstone for attracting investment, the significance of upskilling and creating a vibrant city brand to appeal emotionally and rationally to potential residents, and the essential role of public-private partnerships in fostering environments conducive to talent development.

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:22] Teaser Question: If cities were on a dating app trying to match with investors, what kind of upskilling would they put in their profile to become the ultimate catch?

[00:07:17] How does the fight for talent manifest itself in cities striving to be smart? Are there specific sectors or industries more aggressive in this fight?

[00:12:28] What jobs are most in demand in this fight for talent, especially considering the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

[00:12:52] ​Examples of cities that have successfully attracted top talent for Smart City initiatives. What strategies did they employ?

[00:16:32] ​How can public-private partnerships foster an environment conducive to talent development in smart cities?

[00:19:24] ​In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, who is leading, and how do public-private partnerships impact a city's attractiveness?

[00:23:14] How do mid-sized cities contribute to the global competition for talent?

[00:25:41] ​How can the concept of time and efficiency in urban mobility change the landscape of city attractiveness?

[00:26:08] ​How does Jose respond to concerns that the push towards smart cities might worsen regional disparities through brain drain?

[00:30:18] ​Are there any common misconceptions about developing talent within cities that Jose would like to debunk?

[00:33:44] Shoutout: our guest mentions a person, a city or any other organisation they think deserve more recognition in the field.

[00:35:17] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode, part of our collaboration as one of the podcast partners for the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, features Dr. Philipp Rottwilm, Mayor of Neuental and District Council Member for the Schwalm-Eder-West region.

The main topics discussed in this episode include the concept of creative bureaucracy and its importance in small and medium-sized cities, the transformation of the Schwalm-Eder-West region into a smart region, and challenges related to procurement in smaller cities, including the need for long-term financing and the benefits of collaborative efforts among cities.

European cities face unique challenges in implementing innovative solutions. With BABLE Smart Cities, we're cutting through the complexity, offering a streamlined approach to procuring urban innovations 50% faster and 20% more cost-efficient. Learn more about our Navigating the Innovation Market offering by visiting the BABLE Knowledge Hub today.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:32] Teaser Question: Does Dr. Philipp Rottwilm consider himself a creative bureaucrat?
[00:05:57] Dr. Philipp Rottwilm's Background
[00:09:14] Describing Neuental: A small, green, digitally aspiring city
[00:13:16] The Smart Region Schwalm-Eder-West project
[00:22:47] The significance and process of procuring innovative technologies
[00:33:06] Challenges and strategies in navigating procurement processes
[00:33:32] Ideal tools or support to accelerate Smart City projects
[00:37:40] Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts.
[00:42:44] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this first episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we welcomed back Bas Boorsma - Founder and Partner of Urban Innovators Global, Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Management, Author of A New Digital Deal, and the former CDO of Rotterdam - and Jonathan Reichental – Founder of Human Future, Professor at the University of San Francisco, Author of Smart Cities for Dummies (among other books), and the former CIO of Palo Alto in California.

Drawing from their experiences across public and private sectors, Bas and Jonathan discussed the integration of digital advancements in urban settings and the need to equip urban leaders and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address the complexities of modern urban development.

Remember our guest from somewhere? Listen to Bas Boorsma in his first episode with us: #23 Rotterdam: Digitalisation or "Learning To Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable"

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:49] Teaser Question: What Makes Jonathan and Bas Different?

[00:03:32] Jonathan and Bas' Backgrounds

[00:10:26] Design Shift and System Shift: What does it mean to be in a system or design shift?

[00:19:30] Importance of Education in Urban Innovation: How does education play a role in urban innovation and leadership?

[00:29:43] Public Sector Challenges: What is missing in the public sector to make it more agile and prepared for future challenges?

[00:35:57] Private Sector's Need for Education: Why does the private sector also need more education, and what are their key challenges?

[00:44:22] AI in Urban Development: What impact will AI integration have on city infrastructures and services?

[00:51:28] Freaky Friday: Bas and Jonathan switch roles to promote each other's books.

[00:55:03] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode features Anna Huttunen, Climate Neutral Cities Advisor for Climate-KIC at Net Zero Cities. Recently recognised as one of the BBC 100 Women for 2023, she shared her insights on climate mitigation, the role of cities in achieving net zero emissions, and the importance of resilience and systemic change.

Additionally, the discussion touched on the broader theme of gender inclusivity in climate action and urban development.

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:39] Teaser Question: If Anna could nominate another woman who did not make the BBC 100 Women list, who it would be?

[00:03:25] ​Anna's Background

[00:08:50] Learnings from Lahti Projects

[00:10:13] Explaining the Citycap Project

[00:13:16] BBC 100 Women Nomination

[00:15:55] Advice for Women in Climate Initiatives

[00:17:31] Highlighting Climate Mitigation Benefits

[00:22:42] Gender Inclusivity and Climate Action

[00:24:43] Investment Plans for Carbon Neutrality

[00:27:08] Role of Private Investment

[00:32:17] Inspire Us: Our guest shares her personal philosophy on resilience and the importance of persevering through challenges in system change efforts

[00:32:44] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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In this episode, we dive into the world of Smart City IoT and explore the intriguing possibilities of the metaverse with Teppo Rantanen, the Executive Director at the City of Tampere, Finland.

Discover how Tampere is pioneering urban innovation through projects like educational robots, data-driven city planning, and immersive metaverse experiences aimed at enhancing urban life.

European cities face unique challenges in implementing innovative solutions. With BABLE Smart Cities, we're cutting through the complexity, offering a streamlined approach to procuring urban innovations 50% faster and 20% more cost-efficient. Learn more about our Navigating the Innovation Market offering by visiting the BABLE Knowledge Hub today.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:41] Teaser Question: Outside of its practical implementations, what's the most fun or whimsical use of technology seen in Tampere's Smart City projects?

[00:03:06] Background of Teppo Rantanen: What led Teppo Rantanen to his role in Smart City initiatives in Tampere?

[00:04:53] Overview of Smart Tampere: How was the Smart Tampere programme developed, and what does it aim to achieve?

[00:06:07] Flagship Programs and Projects: What are some of the flagship programmes and projects in Tampere, and how do they impact the city?

[00:10:16] Application of AI in Social Contexts: How is AI used in Tampere to improve social services and job matching?

[00:12:28] Exploring the Metaverse: What is Tampere's approach to integrating the metaverse with real-life city functions?

[00:14:50] Metaverse Applications for Cities: How can cities utilise the metaverse for infrastructure, services, and community engagement?

[00:18:22] Advice on Navigating the Metaverse: What advice does Teppo have for cities interested in exploring the metaverse?

[00:21:29] Challenges and Ethical Considerations: What are the ethical considerations and challenges in utilising data and the metaverse in city management?

[00:29:21] Segment - Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts.

[00:32:41] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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This episode features an interview with Alexander Schmidt, CEO and founder of BABLE Smart Cities, and a discussion which centres on the challenges and innovations within Smart City procurement processes.

It highlights the need for agile procurement processes to match technological advances, the role of AI in improving city services, and the importance of strategic funding for innovative urban solutions.

Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:34] Teaser Question: 3 emojis to describe the Smart City market

[00:02:45] ​Alex's Background

[00:04:16] What is the biggest challenge that we are facing when it comes to procurement?

[00:07:07] The procurement of innovative urban solutions can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking up to 22 months. What factors contribute to this duration?

[00:09:36] It's noted that about 80% of urban innovative projects do not generate a lasting impact. In your opinion, what are the main reasons behind this high failure rate?

[00:18:08] What advice would our guest give to municipalities that are hesitant to adopt new technologies due to the complexities of the procurement process?

[00:19:52] What emerging technologies will have the most significant impact on urban innovation in the next decade?

[00:26:30] What are the different funding and financial models available for cities looking to procure innovative solutions?

[00:32:17] Shoutout: Our guest mentions a person, an organization or a city you think deserves more recognition in the field

[00:36:11] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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This Urbanistica Podcast episode is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mustafa Sherif and was not produced by Smart in the City. Mustafa welcomed our host, Tamlyn Shimizu, to talk about podcasting, urban planning and the different perspectives we collect in the podcast about Smart Cities.Some of the questions:

  • How do you define a Smart City?

  • On what projects is BABLE Smart Cities working?

  • How was Smart in the City - The BABLE Podcast created?

  • What interesting perspectives about Smart Cities have we collected on the podcast?

  • What should urban planners stop doing when they plan Smart Cities?

  • What skills should urban planners learn?

  • What is next in the podcast? What can we look forward to in 2024?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

___

Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️

All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.

Let's connect and talk further about this episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mustafa Sherif Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mustafasherif.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for collaborations and nominations or email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@mustafasherif.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Urbanistica on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)

AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.

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In this episode featuring Lisa Olsson - the Innovation and Transformation Director for the City of Helsingborg, Sweden - we delve into the strategies and leadership philosophies driving Helsingborg's success.

Topics include the city's approach to cross-sector collaboration, leveraging technology for public benefit, and fostering a culture that embraces learning from failures. This insightful conversation sheds light on the transformative power of innovative leadership in addressing urban challenges.

Would you like to expand your city and organisation’s capacity to innovate? Do you want to learn how to manage governance of data, algorithms and sensors safely? Are you facing challenges around building Urban Innovation Agendas?

Have a look at our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme (UILP) curriculum and register your interest here.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:50] Teaser Question: 3 + 2 words to describe Helsingborg

[00:02:45] ​Lisa's Professional Background

[00:05:13] Assigning Challenges for Innovation

[00:14:54] What is the most defining element of success for leaders?

[00:19:11] What role do emerging technologies, such as AI and smart city solutions, play in the overall vision for the City of Helsingborg?

[00:27:03] Helsingborg's Award for Biggest Failure

[00:34:37] Trial and Error: What went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way and what lessons were learned?

[00:38:42] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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In this third episode of our SMCNetZero series, we had the pleasure of talking with João Dinis, Office Coordinator at Cascais Ambiente, a company owned by the Municipality of Cascais, Portugal which focuses on various aspects of environmental management and urban planning.

With him, we discussed Cascais' strategies for environmental challenges and net-zero emissions, highlighting smart waste systems, public transportation initiatives, and technology integration in governance. Our guest also provided insights into how Cascais is advancing towards sustainability through creative and community-focused approaches.

To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website.

Want to empower your city towards a Net-Zero future? SMCNetZero has launched a capacity-building training program that is free of cost for Small and Medium-sized Cities. All three capacity-building modules will connect you and your city into a strong, European city-based network. Learn more here!**

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:53] Three emojis to describe Cascais, Portugal

[00:04:41] ​João's Professional Background

[00:07:22] How does Cascais Ambiente work with the city council?

[00:09:33] Leveraging innovation and technology in climate and sustainability

[00:12:15] Main challenges and strategies for achieving net zero in Cascais

[00:16:09] Circular economy and collaboration with the private market

[00:17:38] Cascais' involvement in EU projects like CLIMABOROUGH

[00:21:04] Lessons learned from European projects and local climate action

[00:24:43] Differences and challenges in innovation between small and large cities

[00:27:47] The importance of citizen engagement in sustainable development

[00:30:18] Shoutout: our guest mentions a city, an organisation or a person they think deserves more recognition in the field.

[00:33:11] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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This episode features Raffaele Gareri - Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures and former CDO of Rome - and delves into various aspects of urban innovation. Key topics discussed include the importance of bringing key decision-makers together for community improvement, leveraging data-driven approaches for urban development, and the role of leadership in fostering urban innovation.

Would you like to expand your city and organisation’s capacity to innovate? Do you want to learn how to manage governance of data, algorithms and sensors safely? Are you facing challenges around building Urban Innovation Agendas?

Have a look at our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme (UILP) curriculum and register your interest here.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:47] Teaser: If you could magically solve one urban innovation challenge today, which challenge would you choose to solve?

[00:03:52] Raffaele's Professional Background

[00:08:44] What are the main goals of Urban Innovators Global?

[00:10:11] How can education around leadership in urban innovation generate an impact in communities?

[00:12:16] What are the qualities that every leader in urban innovation should have?

[00:14:30] Data platform project as CDO of Rome

[00:18:19] Governance model for innovation with municipalities in the Province of Brescia

[00:22:29] What are the key challenges smaller municipalities and bigger metropolitan areas face?

[00:26:07] Roll With The Punches: our guest answer this or that questions quickly and with their first instinct.

[00:30:02] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, visit the BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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In this episode recorded at the 2023 edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress, we had a dynamic conversation with Cassie Sutherland, Managing Director for Climate Solutions and Networks for the C40 Cities Network.

We discussed the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy programme in partnership with Google and explored challenges, innovative tools, and real-world examples, discovering how cities can lead the way in building a sustainable and carbon-free future.

What to learn more? Visit the C40 Knowledge Hub here.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:18] Teaser: C40 Cities in three words

[00:02:02] Cassie's Professional Background

[00:03:44] What is the C40 Cities network and what is its mission in the context of addressing climate change?

[00:07:00] What is the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy for Cities program? What is its main goal?

[00:09:19] What are the barriers the initial four pilot cities are facing in implementing this initiative?

[00:14:56] Why partner with Google? How did this partnership form?

[00:19:10] How does the 24/7 carbon-free energy concept differ from other approaches to decarbonizing energy consumption?

[00:22:37] What are some innovative tools and technologies that Google and other partners are using to support cities in their sustainability efforts? How can these tools help cities make data-driven decisions?

[00:26:04] How can this programme also keep in mind that a just transition is needed?

[00:28:27] How can people get involved in the project

[00:31:57] Hot Take of the Day: hear an opinion from our guest that might be slightly controversial or debated.

[00:35:26] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, visit the BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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In this episode recorded at the 2023 edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress, we discussed with Teddy Axelsen, the Head of DOLL Living Lab at We Build Denmark.

In this conversation, Teddy delves into the concept of the "Innovation Playground," detailing how DOLL bridges the gap between technology partners and decision-makers in the realm of Smart City solutions. From addressing city challenges to measuring the success of initiatives, the dialogue covers key themes such as data visualisation and the role of living labs in shaping the future of sustainable and connected urban spaces.

Are you interested in gaining practical experience and knowledge of Smart City developments through a site visit to a Living Lab? Register your interest here.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:45] Teaser: If DOLL Living Lab were a recipe, what would be the key ingredients for its success?

[00:02:34] Teddy's Professional Background

[00:03:58] What is DOLL Living Lab and what is its mission?

[00:07:37] What is the main challenge that cities are confronting today?

[00:11:10] Two types of technologies that have been tested in DOLL: Waste Management & IoT

[00:13:23] BABLE & DOLL collaboration: "Deep Dives"

[00:17:02] What is behind the concept of an "Innovative Playground"?

[00:18:59] What are the advantages for public decision-makers in participating in initiatives like DOLL Living Lab?

[00:20:57] How is the success of the initiatives and technologies tested within the living lab measured?

[00:23:03] What are the drawbacks and concerns associated with the extensive digitization of public spaces and the deployment of smart technologies in cities?

[00:26:53] Flip the Script: our guest is asking the question!

[00:31:51] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, visit the BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

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In the last episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we sat down with Rino Bellini, CMO, and Oleg Garankin, responsible for technical design and development at SinapSysTec Digital Solutions, a startup inside the catalogue of the telecommunication company Telefónica.

With them, we talked about technology, security and sustainability within the cities of today and tomorrow.

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In this episode recorded live at the 2023 edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress, we discussed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and a holistic approach to building smart and sustainable cities with the Director of the Smart City Expo World Congress: Ugo Valenti.

The conversation also touched on the impact of COVID-19, digital transformation, and the potential future vision of cities being green, citizen-centric, and less car-centric.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:20] Teaser: The Smart City Expo World Congress in 3 words

[00:01:42] Ugo's Professional Background

[00:03:18] What is the mission of the Smart City Expo World Congress and how has it evolved over the years?

[00:06:33] What are the central challenges that the cities attending the event share, and what do they need to accelerate change?

[00:09:31] What are some of the most notable trends and innovations in the field of urban development and Smart Cities?

[00:14:33] How are cities adapting to the new normal after COVID-19, and what innovative strategies have emerged for building more resilient and responsive cities?

[00:16:47] Examples of how cities are embracing technology to enhance services

[00:18:54] How do international collaboration and the sharing of best practices play a role in the future of urban innovation?

[00:22:56] What does Ugo envision for the future of Smart Cities and urban innovation?

[00:25:33] What is Ugo's call to action for all the cities, innovators and other stakeholders?

[00:28:52] Shoutout: our guest mentions a person, an organization or a city they think deserves more recognition in the field

[00:30:55] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

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This fourth and last episode of our collaboration with Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes (RECI) was recorded live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2023 with Erol Özgüner, CIO of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, Türkiye, and Fernando de Pablo Martín, General Director of the Digital Office of the City Council of Madrid, Spain.

The conversation primarily focused on the digital transformation initiatives and strategies implemented in the two cities, with topics such as the creation of digital offices, the use of technology to address urban challenges, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. Our guests also touched on challenges such as cybersecurity, digital identity, and the impact of technology on improving citizen services.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:11] Teaser: If Istanbul and Madrid were plants, which plants would they be and why?

[00:03:41] Fernando and Erol's Professional Background

[00:09:28] About the creation of the Madrid Digital Office

[00:12:43] On what topics is Erol working most closely?

[00:18:08] The main challenges the city of Madrid is facing

[00:23:35] The main challenges the city of Istanbul is facing

[00:28:25] What is the Madrid Digital Capital Strategy?

[00:32:29] What's Istanbul's vision regarding digital and technological innovations in the near future?

[00:38:46] How is Madrid using data and what is the strategy behind this?

[00:41:23] What are some recent examples of digital products or services that improved the processes of Istanbul's municipality?

[00:48:16] What advice would you have for others trying to digitalise public services?

[00:51:09] What is the 2030 Smart City Strategic Plan of Istanbul?

[00:53:13] Flip the Script: our guests ask questions to each other.

[00:57:16] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

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Este tercer y último episodio de nuestra serie CIVINET Iberia se grabó en español con Adur Ugartemendia Leunda, Primer Teniente de Alcalde de la Ciudad de Beasain, Mario Alguacil, Director de Gobierno Abierto y Servicios Generales del Ajuntament Sant Feliu de Llobregat, y José Cándido Seba Bernal, Jefe de Departamento en MODUS ROTA, la empresa municipal de la Ciudad de Rota.

Esta entrevista abordó temas relacionados con la movilidad sostenible en ciudades como Beasain y Rota, la participación en la red Civinet Iberia, así como proyectos e iniciativas de infraestructuras inteligentes y Living Lab de Movilidad en entornos rurales.

CIVINET Iberia es la red local de la Iniciativa CIVITAS en España y Portugal, cuyo objetivo central es promover la movilidad sostenible en ambos países. ¿Quieres saber más?

Resumen del episodio:

[00:02:24] Pregunta previa: Si vuestras respectivas ciudades tuvieran un superpoder en movilidad, ¿cuál sería?

[00:04:24] Trayectoria profesional de Adur, Mario and Cándido

[00:12:15] ¿Cuál es la necesidad en España de una red así?

[00:13:53] ¿Cómo transformará CIVINET Iberia en el futuro nuestra forma de trabajar y de obtener conocimientos de los demás?

[00:19:13] ¿Cómo una ciudad tan pequeña como Rota está llevando a cabo proyectos tan relevantes y cómo estos proyectos mejoran la movilidad?

[00:23:43] ¿Cómo se ha posicionado Beasain, a pesar de ser un municipio bastante pequeño, como Living Lab de la Movilidad en el medio rural?

[00:28:53] ¿Cómo debería ser el enfoque integrado de la gobernanza de la ciudad, la inteligencia de operaciones, incluida la movilidad, combinando datos, plataformas, IoT, gemelos digitales, análisis predictivo?

[00:31:56] Segmento divertido: Intercambiamos los roles.

[00:36:17] Pregunta recurrente: ¿qué es una ciudad inteligente?

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Neste segundo episódio da série CIVINET Ibéria - o primeiro episódio em português - conversámos com Nuno Alexandre Cunha, Diretor Operacional da Associação Quadrilátero Urbano, e Mariza Motta Queiroz, Investigadora do Lab U Shift - Instituto Superior Técnico.

O debate centrou-se na mobilidade sustentável, na tecnologia, na mudança de comportamentos dos cidadãos e na importância da experimentação no planeamento urbano.

A CIVINET Iberia é a rede local da Iniciativa CIVITAS em Espanha e Portugal, cujo objetivo central é promover a mobilidade sustentável em ambos os países. Quer saber mais?

Panorâmica do episódio:

[00:03:47] Teaser: Imagine a mobilidade em Portugal em 2050. Como é que vai ser?

[00:07:27] Formação da Mariza e do Pedro

[00:13:12] Qual é a importância do CIVINET em Portugal?

[00:15:06] Como é que a Associação Quadrilátero planeia usar tecnologia para promover a mobilidade sustentável nas cidades de Barcelos, Braga, Famalicão e Guimarães e influenciar comportamentos?

[00:17:19] Como é que a mobilidade das crianças mudou desde a Covid e como é que as tendências estão a mudar na era pós-Covid?

[00:20:25] Como podemos educar as crianças para mudarem o seu comportamento para modos de transporte mais sustentáveis?

[00:23:25] O que é mais importante para alterar estes comportamentos e adaptar o espaço urbano às novas necessidades de mobilidade das pessoas?

[00:26:09] Tendo em conta a realidade de Lisboa e das cidades à sua volta, quais são as componentes essenciais que faltam à maioria das cidades neste mundo da mobilidade?

[00:28:47] Como é que as cidades do norte de Portugal estão ligadas e como é que existe esta ligação entre Portugal e Espanha no norte de Portugal?

[00:35:07] Sobre a importância da intermodalidade e da articulação entre as várias entidades dos vários modos de transporte, qual é que é a tua perspetiva sobre o caminho que ainda há a percorrer?

[00:38:39] Pergunta final: Para si, o que é uma cidade inteligente?

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In this first episode of our CIVINET Iberia series, we talked with Pedro Moreira, Head of Transport Authority and Mobility Management at the City of Braga in Portugal, and Cristina Álvarez Requena, CEO of Las Rozas Innova, the municipal company of Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain.

The discussion focused on cross-border collaboration, innovation, sustainable urban mobility, accessibility, green spaces, and digital innovation.

CIVINET Iberia is the local network of the CIVITAS Initiative in Spain and Portugal, whose central purpose is to promote sustainable mobility in both countries. Want to learn more?

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:32] Teaser: If Braga and Las Rozas were animals, which animals would they be and why?

[00:04:16] Pedro and Cristina's Professional Background

[00:07:30] Why is it important for Braga to be part of the CIVINET Iberia Network?

[00:11:38] How are innovation and digital transformation shaping the way that Las Rozas is tackling central challenges? How can we ensure that it is accessible?

[00:12:55] "Pacification": Braga's project which incentivizes cycling by rewarding users with vouchers for local shops

[00:19:19] In what ways can Las Rozas serve as an example for other cities?

[00:23:58] What is Braga's biggest need and challenge when it comes to sustainable mobility?

[00:34:01] 3 words to describe Braga and Las Rozas in 2030

[00:35:30] Roll with the Punches: our guests answer 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts.

[00:38:25] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

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Dans ce tout premier épisode en français du podcast, nous avons eu le plaisir d'acceuillir Stéphane Raffalli, le maire de la ville de Ris-Orangis, située en Île-de-France, et Myfanwy Boudry, Cheffe de projets Assistance à maitrise d’usage chez Ville Hybride, une agence en innovation sociale et urbaine.

Nous avons notamment discuté avec eux du projet d'assistance à maîtrise d'usage et de réaménagement du parc de la Theuillerie, un espace naturel stratégique de Ris-Orangis.

Nous avons également parlé de collaboration entre les secteurs privés et publics, de démocratie participative, et des défis que rencontre la ville de Ris-Orangis, tels que la désindustrialisation et la gentrification dans la seconde couronne parisienne.

Résumé de l'épisode:

[00:02:44] Teaser : une brève description de Ris-Orangis et du projet du Parc de la Theuillerie

[00:02:55] Les parcours professionnels de Stéphane Raffalli et Myfanwy Boudry

[00:04:23] Quels sont les principaux déjà à relever pour Ris-Orangis ?

[00:06:13] Quel est le rôle de Ville Hybride dans le projet du Parc de la Theuillerie ?

[00:07:06] En quoi les collaborations entre secteurs privés et publics fonctionnent-elles bien et en quoi parfois peuvent-elles échouer ? Quelles peuvent en être les limites ?

[00:08:54] Qu'est-ce que "remettre le vivant au coeur du projet urbain" signifie dans le contexte de ce projet ?

[00:10:42] Quelles méthodes ou plateformes sont utilisées pour consulter les citoyens dans ce projet ?

[00:11:39] Ce modèle de démocratie participative prend-il de plus en plus d'importance dans la gestion de la ville ?

[00:14:02] Quel futur pour le Parc de la Theuillerie et son projet de réaménagement ?

[00:15:22] Si nos invités avaient des ressources illimitées, qu'auraient-ils fait différement au cours de ce projet ?

[00:19:26] Inverser le scénario : nos invités se posent les questions !

[00:23:33] Question récurrente : selon vous, qu'est-ce qu'un Smart City ?

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In this second episode of our SMCNetZero series, we had the pleasure of talking with Maria Vassilakou, Urban Strategist and Founder at Vienna Solutions and member of the EU Horizon Mission experts board on Smart & Climate-Neutral Cities. She also served as Vienna’s Vice Mayor responsible for Urban Planning, Traffic & Transport, Climate Protection, Energy and Public Participation from November 2010 to July 2019.

Our conversation with her focused on Vienna and the challenges and opportunities for Small and Medium-sized Cities in the context of decarbonisation.

To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website. Don't hesitate to reach out via our contact page if you have resources or information that can help cities in their decarbonisation journey.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:06] Teaser: If Maria could go back to 2010, what advice would she give herself before becoming vice mayor?

[00:03:48] Maria's Professional Background

[00:06:08] Vienna's Decarbonization Challenges

[00:09:24] Lessons for Small Cities

[00:12:55] Small Cities Challenges and Their Mitigation

[00:16:00] The Role of Businesses and Local Ecosystems

[00:22:49] Inspire Us: our guest shares a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired her recently.

[00:26:26] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Este episodio especial, grabado en vivo durante el evento Global Mobility Call y en colaboración con la Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes (RECI) trae dos invitados de lujo: Eileen Vélez Vega, Secretaria del Departamento de Transporte y Obras Públicas de Puerto Rico, y José de la Uz Pardo, alcalde de Las Rozas de Madrid (España), presidente de Las Rozas Innova y vocal de la RECI.

Exploran la movilidad sostenible, la innovación y cómo abordan estos temas. Descubre cómo la colaboración, la tecnología y la innovación están transformando sus territorios hacia un futuro más inteligente y sostenible.

Resumen del episodio:

[00:01:50] Pregunta previa: Si ambos territorios fueran un medio de transporte, ¿cuáles serían

[00:03:23] Trayectoria profesional de Eileen y José

[00:05:29] Principales retos relacionados con la movilidad sostenible en Puerto Rico

[00:07:22] Principales retos relacionados con la movilidad sostenible en Las Rozas

[00:09:46] Proyectos específicos en Las Rozas

[00:10:54] ¿Cómo se concibió el modelo único de innovación de Las Rozas?

[00:11:41] Segmento divertido: Intercambiamos los roles.

[00:13:36] Pregunta recurrente: ¿qué es una ciudad inteligente?

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In the fifth episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we discussed with María José, the Head of Operations at ALIA - Alicante Investment Agency in Spain. She told us about the agency's mission and its significant role in attracting tech companies and sustainable startups to the city.

Discover how Alicante's unique blend of quality of life and work opportunities is enticing companies worldwide, and how ALIA is working collaboratively with the public and private sectors to build a sustainable future.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:26] Teaser: If Alicante were a type of food, what type of food would it be?

[00:01:48] Introduction of the guest, María José, Head of Operations at Alicante Investment Agency

[00:03:01] The mission and role of the Alicante Investment Agency

[00:06:31] Public-private collaboration and support

[00:10:50] Attracting companies based on quality of life

[00:17:31] Aligning with the European Green Deal for sustainability

[00:19:17] Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers "this or that" questions quickly and with her first instincts

[00:21:29] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the fourth episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we explore another small town in Spain: Gata de Gorgos, located south of Valencia. We had a very insightful discussion with Leticia Monfort Peiró, town councillor for European Funding, Innovation and Transparency.

With her, we learned more about the town, its smart and green initiatives, and the delicate balance of preserving tradition while embracing modern sustainability projects.

Overview of the episode:

01:50 - Teaser: Gata de Gorgos in three words

03:21 - Meet Letitia Monfort Peiró: the Town Counselor for European Funding, Innovation, and Transparency for Gata de Gorgos

04:37 - What is Gata de Gorgos all about?

07:52 - What is Gata de Gorgos doing in terms of innovation and climate issues?

11:13 - Gata's vision: harnessing its abundant sunshine for a cleaner, more energy-efficient future

13:35 - Shifting citizen behaviour toward active mobility

15:35 - How can learnings from bigger cities be applied to Gata de Gorgos?

21:10 - Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers "this or that" questions quickly and with her first instincts

24:25 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the second episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we travelled once again to Spain, in a town near Alicante: the Municipality of Salinas. We had the pleasure to discuss with Pablo Rodriguez, the Innovation Agent of Salinas, about the town's innovative projects, sustainability initiatives, and their goals for a better urban lifestyle.

From green energy and water treatment to hydrogen projects, we explored how smaller towns can embrace technology and collaboration for the benefit of their citizens.

Overview of the episode:

01:40 - Teaser: What are the most beautiful places in Salinas?

01:36 - Meet Pablo Rodriguez: The Innovation Agent for Salinas, Spain.

03:29 - Salinas' journey from an industrial town to a smart village.

06:52 - Nurturing industry and attracting businesses to Salinas.

09:22 - The town's goal to become a "smart village" and their green energy initiatives.

11:52 - A glimpse into Salinas' water treatment and hydrogen project.

15:22 - Collaborating and competing in EU projects as a small town.

18:41 - Engaging citizens and overcoming challenges in sustainability projects.

21:42 - Inspire Us: Our guest shares a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired him lately.

24:30 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the second episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we travelled back very close to Barcelona to the important town of Viladecans in Spain. We had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Jordi Mazón, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Viladecans, and Alicia Valle, the General Manager of Viladecans.

With them, we talked about sustainable practices, the Green Leaf Awards, the Innpulso network, the innovation model MIA, as well as the impact of gender diversity in leadership.

Overview of the episode:

01:44 - Teaser: If Viladecans were a superhero, what would be its superpower?

03:15 - What are our guests' backgrounds? Where do they come from?

04:31 - How does physics and politics interact?

07:46 - What is the role of Viladecans as co-chair in the Innpulso network?

11:41 - What sustainable practices is Viladecans recognised for? How does the Green Leaf Award work?

14:58 - How do these initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals?

16:37 - What is the biggest challenge that Viladecans is facing?

17:56 - Which policies are the most instrumental in shaping Viladecan's climate neutrality goal in 2030?

19:01 - What are the key principles of the innovation model MIA developed by Viladecans?

24:32 - How do innovation models keep up with the digital landscape evolving so quickly?

29:25 - How does Viladecans' emphasis on gender diversity influence the city's approach to leadership, inclusivity, and innovation?

35:54 - Trial and Error: What went wrong, what mistakes were made along the way and more importantly, what lessons were learned?

39:42 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this first episode from our Greencities S-Moving series, we travelled to the Basque Country in Spain and delved into the Municipality of Ermua's innovative approach to sustainable urban development with Josu Ansola, the Director of Economic Development of Ermua.

With him, we explored the DrOp project, which focuses on revitalising neighbourhoods, fostering citizen participation, and promoting economic development. Josu also told us about Red Innpulso, the Spanish Network of Cities of Science and Innovation, of which Ermua holds the presidency with the municipality of Viladecans.

Overview of the episode:

01:27 - Teaser: If Ermua was a dish, what would be the secret ingredient to its success?

02:14 - What led Josu to his current role as Director of Economic Development of Ermua?

02:58 - How do innovation and economic development interact in the urban context?

03:29 - What is the Innpulso Network?

04:39 - What is the DrOp Project?

08:43 - How does it put the residents at the heart of social district generation?

11:01 - How will this regeneration process promote new business models and services?

12:14 - What innovations are part of this project?

14:09 - How does the project promote climate neutrality?

21:33 - Flip the Script: our guest is asking the questions!

24:30 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, our journey leads us once more to the United Kingdom, where we met and discussed with Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, UK.

With him, we talked about urban development, climate action, leadership in cities and the importance of a just transition in the face of climate change.

He also told us about the UK Urban Futures Commission, an initiative led by Core Cities UK and Lloyds Banking Group, to develop a transformative national plan for the future of UK cities.

Download the Commission's "Unleashing the potential of the UK's cities" report here.

Overview of the episode:

01:13 - Teaser: our guest describes Bristol and the UK Urban Futures Commission in three words.

02:26 - What is Marvin's background, and how did it bring a unique perspective to his work?

10:54 - What is the UK Urban Futures Commission? What is the primary topic or issue that it is dedicated to addressing?

16:10 - How can cities use the knowledge shared by the Commission and put it into practice?

18:38 - Strategies and projects in Bristol aimed at mitigating environmental challenges while also fostering economic growth

23:51 - What tips does our guest have to give about leadership in cities?

35:05 - Hot Take of the Day: we hear an opinion from our guest that may be slightly controversial or debated

37:03 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we travel once more to the city of Barcelona in Spain, this time to talk democracy with Arnau Monterde, the Director of Democratic Innovation at the Barcelona City Council.

With him, we explored the concept of democracy, citizen participation, and innovative approaches to governance, with a focus on Barcelona's efforts to engage its citizens in decision-making processes.

The Barcelona City Council and the Metropolitan Strategic Plan of Barcelona are presenting the European Capital of Democracy Program 2023-2024 on September 14th at 12:30 p.m. in the Saló de Cent. You can find out more by visiting the Capital of Democracy Barcelona website and Twitter account.

Overview of the episode:

01:28 - Teaser: If democracy were a flavour of ice cream, what would it be and why?

02:27 - Our guests' background

03:50 - What is democracy and what does it mean to Arnau?

04:38 - What does the European Capital of Democracy mean? What will Barcelona do in the next year to uphold this title?

06:31 - Do citizens know best what they need?

08:21 - What is the concept of "collective intelligence"?

09:28 - Barcelona is known for its rich history and vibrant culture. How does the city's unique heritage inspire innovative approaches to democracy in the modern era?

11:09 - Projects that exemplify the intersection of democracy and innovation in Barcelona

14:12 - How can we develop more initiatives to ensure that marginalized voices are heard and represented in the discussions?

17:29 - Surprising outcomes or lessons learned from projects and initiatives

20:42 - What bold idea to further enhance democracy and innovation in Barcelona would our guest implement?

26:26 - Trial and Error: what has been the biggest trail and error when looking at democracy in the past, and how can we ensure it doesn't happen again?

28:48 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this first episode of our SMCNetZero series, we welcomed back Nikita Shetty, the UK and Ireland Lead at BABLE Smart Cities, but also Graham Colclough, Partner at UrbanDNA, UK and Rebecca Walsh, EU Projects Officer for the Southern Regional Assembly in Ireland.

We asked them to tell us all about the SMCNetZero Project, the decarbonisation of Small and Medium-sized Cities, the related challenges and the milestones and activities of the project, as well as its limitations and long-term vision.

To learn more or to join the project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website. Don't hesitate to reach out via our contact page if you have resources or information that can help cities in their decarbonisation journey.

Overview of the episode:

02:09 - Teaser: If the cities where our guests currently live were an animal, which animals would it be?

04:09 - Our guests' background

07:42 - Overview of the SMCNetZero Project: What are its objectives? What inspired the project?

13:57 - Why do SMCs matter to reach decarbonisation?

17:58 - What are the main challenges towards decarbonisation that SMCs are facing?

21:33 - How will SMCNetZero project address these challenges in the Southern Region of Ireland?

23:38 - How can the project help facilitate best practices?

27:01 - What are the potential limitations of SMCNetZero project considering the ongoing challenges of SMCs?

30:14 - What are the milestones and next steps of the project?

37:49 - Roll With The Punches: our guests answer this or that questions quickly, and with their first instincts

44:41 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In our fifth and last episode recorded live at the Urban Future Conference 2023, we had the pleasure of talking with Oriol Estela Barnet, the General Coordinator of the Metropolitan Strategic Plan Association of Barcelona (or PEMB) in Spain.

He told us all about the challenges and initiatives he is working on for the metropolitan region of Barcelona and highlighted the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and inclusive governance to create a more sustainable urban future.

Overview of the episode:

01:57 - Teaser: What are the differences and commonalities between Stuttgart, Germany and Barcelona, Spain?

03:40 - Oriol's background as an economist and a geographer

07:20 - What is Oriol working on and what is the Metropolitan Commitment 2030?

09:14 - What is an example of an unlikely partnership?

11:48 - What are the biggest challenges that the Metropolitan region is facing?

16:06 - How can practitioners on the ground bring the vision from the Metropolitan Commitment to life?

21:38 - What are the upcoming initiatives in the Metropolitan region of Barcelona?

25:18 - What are the most crucial elements for success from the economist's point of view?

27:54 - What are the most crucial elements for success from the geographer's point of view?

33:54 - Roll With The Punches: our guests answer this or that questions quickly, and with their first instincts

36:28 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In our fourth episode recorded live at the Urban Future Conference 2023, we had the pleasure of talking with Kaisa-Reeta Koskinen, Head of Climate at the City of Helsinki, Finland, and Susa Eräranta, Project Director for Climate Mitigation at the City of Helsinki and Professor of Practice at Aalto University.

With them, we discussed the unique approach taken by Helsinki to address climate change, with a focus on effective actions, critical thinking, and prioritisation of efforts.

Overview of the episode:

01:53 - Teaser: What is a little-known fact about Helsinki?

02:57 - What are our guests' backgrounds?

07:34 - What is happening in Helsinki right now? What makes the situation unique in Helsinki? What challenges are shared with other cities?

10:22 - What does focusing on the most effective actions regarding climate change look like in practice?

14:52 - In this perspective, is citizen behaviour change not a focus for the city?

21:52 - Helsinki's carbon neutrality target: carbon zero and carbon negativity

31:06 - The benefits of making mistakes and learning from them

37:11 - Roll With The Punches: our guests answer this or that questions quickly, and with their first instincts

42:43 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In our third episode recorded live at the Urban Future Conference 2023, we sat down with Jenny Rydén, Project Manager of Sustainability for the Municipality of Varberg, Sweden.

With her, we talked about a significant urban development project that the municipality has undertaken over the past five years: moving the harbour and developing a seaside city district.

Overview of the episode:

01:52 - Teaser: If Varberg were an animal, which animal would it be?

02:49 - What is Jenny's background?

04:46 - Where is located the municipality of Varberg? What is it known for?

06:46 - What is this major urban development project Jenny is working on?

08:24 - What are the challenges and successes encountered on this project?

10:34 - How does sustainability play a role in the project?

12:25 - How can municipalities that are undertaking similar projects focus on creating sustainable places?

17:20 - What kind of partnerships are needed for projects like this to succeed?

20:55 - The challenges of lengthy administrative processes

25:00 - Pieces of advice for cities wanting to undertake similar projects

29:20 - Inspire Us: our guest shares an inspiring story

31:30 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This second episode sponsored by Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes (RECI) was recorded live at the Urban Future Conference 2023 with Ernesto Faubel, Head of Smart City Office at the Municipality of Valencia, Spain, and Vladimir Svet – the Deputy Mayor of Environment, Urban Construction and Mobility for the City of Tallinn, Estonia.

With Tallinn currently the European Green Capital for 2023, and Valencia having won the title for next year, we discussed how it aligns with their carbon neutrality and sustainability goals, as well as the impact and challenges of green initiatives on urban planning.

Overview of the episode:

01:58 - Teaser: What do our guests have in common?

04:57 - What are our guests' backgrounds?

07:52 - What urban development and public transport projects are happening in Tallinn and Valencia?

12:47 - What does the European Green Capital title actually mean for a city?

16:44 - What action had to be undertaken in Tallinn because of that title?

26:12 - What are some learnings Valencia could take away from Tallinn's experience as European Green Capital 2023?

17:25 - Touching in on AI and Digital Twins programs in Tallinn and Valencia

39:06 - What would you do: what would our guests do in someone else's shoes?

44:16 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode was recorded live at the Urban Future Conference 2023 with Moshe Gazit, Director of Business Development at the IoT startup Thinkz. With him we discussed the application of IoT in urban planning, real-time presence in cities, the environmental impact of IoT and more.

BABLE and Thinkz have launched a joint contest for cities and regions to win a free cutting-edge Real-Time City Map, a powerful tool that empowers citizens by providing up-to-the-minute information across various services. Choose 1 service from a broad range of real-time offerings such as EV charging stations, parking spaces, micro-mobility services, or air quality indicators. Apply now!**

Overview of the episode:

01:58 - Teaser: What is one thing that people get wrong about IoT?

03:34 - How did Moshe get interested in IoT? What's his background?

05:01 - What does Thinkz do exactly?

09:09 - How can IoT-enabled real-time presence help cities?

10:25 - When does IoT fail? What can go wrong?

15:28 - How can cities manage and analyse the generated data to derive meaningful insights and drive actionable outcomes?

17:25 - What are the environmental implications of widespread IoT deployment in cities?

20:14 - What is one project that Thinkz has done recently? What were the results?

25:02 - Flip the Script: our guest asks the questions!

31:02 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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For our second episode in collaboration with Copenhagen Capacity, it was our great pleasure to welcome back an old guest, Rikke Petersen, Head of the Green Transition Team at Copenhagen Capacity, as well as Ellen Corke, Project Manager, Strategic Partnerships and City Development, at E.ON.

With them, we discussed collaboration, interaction, and opportunities that arise from the close proximity and connectivity between Denmark and Sweden within the Greater Copenhagen Region, but also the future of sustainable energy and of the built environment in the region.

Remember Rikke's first appearance on the podcast? Go back to our first Copenhagen episode: "#1 What better place to start than in Copenhagen?", in which we talked with Rikke Peterson and Anders Sloth Nielsen from Copenhagen Capacity, as well as Martine Reinhold Kildeby from BLOXHUB.

Overview of the episode:

01:53 - Teaser: What memory does have Rikke of her first recording with us? Why did Ellen chose Malmö aver Copenhagen?

03:48 - What led our guests to Greater Copenhagen and their current roles?

07:42 - How can it work to have a region that is in two countries?

09:14 - Does it provide more opportunities for your company to have a region in two countries?

11:22 - What are the challenges within the region?

13:27 - How does E.ON play a role in the future of sustainable energy in the region?

17:57 - What about the future of the built environment in the region?

20:02 -What kind of companies does Greater Copenhagen need?

23:33 - What opportunities are coming in the future in Greater Copenhagen?

24:27 - What is Greater Copenhagen’s role on the international scale as far as the energy transition goes?

34:01 - Roll with the Punches: our guests answer 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts

37:50 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this first episode sponsored by Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes (RECI), it was our great pleasure to meet with Manuel Gonzalez – Chief Information Officer for the City of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain and David Dessers Deputy Mayor Mobility, Climate and Sustainability, Agriculture and Consumption of the City of Leuven, Belgium.

With them, we discussed the challenges both cities are facing, digitalisation, sustainability, international collaboration and more!

Remembering RECI from somewhere? Go back and listen to our episode in Spanish with Verónica Ramírez , director of operations of the Smart City Cluster and Javier Ridruejo , former general secretary of Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes.

Overview of the episode:

01:59 - Teaser: What do our guests have in common?

04:01 - What is David's background?

06:12 - What is Manuel's background?

07:44 - Leuven in three sentences

08:45 - Sant Feliu in three sentences

09:41 - What are the initiatives happening in Leuven currently?

12:37 - What are the initiatives happening in Sant Feliu currently?

14:06 - How has Leuven embraced digital innovation to enhance the city's sustainability efforts?

17:24 - How do the digital innovation initiatives of Leuven compare to the work that Sant Feliu is doing?

18:54 - How can more cooperation between Spain and Belgium progress David and Manuel's work?

21:39 - What are the biggest milestones in Sant Feliu' and Leuven's journey towards sustainability?

29:03 - What are the main challenges Sant Feliu and Leuven are facing?

41:13 - Roll with the Punches: our guests answer 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts

47:07 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this first episode in collaboration with Copenhagen Capacity, it was our great pleasure to have two architects by formation on the podcast: Camilla van Deurs, Chief City Architect for the City of Copenhagen, and Stefanie Weidner, Director at Werner Sobek Copenhagen and Director of Sustainability Strategies for the whole Werner Sobek Group.

Copenhagen Capacity is organising the Network & Mingle Green Urban Futures event on 3. July 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark! Join this after-hour networking event and experience the Greater Copenhagen region from above: find out how to participate.

Overview of the episode:

02:21 - Teaser: What are our guests' favourite buildings in Copenhagen?

03:58 - What is Camilla's background?

05:19 - What is one lesson Camilla has taken from working with other cities in the past and that she has applied in Copenhagen?

06:12 - What is Stephanie's background?

08:18 - Why is it important that Copenhagen has been named the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture?

11:57 - Where are the obvious cross-over points between architecture and Smart City concepts?

14:36 - Examples of how Camilla works with Smart City concepts within Copenhagen

17:13 - What are the foreseeable developments in the relationship between circularity and architecture?

22:05 - What are the steps cities need to take to meet their sustainability goals?

26:58 - How are international companies and partnerships contributing to Copenhagen’s transition towards a more sustainable capital?

35:49 - Roll with the Punches: our guests answer 'this or that' questions quickly and with their first instincts

41:16 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we talked with Stephen Jones, Director of Core Cities UK, about collaboration between national governments and cities, UK cities' preparation for net zero, smart readiness, international relationships and more!

Overview of the episode:

01:13 - Teaser: What is the most stereotypical British thing our guest has ever done?

01:55 - Stephen's background story and what led him to Core Cities

04:27 - What is Core Cities and why is the organization important?

07:33 - What are the most unique challenges that UK cities face in comparison to say European cities?

10:48 - What are the key factors and strategies that contribute to the smart readiness of UK cities?

16:02 - What are cities doing in the UK doing to make their way to net zero?

20:30 - Practical examples of smart readiness and climate adaptive projects

25:43 - What now after Brexit? Are UK cities doomed to strengthen their international relationships?

30:04 - Stephen's take on the 15-Minute City

34:45 - Hot Take of the Day: hear one opinion from our guest that might be slightly controversial or debated

41:32 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode was recorded live at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo 2023 in Paris, where Smart in the City was a Media Partner.

In this episode, we talked with Sergio Fernández Balaguer, the Head of the International Department at the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) of Madrid, Spain. We discussed sustainable mobility, transversal connectivity, public transport and car usage and the importance of international activities when it comes to urban mobility.

Overview of the episode:

02:03 - Teaser: What is one odd or weird thing that Sergio has seen on the streets of Madrid recently?

03:23 - Sergio's background story and transition to working at EMT Madrid

06:01 - What are the main challenges Madrid is facing when it comes to public transport?

10:27 - How does collaboration between EMT Madrid and other EU cities work?

14:21 - How can other cities replicate urban mobility models?

10:17 - Is the European Commission’s proposal to ban the sale of carbon-emitting cars from 2035 feasible?

23:01 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instincts

25:58 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode was recorded live at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo 2023 in Paris, where Smart in the City was a Media Partner.

In this episode, we travel to Manchester in the UK and talk about public transport, active mobility, integration, railway network and more with Nick Fairclough, Senior Policy Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester.

Overview of the episode:

02:29 - Teaser: What is a little-known fact about Manchester?

03:11 - What led our guest to work in transport?

05:20 - How does Transport for Greater Manchester work?

07:35 - What are the similarities and differences in your organisation to others?

08:54 - Is there an increase in people biking and walking?

10:17 - What does success look like for integration?

11:19 - Do cars have a place in integration?

12:08 - What are the barriers? What are the challenges?

13:17 - Where does public transport fall short?

14:58 - What is the business model behind public transport in Manchester?

18:51 - Nick Fairclough's favourite project: the development of Greater Manchester's bus plan

20:37 - What does Greater Manchester look like in 2050?

22:47 - Inspire Us: our guest shares a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired them recently

24:27 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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This episode was recorded live at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo 2023 in Paris, where Smart in the City was a Media Partner.

In this episode, we were lucky enough to sit down with Ross Douglas, Founder and CEO of Autonomy Paris & the Urban Mobility Weekly, to talk about the event, mobility trends, carbon emissions goals, car ownership, electric vehicles and more!

Overview of the episode:

01:40 - Teaser: if our guest was to ride in any mode of transport of the future, what would it be?

02:15 - What's the story behind Autonomy?

03:45 - "Change is really driven by policy-makers" and not by consumer behaviour

05:05 - What is the consumers' responsibility?

06:43 - What are the three current mobility trends?

08:44 - Is there still time to turn the tide regarding Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

11:15 - How can events such as Autonomy help meet carbon emissions goals?

12:47 - What are the limitations to such events?

13:56 - Car ownership: the cities vs the industry

16:29 - Why we mustn't see EVs as a solution but as a tool

19:10 - Mobility and public health: looking at urban planning in a holistic way

20:52 - Flip the Script: our guest is asking the questions!

24:46 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we learn how the happiness of citizens can be measured and quantified to inform decision-making in urban planning with two guests from the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark: Catarina Lachmund, Senior Analyst, and Camilla Michalski, Data Analyst.

Overview of the episode:

02:18 - Teaser: our guest shared a quote about happiness from the founder of the Happiness Research Institute

02:26 - Who is Catarina? What is Camila’s story?

05:19 - Why should municipalities care about happiness?

08:06 - How can happiness be measured?

11:39 - What is the impact of technology on happiness?

17:54 - What is the "currency of happiness"?

21:03 - How do the Happiness Research Institute works with cities?

25:10 - How do they work with the private sector?

30:13 - Hot Take of the Day: an opinion from our guest that is slightly controversial or debated

33:24 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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For this episode, we sat down in Stuttgart, Germany with our guests Sebastian Ewert, CEO and Founder of MAHLE chargeBIG, and Alexander Schmidt, our CEO and Founder at BABLE. With them, we discussed electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructures, and the future of urban mobility in general.

Overview of the episode:

02:47 - Teaser: Imagine Stuttgart in 2050. Are there cars, and what does it look like?

04:18 - Who is Sebastian and what is MAHLE chargeBIG?

09:40 - What does the future of electric charging look like?

14:43 - How have the discussions changed over electric vehicles and charging in the past 12 years?

19:02 - What is the political environment around EV charging in Germany and in the EU?

21:14 - What do you say to people that still say that electric vehicles are not the solution to urban mobility challenges and that they still cause congestion, etc.? What about the impact of batteries etc. on the environment?

26:37 - How can we accelerate the transition to electric mobility?

36:25 - What Would You Do: what would our guests do if they were a minister of transport?

41:26 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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With us in this special episode is none other than a fellow podcast host and urbanist – Marcin Wojciech Żebrowski from Urbcast - a podcast about cities. He is also a Business Development Coordinator at Henning Larsen Architects.

Urbcast is a unique bilingual podcast about cities, urbanism, urban planning, architecture and much more. Every second Wednesday, Marcin interviews various guests and dives into topics such as cities, urban design, architecture or living in the Scandinavian capital of design—Copenhagen.

BABLE will be at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo in Paris on March 22nd and 23rd. Register now to benefit from the many activities on the programme: Startup Village, City Hub, two conference programs, test tracks, demos, B2B and B2G meetings, startup challenge and innovation award ceremony We hope to see you there!

Overview of the episode:

02:25 - Teaser: How does it feel for a podcast host to become the guest?

03:05 - How did Marcin get into podcasting?

05:30 - How many cities have Marcin recorded episodes with?

07:10 - Is urbanism an inclusive term, or should we widen the scope of Smart in the City and Urbcast?

09:00 - What is the most inspiring story Marcin heard from his guests?

13:15 - How can cities enable bottom-up initiatives?

18:10 - What has been the biggest urban challenge Marcin heard about?

21:50 - What role can podcasting have in the urban transition?

29:20 - Can we copy-paste solutions from one city to another?

32:05 - Flip the Script: our guest is asking the questions!

36:45 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we welcomed Montserrat Miramontes – who is a Transport Planner in charge of mobility management at the city of Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, Germany. With her, we discussed transport planning, urban design, multimodal mobility and more!

BABLE will be at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo in Paris on March 22nd and 23rd. Register now to benefit from the many activities on the programme: Startup Village, City Hub, two conference programs, test tracks, demos, B2B and B2G meetings, startup challenge and innovation award ceremony We hope to see you there!

Overview of the episode:

02:42 - Teaser: if Fürstenfeldbruck were an animal, which animal would it be?

04:20 - What does Montserrat do as a Transport Planner and what is her background?

07:06 - Is convincing people not to use their cars a challenge in Southern Germany?

08:40 - What does sustainable mobility mean?

11:00 - What are the main challenges when planning and implementing a transport development plan in a city such as Fürstenfeldbruck?

13:42 - Transport demand measures in Fürstenfeldbruck

15:45 - What are mobility hubs?

18:30 - What are the challenges Fürstenfeldbruck faced in the process of implementing mobility hubs?

20:40 - What was the tendering process?

24:30 - Can you make everyone happy when working in city administration?

28:25 - Shoutout: our guest mention a person, an organisation or a city they think deserves more recognition in the field

30:08 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Going just a little north from our last episode to the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, we discussed Smart District development, stakeholders engagement, funding sources and more with Deborah Colville, the City Innovation Manager & Head of Smart Belfast, and with Nikita Shetty, the UK and Ireland Lead and Senior Consultant for BABLE Smart Cities.

BABLE will be at the Autonomy Mobility World Expo in Paris on March 22nd and 23rd. Register now to benefit from the many activities on the programme: Startup Village, City Hub, two conference programs, test tracks, demos, B2B and B2G meetings, startup challenge and innovation award ceremony We hope to see you there!

Overview of the episode:

03:00 - Teaser: A little-known fact about Belfast

04:50 - What is the story behind the Smart Belfast program?

06:40 - What is Deborah's background?

08:30 - What is Nikita's experience with Belfast?

09:40 - Main stakeholders' engagement learnings from the Smart District development in Belfast

11:40 - Why start with a district approach?

15:07 - What were the success factors in accessing funding sources within this project?

20:05 - Political leadership: pieces of advice for cities

24:30 - What about stakeholders who don't have the time or resources?

28:50 - What is the nature of this partnership? Is it more about resource-sharing or strategic decision-making?

31:48 - The Healthy Aging Project

34:26 - Were there any concerns regarding Data Privacy and Security?

36:30 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instincts

38:50 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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We start 2023 with our very first co-hosted episode with Alessandro Gaillard, Communications Campaign Officer at the Solar Impulse Foundation and host of the Solutions for Cities Podcast.

With our host Tamlyn Shimizu, they had a fascinating talk with David Kelly, the Director of the Southern Regional Assembly in Ireland, about collaboration between organisations, local authorities but also regions in Europe, as well as Smart Specialisation strategy goals for this region.

Have a look at the Solar Impulse Foundation's Solutions Guide for Cities on the BABLE platform. Make sure to check out our feature on page 208!

Overview of the episode:

01:35 - What does the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) do and what does it cover from a geographical point of view?

5:15 - Teaser: in what other region in the world besides the Southern Region in Ireland would David like to work?

6:45 - What are the goals of the Southern Regional Assembly with their Smart Specialisation strategy?

09:30 - Collaboration and learnings from other regions and cities.

13:20 - What can be gained from Smart projects?

16:36 - What can be "lost" from Smart projects? What are the risks?

18:35 - How can public entities work with private ones?

21:28 - What are the specific challenges the Southern Region is facing?

25:23 - How can regions bring together local authorities effectively?

28:40 - How do cities collaborate with each other in the Southern Region?

30:31 - How are the smaller towns in the region working differently than bigger cities?

34:50 - Flip the Script: our guest asks the questions

40:57 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we dived into the topic of digitalization with Bas Boorsma, Chief Digital Officer of the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, urban innovator, professor of practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management and author of A New Digital Deal.

Overview of the episode:

01:50 - Teaser: an inspiring quote from our guest

4:45 - What is Bas' background?

07:25 - Building on Bas' episode in the podcast 10 Lessons Learned ("Bas Boorsma - The Current Paradigm Shift: The Network Paradigm"): what is the #11 lesson that Bas has learned as CDO of Rotterdam?

09:30 - What needs to change within governments to drive the digital transition?

13:50 - Bas' book: A New Digital Deal

15:30 - What was a common conclusion that Bas heard from the 22 leaders he interviewed for his book?

17:35 - How is he using those insights in this role as CDO for the city of Rotterdam?

21:50 - "Keep your presumed friends close, and your presumed enemies closer." - Bas Boorsman

27:30 - Why do we need a "license to fail" on Smart City solutions?

29:11 - Examples of digital solutions being used poorly

33:15 - How do we put actions to words and go from conversations to implementations?

45:35 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly, and with their first instincts

49:00 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we welcomed two very special guests: Bernard Clerfayt, the Minister of the Capital Region of Brussels, Belgium, and Bertrand Piccard, twice-around-the-world man and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.

Listen now to a very insightful conversation on topics such as the digital transition, the COP27 outcome, the European energy crisis, and the existing solutions from a government and a nonprofit organization perspective.

You can download The Solar Impulse Foundation's Solutions Guide for Cities on the BABLE platform. Make sure to check out our feature on page 208!

Overview of the episode:

03:00 - Teaser: One thing that our guests have in common, despite their very different backgrounds

04:05 - What is Bertrand Piccard's background story?

05:50 - Where did Bernard Clerfayt's political carrier start?

06:50 - Could Bertrand and Bernard switch places and roles?

08:44 - What are the main challenges in Brussels regarding the Smart Transition?

10:30 - "I wonder if a real failure is better than a false success." - Bertrand Piccard about COP27

14:55 - Why are some existing energy solutions not yet implemented by cities?

15:40 - What are the urgent next steps to face the current European energy crisis?

20:30 - How do we accelerate what is already happening?

21:37 - How can we make the solutions in The Solar Impulse Foundation's Solutions Guide for Cities happen in the public sector?

26:40 - What can we do about the digital divide in cities?

29:23 - How can we raise awareness about how much resources we are wasting?

33:27 - Flip the Script: our guests ask each other questions

38:40 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we talked once more about our H2020 EU-Funded project – SPARCS – speaking with one of the fellow cities of the project – Kladno in the Czech Republic, live at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona.

We welcomed David Škorňa – Head of Project SPARCS for the City of Kladno, as well as Gretel Schaj – Regional Manager of BABLE Iberia and the Project Lead from BABLE for the SPARCS project, and discussed replication, sustainable energy transition, intercultural project management,and more!

You can learn more about what was implemented in the SPARCS lighthouse and fellow cities on the BABLE platform.

Are you a city representative looking to accelerate the uptake of innovative solutions in your city? Have a look at our Market Consultation Tool.

Overview of the episode:

02:27 - Teaser: What are our guests' favourite memories from the SPARCS project?

03:50 - David's professional background

05:03 - What is the SPARCS project?

07:00 - What does replication mean at its core?

09:58 - What are the challenges when working with cities from different countries?

11:40 - Which cities are the most similar, and which one are the most different?

12:50 - How can cities with a strong coal industry background like Kladno transition to a more sustainable energy system?

15:10 - How can we convince people that the energy transition makes sense?

20:13 - How can we bring more innovation to cities?

25:24 - How does a tool like the Market Consultation accelerate the uptake of innovative solutions in cities?

32:31 - Flip the Script: our guests ask each other questions

36:13 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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En nuestro primer episodio en español, grabado en el inmejorable escenario de la Smart City Expo World Congress 2022 de Barcelona, conversamos sobre empresas y ciudades, proyectos, éxitos y retos con dos personas que saben mucho de ciudades inteligentes, de creación de comunidades y de relaciones público-privadas en España: Verónica Ramírez, directora de operaciones del Smart City Cluster y Javier Ridruejo, secretario general de la Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes.

Resumen del episodio:

01:33 - Pregunta previa: Datos curiosos sobre las respectivas ciudades de nuestros invitados, Málaga y Logroño

03:08 - Trayectoria profesional

06:04 - ¿Por qué se fundó la RECI?, ¿Cuáles han sido los mayores éxitos y retos en el camino? ¿Qué valor puede aportar a las ciudades españolas?

8:00 - ¿Qué es lo que hace el Smart City Clúster único? ¿Cuál es el impacto del Clúster de Ciudades Inteligentes y cuáles son los principales retos?

10:18 - ¿Cómo puede colaborar las entidades públicas y las privadas?

16:14 - ¿Cómo puede el sector privado satisfacer las demandas del sector público y cómo puede el sector público hacer llegar los conocimientos y la innovación que necesitan los municipios para hacer de nuestras ciudades un lugar mejor para vivir?

19:51 - ¿Hay algo más que queréis compartir con nuestros oyentes hoy? ¿Un tema que no hayamos podido tocar o algo más que os gustaría mencionar?

22:26 - Segmento divertido: ¡intercambiamos los papeles!

26:38 - Pregunta recurrente: ¿qué es una ciudad inteligente?

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This episode takes us back to Finland, and more precisely to the city of Lahti, to discuss public-private partnerships, knowledge-driven community engagement and participatory planning with our guests: Johanna Palomäki, City Architect at the city of Lahti and Maarit Kahila, CEO of Maptionnaire, a community engagement platform for managing public participation processes in a central place.

Have a look at Lahti and Maptionnaire's Use Case on the BABLE Platform: Running a Participatory Budgeting Process in Lahti, Finland.

Overview of the episode:

02:10 - Teaser: Johanna and Maarit reminisce about the first time they met

05:40 - Knowledge-driven community engagement: what does it mean?

09:20 - Whose knowledge counts?

10:40 - Can we make sure that everybody's voice is heard?

13:58 - How should cities use tools such as the Maptionnaire Community Engagement Platform?

20:17 - The democratic process of participatory planning

21:50 - The fear of negative feedback

24:50 - Examples of how the city of Lahti has used the Maptionnaire tool

27:30 - What are the limitations to using such tools?

36:30 - Freaky Friday: our guests switch places and answer questions in each other shoes

39:15 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we dive into the topic of circular economy and especially how the city of Prague, Czech Republic is tackling waste recycling and other challenges. Our guest Vojtech Vosecky is himself trying to create a world with a circular economy, as he is the chairman of the Steering Group for Circular Economy in Prague, as well as an associate within Circle Economy.

The Solutions Guide for Cities by the Solar Impulse Foundation will be released on November 14th 2022 at the COP27!

Download it on the BABLE Platform and register now for the 'Prosperity and protection of the environment: how cities can unlock the opportunities of the ecological transition' launch webinar.**

Overview of the episode:

02:30 - Teaser: Three words that Prague is not

04:11 - What led Vojtech to circular economy?

07:24 - Do cities ever stray away from the collaborative mindset?

09:35 - What is circular economy?

11:25 - Should everything be circular?

13:05 - Will the world ever be completely circular?

15:30 - Can we have circular economy in capitalism?

21:00 - Could we have "circularity as a service"?

22:10 - The Reuse Sundays project in Prague

24:36 - What stops other cities from implementing something similar?

26:11 - Other projects Vojtech worked on

27:30 - How can municipalities get political support for circular initiatives?

30:00 - Tips on how to make public procurement a tool

34:10 - Roll With The Punches: our guest answer this or that questions quickly, and with their first instincts

39:05 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we had the pleasure to speak with Merja Honkanen, Project Manager at KONE and Elina Wanne, the Project Manager for the SPARCS project at the city of Espoo, Finland.

Not only are they our partners within the H202 project – SPARCS, but they also were the perfect guests to talk about co-creation, stakeholders engagement and inclusion.

Register now* for our new online training course*: SMARTER CONNECTED PLACES - experiential learning for tomorrow's urban leaders, which will take place from 15.11.2022 to 06.12.2022.

Overview of the episode:

04:33 - Teaser: If Espoo and KONE were animals, what would they be?

08:20 - What does co-creation mean?

12:19 - How can we actually apply co-creation in practice? How can we frame it?

15:38 - What tools and resources can cities use to support these processes?

17:56 - Pieces of advice for cities focusing on developing co-creation methodologies

19:20 - Success and challenge stories from Elina and Merja

26:20 - Building relationship: the difference between engaging with citizens and with companies

29:23 - The challenge of inclusion in a fast-growing city such as Espoo

31:52 - What's next for the partnership between Espoo and KONE?

34:22 - Shoutout: our guests mention a person, an organisation or a city they think deserve more recognition in the field

37:33 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we welcomed Katerina Nikolopoulou back to the podcast, this time as the Network Manager of CIVINET Greece-Cyprus, the Greek-speaking local network of the CIVITAS Initiative, which focuses on the promotion of Sustainable Mobility in Greece and Cyprus.

We also were delighted to have with us the Founder & Coordinator of CIVINET Greece-Cyprus: Kosmas Anagnostopoulos. This interview happened live at the Urban Mobility Days 2022 in Brno.

We discussed urban mobility, sustainability, circular tourism and all the specific challenges that Greek cities are facing.

Register now* for our new online training course*: SMARTER CONNECTED PLACES - experiential learning for tomorrow's urban leaders, which will take place from 15.11.2022 to 06.12.2022.

Overview of the episode:

03:00 - Teaser: One thing most people don't know about Greece

04:10 - How did CIVINET Greece-Cyrpus start?

05:40 - Why do organisations like this need to exist?

08:38 - Sustainable mobility, sustainable energy and urban regeneration

09:40 - About the CIVINET forum in Athens in December 2021

11:50 - Awards won by the city of Rethymno: the CIVITAS Transformation Award during the Urban Mobility Days 2022 and the EU Urban Road Safety Award during the European Mobility Week 2021

13:50 - What is the determinant factor for the Greek cities' success?

15:43 - Some lessons learned along the way by Katerina and Kosmas when working with cities

18:37 - What is unique about Greek challenges for cities?

21:25 - Katerina's fun fact about CIVINET Greece-Cyprus

22:26 - Kosmas' fun facts about CIVINET Greece-Cyprus

24:00 - What are CIVINET Greece-Cyprus' goals for the years to come?

26:55 - Dual BABLE Trival: our guests have prepared questions for each other!

31:14 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we ventured again to Sweden by discussing with the Strategic Developer of the city of Umeå: Carina Aschan. We had the opportunity to sit down with her at the Urban Future conference 2022 in Helsingborg, Sweden and to discuss behaviour change, EU projects, gender equality, gamification and more!

Carina is also the Project Manager of the Ruggedised H2020 Project, which brings together three lighthouse cities: Rotterdam, Glasgow and Umeå, as well as three fellow cities: Brno, Gdansk and Parma to test, implement and accelerate the Smart City model across Europe.

Register now* for our new online training course*: SMARTER CONNECTED PLACES - experiential learning for tomorrow's urban leaders, which will take place from 15.11.2022 to 06.12.2022.

Overview of the episode:

01:30 - Teaser: In what way is Carina a magician?

02:31 - What does it mean to be a Strategic Developer for a city?

04:07 - What is social sustainability?

05:31 - What is the Ruggedised H2020 Project?

09:27 - And what happens after the end of the project? How can we get people to stay on board?

13:43 - Is there a right and a wrong time to use technology?

16:02 - Can we use gamification to prompt citizen behaviour change?

19:39 - Are there any hurdles when a city has a big student population?

22:16 - Carina's take on transports and behaviour change

24:27 - How can cities collaborate more and learn more from each other?

31:49 - Trial and Error: what went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way, and more importantly, what lessons were learned?

32:01 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we talked with Katerina Nikolopoulou about INCIRCLE, an Interreg MED project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund which supports INsular and low-density areas in the transition towards a more CIRCular tourism Economy.

Katerina works for the Greek-speaking branch of the CIVITAS Initiative, CIVINET Greece-Cyprus as the network manager.

Register now for our new online training course: SMARTER CONNECTED PLACES - experiential learning for tomorrow's urban leaders which will take place from 15.11.2022 to 06.12.2022.

Overview of the episode:

02:55 - Teaser: Learn a fun fact about circular tourism economy.

04:18 - What is CIVINET Greece-Cyprus and what does it do?

06:10 - What is a circular tourism economy?

08:20 - What are the pillars of the project?

09:18 - What are the specific challenges related to insular areas?

19:38 - Which cities are involved and what are the similarities and differences that they face?

14:18 - How are challenges in Greece different than in other countries?

17:25 - How do we overcome the challenge of data collection?

20:07 - What can cities and those working in this space learn from this project?

24:21 - What are the limitations to this kind of project?

29:19 - Can tourism be really sustainable?

31:49 - Trial and Error: what went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way, and more importantly, what lessons were learned?

36:30 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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For this episode, our journey towards a better urban life led us to the beautiful city of Innsbruck in Austria. We sat down with Elisabeth Meze, the former Head of Citizens' Participation of Innsbruck, currently searching for new challenges within climate and sustainability management with participation.

Overview of the episode:

02:21 - Teaser: Elisabeth has her own podcast! For our German speakers, listen now to 'Nachhaltig Wohnen - mit Herz und Hirn' and learn all about sustainable living.

03:45 - How is Elisabeth encouraging people to turn to a less resource consumption lifestyle?

06:02 - Elisabeth's passion project: the Cool-INN climate-fit Park refurbishment and climate saloon

11:50 - How long did Elisabeth work in citizen participation?

15:18 - What is the key to citizen participation?

19:30 - Is convincing people to use less resources a losing battle?

22:06 - Can everyone afford to use fewer resources?

24:20 - Pieces of advice for councils or people wanting to engage and convince citizens?

26:06 - Inspire Us: a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired our guest recently

26:50 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the sixth and last episode of our Smart Dublin mini-series, we talked about the Smart Balbriggan programme and the community-based and innovative projects of this small town of 25,000 inhabitants on the northern edge of Dublin’s coast.

For this, we had the pleasure to discuss with Aishling Hyland, the Fingal County Council Digital Programme Officer.

Overview of the episode:

02:26 - Aishling's background

03:27 - Teaser: Fun facts aboutBalbriggan

06:24 - What is the population of Balbriggan?

07:37 - What are Balbriggan's challenges? Is it too small to be qualified as 'Smart'?

09:36 - What's the story of Smart Balbriggan? How did it start with Smart Dublin, and what were the milestones?

14:00 - The WeCount project: EU-funded 'citizen science' project that empowers citizens to take a leading role in measuring road traffic and air pollution in their neighbourhoods

14:44 - What has been the biggest challenge in getting citizens involved?

18:38 - A digital replica of Balbriggan for citizen engagement

21:32 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instincts

23:34 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the fifth episode of our Smart Dublin mini-series, we ventured into Smart Docklands – located in the heart of Dublin and a major centre of innovation and employment – with Darach Mac Donncha, Programme Manager at Smart Docklands.

Overview of the episode:

01:55 - Teaser: Three words to describe Smart Docklands

02:46 - Darach's background

06:30 - What makes Smart Docklands special?

10:50 - Darach's favourite project and its related challenges: the Academy of the Near Future

19:27 - How can you address different types of stakeholders in these projects?

27:29 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instincts

31:08 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the third episode of our Smart Dublin mini-series, we focused on Smart DCU, a collaboration between Dublin City Council and partners Enable, Insight and DCU Alpha. Smart DCU aims to develop, test and trial cutting-edge technology innovations within the university campus.

We thus sat down with Kieran Mahon, the Smart DCU Projects Facilitator, and discussed living labs, autism-friendly campus, Digital Twins, robot delivery and more!

Overview of the episode:

01:50 - Teaser: Did Kieran attend Dublin City University?

03:07 - What is Kieran's background?

03:54 - Who are the partners within Smart DCU and how do they collaborate?

04:34 - How did this collaboration come to fruition?

05:39 - Are there limitations to using a university campus as a living lab?

06:56 - Kieran's favourite projects: Digital Twin

08:39 - Pieces of Advice for people looking at Digital Twins and its related challenges

09:37 - Does this kind of work can be replicated in other places?

10:24 - Talking about the Smart DCU: Robot Delivery project

11:21 - What are the next steps for Smart DCU?

11:05 - Trial and Error: what went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way, and what lessons were learned?

19:12 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the third episode of our Smart Dublin mini-series, we focused on one of the Smart Districts of Dublin located on the east coast of Ireland: Dún Laoghaire.

We spoke about the specific challenges and unique characteristics of this district with Dr Conor Dowling, the Smart Dún Laoghaire Programme Manager.

Overview of the episode:

02:03 - Teaser: If Dún Laoghaire were an animal, which animal would it be?

04:30 - What is Conor's background and how did he end up in Dún Laoghaire?

06:16 - What are the key challenges in Dún Laoghaire? How do partnerships help with these key issues?

07:20 - Conor's favourite project: SCORE (Smart Control Of the Climate Resilience in European Coastal Cities)

09:30 - How much can we future-proof our coastal towns at this point? Isn't it already a bit too late?

13:24 - What is the Collaborative Research Model and how does it work?

16:37 - How can we determine if the Smart Dún Laoghaire programme is successful? How can we assess the impact?

18:58 - Conor's take on IoT (Internet of Things) projects in Dublin: see our 'Accessible Parking: Using Satellite Data to Map Accessible Assets' Use Case

24:04 - Hot Take of the Day: hear an opinion from our guest that might be slightly controversial or debated

27:24 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In the second episode of our Smart Dublin mini-series, we spoke with Luke Binns, Smart Dublin Projects Coordinator, and Gabriel Byrne, Systems Analyst & Team Leader in the South Dublin County Council, about the world of open data and data ecosystems.

Overview of the episode:

02:43 - Teaser: What are things that people get usually wrong about open data?

04:37 - What are Luke and Gay working on specifically? What is Dublinked and how does it work?

08:30 - Is there a time when data shouldn't be open?

11:00 - What are the challenges when it comes to citizen engagement?

12:35 - All about Dublin Region's Climate Action Challenge

16:20 - Gay's passion project: Hale and Hearty

18:40 - What could be the negative consequences of open data?

20:15 - How do you keep data up to date?

26:51 - Shoutout: our guests mention a person, an organisation or a city they think deserves more recognition in the field

29:55 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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With this episode, we are kicking off a special podcast series in collaboration with Smart Dublin, featuring and digging into some of the most unique aspects of the Dublin ecosystem and what makes Smart Dublin really a strong example at the forefront of Smart Cities in Europe and beyond.

For this first Dublin Month episode, we sat down with Alan Murphy, Smart Dublin's Regional Manager, and discussed Smart Dublin's goals and mission, as well as the Smart City ecosystem in Dublin, Ireland.

Overview of the episode:

01:56 - Teaser: If Dublin were an animal, what would it be?

02:53 - What is Smart Dublin?

05:00 - What is a Smart region?

07:20 - The challenge of coordinating a wide range of stakeholders

11:51 - What makes the Dublin ecosystem unique?

14:55 - Pieces of advice for people working with the Quadruple Helix Model

16:01 - Alan Murphy's favourite Smart Dublin project: the Dublin Rough Sleeper Alerts App

20:00 - What does Dublin being part of the 100 cities for the EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities mean for Smart Dublin?

25:15 - Trial and Error: What went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way, and more importantly, what lessons were learned?

28:39 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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At this new stop on our journey toward a better urban life, we discuss digitalisation, citizen engagement, mobility and more with Claus Ruhe Madsen, former Mayor of the city of Rostock: the German 'Smile City'.

Is your company a leader in sustainability, innovation, or a key player in the Smart City field? Join us for BABLE's Innovation Market Watch!

Overview of the episode:

02:25 - Teaser: Learn Fun Facts about the city of Rostock

03:40 - What's our guest's background?

07:45 - Hear about Claus' favourite projects and what he is passionate about.

11:42 - Data protection in Germany: a hot topic

19:10 - How can we ensure that a project has the right impact?

20:40 - Knowledge transfer from Scandinavia: how we can learn better from each other

23:10 - Participative decision-making in Rostock

25:00 - What are Rostock's mobility goals?

34:30 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers "this or that" questions

36:06 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Our next stop on this journey is in the city of Glasgow, Scotland with Gavin Slater, Head of Sustainability at the Glasgow City Council, who discussed sustainability, Climate Plan, innovation districts and urban planning with us.

Glasgow is part of the Urbact Global Goals for Cities Network, working to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in 19 cities of the EU, through peer learning and integrated action planning.

Is your company a leader in sustainability, innovation, or a key player in the Smart City field? Join us for BABLE's Innovation Market Watch!

Overview of the episode:

01:58 - Teaser: is it true that the Glasgow City Chambers have more marble than the Vatican?

03:00 - Gavin Slater's professional background: "always trying to make a real difference from a public sector point of view"

04:48 - How does Gavin sees the impacts following COP26?

06:30 - What is sustainability?

08:00 - Focus on Glasgow's Climate Plan

09:25 - What is the biggest hurdle?

11:45 - How can you work in a political sphere where politicians are concerned about their ongoing position?

15:20 - What issues do you face when working with the private sector?

16:46 - The Climate Neutral Innovation District in the city centre of Glasgow

20:18 - Who are the stakeholders and how are they cohesively involved?

23:10 - What is the key to stop planning and start implementing?

27:35 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers "this or that" questions

29:42 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Let's take a moment on this journey toward a better urban life to reminisce about 5 years of Smart City projects at BABLE with host Tamyn Shimizu, CEO Alexander Schmidt, Senior UKI Consultant Nikita Shetty, Smart Cities Consultant Shannon Macika and Iberia Consultant and Business Developer Héctor Cañas.

BABLE Smart Cities was established 5 years ago with the goal of helping cities to become smarter, more sustainable and more livable. Along this journey, we collaborated with many partners and cities on different projects that we wanted to celebrate on this special day.

Is your company a leader in sustainability, innovation, or a key player in the Smart City field? Join us for BABLE's Innovation Market Watch!

Overview of the episode:

04:15 - Shannon's favourite project: SPARCS (Sustainable energy Positive & zero cARbon CommunitieS)

06:12 - What were this project's challenges?

07:42 - Nikita's favourite project: the development of a Smart District in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland

09:00 - Who were the stakeholders involved in this project?

10:50 - What were the main challenges of this 2 years-long project?

12:10 - An advice for cities wanting to develop a Smart District

13:17 - Hector's favourite project: working on a Smart Mobility Strategy for the city of Beasain, Spain

13:57 - Why do cities need a Smart Mobility strategy?

15:35 - What are the impacts of this project, and the limitations of these impacts?

17:42 - Alex's favourite project: developing a delivery system based on electric cargo bikes in the city of Ettlingen, Germany

19:25 - Are there determinating factors for the speed of a project?

21:48 - Hot Take of the Day: we hear an opinion from our guests that may be slightly controversial or debated

27:07 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Today our journey leads us to the Municipality of Gladsaxe in Denmark, where the lighting design practice Light Bureau has implemented a red Bat-Friendly LED Street Lighting along an important traffic artery, and all for the sake of bats!

We welcomed Rune Brandt Hermannsson, Visualizer and Designer at Light Bureau, Philip Jelvard, Lighting Designer and VR Specialist at Light Bureau and Jonas Jørgensen, Project Manager of traffic and facilities at Gladsaxe to discuss this project.

Overview of the episode:

04:50 - Teaser: If the lights were a different colour than red, what colour would they be?

11:15 - What was the public reception of the project?

13:50 - How will light interact with biodiversity in the future?

15:25 - Are red lights as safe for pedestrians and cyclists as a white light might be?

19:30 - What are the next steps after this pilot?

26:20 - Trial and Error: What went wrong? What mistakes were made along the way, and more importantly, what lessons were learned?

32:00 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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On this new stop on the journey toward a better urban life, we look at Smart Cities through an academic lens with Iris Belle, Professor and Dean of Studies for the international Master's programme for Smart City Solutions at the Stuttgart University of Technology.

In this episode, Iris tells us more about the creation of the Master Smart City Solutions at the Stuttgart University of Technology, as well as different case studies and texts of reference in the field. We also discussed urban design, the ecosystem of stakeholders and the role of different cultural perspectives.

Overview of the episode:

02:00 - Teaser: What's Iris' favourite topic to teach?

05:20 - The case study of an indoor climate control system at the Franklin Barracks in Mannheim, Germany

07:58 - The case study of an autonomous shuttle bus in Sion, Switzerland

10:20 - The BABLE Use Case of an autonomous shuttle bus in Tallinn, Estonia

11:20 - Why does the Smart City Solutions Master programme exists at the University of Technology of Stuttgart?

14:49 - Pieces of advice for Smart City professionals

20:10 - How much of these Smart City topics can we really teach?

25:47 - The importance of a user-centric approach in urban design

30:27 - Shoutout: Our guest mentions a person, an organisation or a city they think deserves more recognition in the field

32:52 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we are talking about testing mobility solutions and how to accelerate new technology developments with Yves Frère, Project Manager at the Mobility Lab in the Netherlands.

Mobility Lab accelerates the development of startups that are ready to set up their first real-life pilot. Their goal is to allow start-ups and organisations with mobility issues to test innovative solutions together in practice.

Are you a start-up wanting to pilot your proposition in the Netherlands? Apply now!

Are you another start-up programme or another mobility lab wanting to collaborate? Contact them!

Overview of the episode:

02:30 - Teaser: What is your favourite new mobility technology that you have seen?

04:44 - How did Mobility Lab start, and how does it function?

08:27 - How is it funded?

09:48 - How can public sector and private sector organisations work with Mobility Lab?

11:22 - The success story of the start-up Felyx and the challenges encountered with the start-up ENSO

15:10 - Haven't we tested enough? How do we get from pilots to scale-up after the technologies leave the lab?

18:12 - Call for start-ups applications and mobility labs collaboration

20:45 - Flip the Script: our guest is asking the questions!

23:19 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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In this episode, we hop on our bicycles to pursue our journey toward a better urban life with Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists'​ Federation, and Shannon Macika, Smart Cities Consultant at BABLE.

We discussed biking, active mobility, public health and urban planning, as well as ECF's goals and challenges as an umbrella federation for civil society cyclists' organisations in Europe, which promotes cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport and leisure.

Overview of the episode:

02:42 - Teaser: Rapid Fire Questions

04:19 - What is ECF? What are your main goals and activities?

05:29 - Zoom on the Velo-city conference

07:00 - What do you think are the top priorities for active mobility?

08:44 - On the policy side of things, what needs to happen for people to feel more safe cycling?

10:14 - Do you have best practices examples?

11:24 - What do you think are the main challenges behind increasing more active mobility in cities?

15:59 - What about people with reduced mobility?

18:22 - Do you have any examples of poorly executed implementations?

21:03 - Have you experienced limitations to what you can do to impact active mobility causes?

23:48 - How would city representatives come to work with you, and what can they get out of it?

25:02 - And for companies?

25:52 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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We continue our journey toward a better urban life in Sweden with Noak Westerberg, Project Manager for Panorama at the Swedish Climate Policy Council.

Panorama is a web-based tool powered by ClimateView that visually presents the current state of Sweden's greenhouse gas emissions. It also presents trends with regard to the national targets for emission mitigation as well as relevant actions and measures.

In this episode, Noak tells us about this visualisation tool, the context in which it was created, its purpose, its users, and where he sees the project going in the future. We also discussed net-zero solutions, climate transition and manufacturing.

Overview of the episode:

02:08 - Teaser: How do you say "liveable city" in Swedish?

03:29 - What is the Panorama tool and what does it do?

07:03 - "A public-private cooperative journey"

08:32 - Are Sweden's national climate targets reachable?

11:48 - How do you see public and private entities using the tool?

14:00 - Can private entities collaborate or get more involved with Panorama?

15:19 - Where do you see the project going in the future?

19:10 - Are there any barriers to using Panorama?

22:49 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers "this or that" questions

25:22 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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Today, our journey toward a better urban life led us to the city of Helsingborg, Sweden.

In this episode, we sat down with Åsa Bjering, who works in international relations for the city, and we discussed the main event to come in Helsingborg this summer: the 6 weeks-long H22 City Expo.

From 30 May to 3 July 2022, it will be the culmination and springboard in the city's long-term initiative to become an enabler of collaborative innovation and be the biggest arena in Europe for sustainable urban transformation in 2022.

BABLE will be at H22 City Expo for the Urban Future Conference on June 1st-2nd and at the H22 City Arena on June 15th. Want to meet up? Contact us!

Overview of the episode:

02:27 - Teaser: How would you describe Helsingborg in 3 words?

05:07 - How did the idea for H22 City Expo start?

10:19 - What is the central goal behind this initiative?

12:46 - What are the opportunities and benefits for city representatives coming to Helsingborg?

14:15 - The H22 program: a little bit for everyone

16:55 - Bringing out the super-hero in everyone

18:31 - What are the benefits for companies?

20:10 - A 6 weeks-long expo: will it be worth it?

22:20 - What is it that makes us belong in a city?

23:40 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers "this or that" questions

25:13 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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On our journey toward a better urban life, we talk about cities but also Smart City solutions and trends.

In this episode, we discuss Heat Waste Reuse with Michael Oghia, former Director of External Relations for the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance (SDIA), and Miguel Mósca, Smart Cities Consultant at BABLE.

The SDIA strives to bring together companies, individuals, and governments to advocate and realize key initiatives such as heat reuse, smarter power consumption, and efficient use of resources.

Overview of the episode:

01:56 - Teaser: If SDIA were a superhero, what would its power be?

04:53 - What is SDIA, its goals, and its activities?

07:45 - What does "Heat Waste Reuse" mean?

11:28 - Looking at it from an investment perspective

16:18 - An advantage for rural areas as well...

17:29 - ... that can be implemented at a local level

21:14 - Roll with the Punches: our guest answers "this or that" questions

25:09 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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The second stop on our journey toward a better urban life is in Heraklion, Greece with its Vice-Mayor Yiannis Anastasakis.

Heraklion is the administrative capital of the island of Crete and the fourth largest city in Greece. Yiannis Anastasakis is Vice-Mayor of Technical Works, Daily Life & Greenery for the Municipality of Heraklion since 2019, and was before that Vice-Mayor of Technical Projects, Autopilot & European Programmes for 5 years.

In this episode, we discuss the transformations of the city for the past 20 years, the projects aiming to bring the famous landmark of the Venetian Walls of Heraklion back into the daily life of its inhabitants, as well as mobility, resilience, and urban planning.

Overview of the episode:

01:22 - Teaser: What is the one thing people do not know about Greece?

02:56 - Of the advantages of visiting your urban planning projects by foot

03:39 - Heraklion: from the “most ugly city in Greece” to "a city under transformation"

05:57 - The Venitian Walls of Heraklion and their rehabilitation

11:47 - Of the difficulties of collaborating between different parties in the public sector

13:45 - Overcoming water scarcity with circular economy

15:12 - A few recommendations for Mayors or Project Managers undertaking similar projects

19:14 - Flip the Script: our guest is askin

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What better place to start our journey toward a better urban life than in Copenhagen?

In this episode, Rikke Peterson and Anders Sloth Nielsen from the investment promotion agency Copenhagen Capacity, as well as Martine Reinhold Kildeby from BLOXHUB, a sustainable urbanisation hub, are sharing success and mess up stories from their work with companies and cities in Denmark and around the world.

Hear first-hand advice for companies wanting to integrate Copenhagen’s ecosystem and gain inspiration for Smart City implementations.

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What exactly is a Smart City? The answer will always be different depending on who you ask. But despite the concept's diversity, it speaks to people from different cities and organisations, all striving to build more sustainable and liveable cities.

And soon, you will hear directly from them in our podcast. We hope to see you at the next stop on the journey to a better urban life!

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