Digital City

Circular Rijkswaterstaat:
During the National week of the Circular Economy, Rijkswaterstaat shows how they operate in different circular projects (event series in Dutch).

Rijkswaterstaat Circulair
Het is zover! Het programma van de Week van de Circulaire Economie bij Rijkswaterstaat staat nu online. Doe je ook mee?
Rijkswaterstaat werkt aan een schone, groene en prettige leefomgeving, óók voor volgende generaties. Daarom willen we in 2030 circulair werken en in 2050 circulair zijn. Circulair werken betekent dat we grondstoffen hoogwaardig hergebruiken en zo min mogelijk afval produceren.
Tijdens de nationale Week van de Circulaire Economie van 15 tot en met 19 januari 2018 laten we zien hoe we binnen verschillende projecten nu al circulair bezig zijn. Samen met onze partners organiseren we diverse sessies en netwerkmomenten om de transitie naar de circulaire economie te versnellen. Zo zijn er sessies over het materialenpaspoort, circulair en modulair ontwerpen en circulariteit in assetmanagement.
Ga naar onze website om het volledige programma te bekijken en meldt je aan!

From 4-9 February 2018, minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, is visiting both Vietnam and Malaysia. When considering doing business in Southeast-Asia, this economic mission provides a good opportunity to learn more about these two important and growing economies.

Innovation plays an important role in sustaining the economic growth in Vietnam and Malaysia and both countries are therefore looking for partners to develop new products and concepts. Especially in the field of urban planning and smart cities this provides interesting opportunities for Dutch businesses, for instance in smart city Ho Chi Minh and at the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

For more information on the mission, doing business in Vietnam and Malaysia and registration, please click on the link below.

https://www.rvo.nl/actueel/evenementen/economische-missie-vietnam-en-maleisi%C3%AB

Dudoc Vancouver and Informa launch collaboration at the Vancouver Buildex 2018 to introduce new products and approaches to build our cities more sustainably. And they are looking for companies to join them.

February 2018 will present an excellent opportunity to those offering sustainable solutions for the building industry and are interested to discover the option of expanding to the West Coast of Canada. By taking part in the Buildex Vancouver conference your company can get acquainted with the market in a quick and cost-effective manner. This expo attracts about 14,000 visitors, among them builders, architects, developers, manufacturers, government officials, etc.

This year, Dudoc will be hosting a pavilion of European Innovations that make cities smarter and buildings more efficient. They are looking for 6-8 partners that offer innovative technologies and approaches to join in this year’s pavilion.

ABOUT DUDOC VANCOUVER
A project of the World of Walas, Dudoc provides an opportunity for exceptional innovators to introduce their advanced environmentally sustainable designs and products to the Canadian public. The Dudoc showroom in Vancouver is open to the public and displays world-leading innovations from select partners. They all share a common goal of setting new standards for healthy and energy-efficient communities. Dudoc opened in 2014 as a hub for the local community of change makers. This community thrives with ongoing networking events, workshops, well-attended trade missions, conferences and more.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT
Dudoc has gone to multiple tradeshows and under­stands the large scope of work that is involved with them. They understand the uncertainties that arise with the unfamiliarity with the North American regulations. However, they also know how advanta­geous it can be to get a first glimpse of the market and to assess the demand by participating in a trade show. Dudoc can help you ease your mind in these crucial first steps. They have been doing busi­ness development for European clients for 4 years with their platform. In Vancou­ver and its region, Dudoc Vancouver is recognized as the only hub for European knowledge, innova­tions and technologies that is on the lookout for latest trends and most sustainable solutions.

HOW TO APPLY
This is your chance to gain the value of reaching 14,000 clients that are looking for cutting-edge solutions to the problems of sustainability; all at only a frac­tion of the cost. You can either apply for an Exhibitor spot (total 6 spots), which provides you with a 3x3m space and 30-45 minute presentation time. Regular value for this is 15.000 euros, if you join our European Pavilion, we can offer it to you for 3.000 euros. Or you can go for a Presenter spot (total 4 spots), which provides you with a 30-45 minute presentation time. Regular value is 3.000 euros, if you join us this will only cost you 500 euros. If you think one of these opportunities is for you, please apply to be part by contacting Dudoc Vancouver. Don’t wait too long, spots are limited.

For questions and application, please send an email to contact@dudocvancouver.com

For more information on Dudoc Vancouver and World of Walas
www.dudocvancouver.com
www.worldofwalas.com

For more information on the Buildex:
https://www.buildexvancouver.com/en/home.html

The smart city challenges are not a challenge for AI…but for us’.

From the day one, human civilisation has always tried to seek out ways that could make our life better and better each day by overcoming the challenges that come by. We always look for new ideas, innovations, and strategies that could augment our existence as effectively as possible – as they say, the sky’s the limit.

And even with artificial intelligence, it’s the same – smart city challenges are easy for AI to be accomplished but how it does accomplish is also important. The path chosen to reach the destination is more important than the destination itself. How easily can AI solve smart city challenges and how AI poses a challenge for the smart cities in future is discussed ahead.

The conference represents an important forum for computational and digital architecture research that reconciles parallelism in different architectural and computing discourses. It also provokes discussion in state-of-the-art themes and topics, such as high performance computing, big data, advanced systems and interfaces, ubiquitous computing, as well as advanced fabrication technologies and tectonics. The conference also includes within its scope a number of workshops and technical sessions.

The second version of the PACT Conference is to be organized by the University of East London (UEL) in collaboration with the International Experts for Research Enrichment and Knowledge Exchange (IEREK)institution. The research, that is the main part of the debate, is to be contributed with and discussed over a number of sessions that are introduced and initiated with keynote lectures. The lectures are to be given by well-known speakers and continued by the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the researchers themselves.

HEAT is the number one solution to the prolonged decision-making processes typically involved in energy issues. HEAT allows parties to co-design and develop a heating grid.

Quick: HEAT provides instant feedback about your own actions and those of your partners, providing an immediate and clear understanding of your and their goals and interests, funding, and the sustainability of the design.

Effective: Any range of scenarios and designs can be tested without a problem using HEAT. Decision-making is speeded up and projects are implemented quicker.

Realistic: Realistic simulations based on real data and smart mathematical models. 3D simulations of the city or neighbourhood that you and your partners wish to make greener.

Are cities able to make use of modern technology? If they don’t, they risk losing out:

* People may find the urban environment incompatible and move to more modern areas

* Cities that don’t draw the benefits of modern technology, becoming obsolete and inefficient

Smart Cities know how to harness the power of intelligent technology and sustainable practices. What’s more, they are poised to create sustainable urban landscapes. Does this seem too complicated?

Ben jij ook zo nieuwsgierig hoe onze maatschappij van de toekomst eruit ziet? Ben jij geïnteresseerd in de (sociale) invloed van technologische innovatie op de samenleving, zoals de gevolgen voor onze economie, mobiliteit, onderwijs en zorg? Solliciteer en wordt onze nieuwe stagiair programmamaker. Door het organiseren van programma’s en het ontmoeten van interessante sprekers sta je in een mum van tijd midden in het maatschappelijk debat. NB Onbetaalde stage.

http://vacatures.dezwijger.nl/stage-programmamaker-technologie-en-maatschappij

The term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ was coined by John McCarthy in 1956 while demonstrating the first operating AI program at Carnegie Mellon University. And due to the fact, he is acknowledged as the ‘father of AI’. According to him, artificial intelligence is, “The science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs”.

The dominant image of the smart city is that of a place where state-of-the-art technology helps to overcome wicked urban problems. In my newest blog post I paraphrase a publication of Ola Söderström, Smart City as Corporate Stort Telling. This article is disclosing how IBM and other tech companies crafted the image of smart cities in a for them profitable way.

The Soluxio solar street light developed by FlexSol Solutions will light the streets of the Smart Community Aruba: an experimental residential area where the latest sustainable innovations are demonstrated.

For more information on the public lighting products that will grace the streets of the Smart Community Aruba, visit www.soluxio.lighting.

At the University of Amsterdam, in the course of Heuristics, we have a case on SmartGrids. The assignment involves writing algorithms to optimally configure a grid of energy consuming and producing entities.

Houses with solar panels with different outputs must be linked to batteries, all placed on a grid, with minimal wiring cost. In a later stage, alternative locations for batteries might also be obtained.

Check out the case on heuristieken.nl.

On December 6, we invite you to enjoy together Wednesday evening in Amsterdam with 2 great speakers who will talk about Kotlin.

In this tech talk, we’ll explore the power of Kotlin, Serj Lotutovici will give a talk about Kotlin for the Masses and Alexey Soshin will enlighten us about Coroutines in Kotlin.

SPECIAL EDITION YEAR GATHERING OF ALL PAST MEETUPS!

This is a co-organized event by Blockchain Workspace and A Lab. The event is recurring every third Thursday of the month. Themes vary from music to health care. Everybody is welcome to the event, whether you are new to the concept or a Blockchain expert.

18:00hrs walk in and have a christmas drink and a bite together with us.

Blockchain technology has this great promise: Coloring coins, more transparency, smart contracting, focal destinations groups. It is all possible now!! Charity will soon transform into a pure form of self sovereigned "giving", being able to follow the money at all times from start to endpoint.

Or not?

We plan to discuss initiatives like these:
https://helperbit.com
https://bitgivefoundation.org/

19:00hrs : Blockchain application in Charity (fundraising)
Possible cases, added value and pros and cons
Charity and christmas is a good combination. Public blockchains add the promise of personal control over your donations:
Coin coloring / Transparency / Escrowing / Identification with goals
Blockchain adds proof of money, proof of existence, proof of identity, proof of ownership, proof of compliance to our global society.
But it is hard to understand. We will shine a light on that using cases and focussing on quick added value.

Krijn Soeteman
has always had a good sense of self sovereignty in work and life: journalism, open source movement, tweakers.net. Krijn is interested in the bitcoin / blockchain field since 2014/2015? and fuels the discussion on the true value for donators to charity funds. How far is self sovereignty over gifts reaching into the charity organisations.

Davide Menegaldo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidemenegaldo/), COO of Helperbit (https://www.helperbit.com/)

Helperbit is an Italian startup that brings transparency in charity sector using Blockchain technology. The platform allows people to donate digital and local currencies to charities and to people in need all over the world, trace their donation and how it is used, offering full transparency of economic flows.

Furthermore, in case of catastrophic event even single users can directly benefit from worldwide donations. The startup developed the first case study with Legambiente, raising 9.5 bitcoins for young entrepreneurs affected by the last earthquake in Italy.

In November it launched the open beta of the platform during a conference in the Italian Parliament.

Satya van Heummen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/satyavh/) DAP architect Giveth.io (https://giveth.io/)

Giveth is an open source, not for profit project building Donation 3.0 by enabling ‘Decentralized Altruistic Communities” come together in support of a campaign. Giveth uses the smart contract technology allowing the process of donation giving to be fully transparent and embracing social accountability.

Bas Wisselink
takes the bull by its foundational horns and focusses the shift of control over funds. What are the characteristics? Is it preferable to have them. How will consensus be reach in decision making. Will experts in the field still have efficient power over content. What will be the role of marketing efforts and - budgets be?

Santa Claus
will be there to stress that this meetup about blockchain and charity is not about fundraising in crypto currencies nor about ICO's.

He will offer the visitors a drink and a bite in the loving and warm atmosphere. He might toast on the promise of a better world using this new technology in the future.

22:00 u Closing

More info soon on the Meetup page: https://www.meetup.com/Permissionless-Society/

Our Blockchain Lab organizes a monthly meetup about blockchain & a specific field of area. The goal of this evening is to give the participants a realistic idea of the added value of blockchain technology in the field of agriculture in what we call "developed" - and "developing" countries, How could we introduce blockchain thinking in bio-food, garments productions and evasion of illegal crops (like coca plants) in a feasible way? No hype, no wishful thinking but we explore the future foundational and disruptive changes that the technology will cause in conjunction with other developments like spread of internet, smart phones and gps. People are key to progress.

Program
17:00hrs : (optional) Walking buffet dinner (coupon needed!)
Together with the Coffee Virus we have put together a buffet that visitors of the Meetup can enjoy together from 17:00 hrs. A coupon costs 15 Euros and will pay for your food, water, coffee and thee to go with it.
Send an e-mail to hvancann@blockchainworkspace.com with the number of coupons you would like to buy. Please mentions if you would like to have vegetarian food.
Only if we manage to have enough subscriptions for the coupons (15 at least) we will be able to ask Coffee Virus to prepare the meal.
K-space is on the ground floor, take a right and a left from the entrance, K-space is then on your left hand.

18:00hrs : Meetup in K-space with introduction to blockchain by Bas Wisselink from Blockchain Workspace
18:45 Break
19:00 hrs José Koopman sheds a light on sustainability in this industry.
19:45 Break
20:00 hrs: What the hack can we do with blockchain in Sustainability and Agro?
20:30 End program - Drinks

+ RSVP & find more info on the Meetup event

This blog describes how the combination of smart technology and renewable energy improves street lighting infrastructures in terms of energy savings, energy management, efficiency and security.

The Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands will bring together business development executives from Canada’s major cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal, Québec City and the provinces: Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, to meet with Dutch business leaders for informative discussions on Canada’s unique investment opportunities in innovative sectors.

Thisevent will feature distinguished Canadian speakers to discuss Canada’s economic fundamentals, its openness to trade with a focus on the business opportunities and advantages of CETA, the competitive advantages, capabilities, and investment opportunities in Canada’s innovative clusters, and the government support programs available for Dutch investors. Dutch business executives will also be invited to share their investment experiences in Canada.

Preliminary Agenda:
09:30 Registration and Networking
10:00 B2B Investment Matchmaking Session 1: Canadian cities & provinces with Dutch companies
11:00 Plenary session with presentations followed by a Networking Lunch
14:00 B2B Investment Matchmaking Session 2: Canadian cities & provinces with Dutch companies
17:30 End of the event

In their lovely office, right next to the Prinsengracht, we met with Maarten de Schipper; partner at Xomnia. At the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Xomnia will be one of the companies you should definitely meet. Read here why!

What is Xomnia’s core business?

Maarten: we see ourselves as the big data partner. No matter what your organization is doing, it is likely that your business will make use of big data in the future. With our specific skill set, we consult, train, or assist in developing specific tools by which you can analyse big data. We strive to share knowledge wherever we can, have a real impact on your business and ever emphasize on innovation. In short: we make your company data-driven.

To give an example of one initiative: in 2015, we supported the municipality of Utrecht through co-developing a tool that predicts burglary in different neighbourhoods of the city.

Who do you partner with?

In our company, we believe that it is not the size that matters. We, therefore, work with big or small organizations; locally, regionally or globally active. Although we are a relatively young company (founded in 2013), we have a vast network. Within our network, we share the developments of big data and provide tips and tops, do’s and don’ts. It is our mission to realize data-driven innovation globally. To kickstart this, we hope to establish our first foreign office next year, perhaps in Barcelona.

What do you hope to achieve during the Smart City Expo?

We hope to meet both future partners and other international businesses that operate in the same field. With them we would like to exchange experiences, best cases and worst cases, to become inspired by each other. We also want to share our experience with BigDataGemeenten (BigDataMunicipalities): a platform that connects Dutch municipalities through a series of events.

How do you prepare for the Expo?

We believe that work should also be fun. That is why we are flying in on Saturday to have a little Spanish fiesta, and take Sunday to explore Barcelona with some good tapas or paella. For the Expo, we divided clear roles in our team. For international relations and business-to-government, Kaj Gruppelaar is our man. Lisanne Rijnveld will seek opportunities to present Xomnia by holding short and powerful pitches, and I [Maarten de Schipper] hope to meet with city government officials and see how our solutions can contribute to solving their problems.

Want to get to know Xomnia better? Visit their website and come to the Holland Pavilion at the World Expo Smart Cities in Barcelona, held from the 14th to the 16th of November.

Marketplace.city is a platform to connect government innovators to new technology companies and solutions. The platform simplifies the process to find, validate and implement technology making it easier to business in the growing, but fragmented, smart cities space. Cities find comparable product information, see validations of past implementations and read peer reviews. Vendors can list their products and solutions to a broad set of cities, tag by focus area and technology type, and highlight their past successes.

Green IT Amsterdam en NUON presenteren: 'GREEN IT LEADERS LIVE'

Op het programma voor het event staan een aantal inspirerende keynotes en we geven we de vloer aan diverse innovators over hun out-of-the-box ideeën en oplossingen op het gebied van sustainable ICT. We gaan samen met het publiek in gesprek over wat er nodig is om te komen tot een radicaal duurzamere datacenter sector. Uiteraard is er tussendoor en na afloop voldoende ruimte om onderling in gesprek te gaan.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/registratie-green-it-weeks-leaders-live-2017-38629362463