Cornelia Dinca

Code the Streets is a European urban mobility project that explores digital solutions to improve mobility and public space management of the future. Public and private partners from Amsterdam and Helsinki set out to answer the question: “How can cities share information with service providers on the desired use of public space and stimulate drivers to choose the most ‘social’ route?”

As metropolitan areas continue to grow, so do traffic related issues such as congestion, safety concerns, air pollution, and pressure on fragile infrastructure. In a world of digitalisation, climate change and increased awareness of the social and ecological environment, cities are faced with the challenge of finding better ways to manage urban mobility and their public spaces.

Code the Streets supports cities with this challenge by creating a basis for new digital mobility management tools and by showcasing the benefits of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Instead of just using road signs - a traditional way to direct traffic - this collaboration gives cities the opportunity to communicate with drivers through service providers. By adding data about school zones, congestion, and pollution to an existing navigation app, cities can stimulate car users to choose an alternative, and more ‘social’ route. One that is aligned with the city’s values such as safety, accessibility, liveability, and sustainability.

During the months of September and October, the Code the Streets team will run pilot programs testing the application in Amsterdam and Helsinki. Interested in trying the app? Android users can sign up here.

For more information about the pilot and the outcomes visit www.codethestreets.eu

Code the Streets is a collaboration between Aalto University, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute), City of Amsterdam, City of Helsinki, Forum Virium Helsinki, Technical University Delft, TomTom, Mercedes-Benz and The Future Mobility Network, with support from EIT Urban Mobility.

ESPON Programme and Open & Agile Smart Cities are looking for your help and insight!

As part of the ESPON DIGISER project (Digital Innovation in Governance and Public Service Provision) and beyond, we are collecting data on the practices and current situation of digital innovation in European cities, towns and regions.

The survey is available here until 9 July 2021:
 https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/DIGIsurvey2021

The DIGISER project is an EU initiative run by the ESPON Programme and supported by the European Committee of the Regions, living-in.eu, EUROCITIES, ICLEI, 100 Intelligent Cities Challenge, Smart Cities Marketplace and Open and Agile Smart Cities.

The goal is to lay the foundations for future EU programs and initiatives that support municipalities in their digital transition. To do this, we need to know what is being done at local level. The survey is also the cornerstone of the annual index, which will help you understand the current state of your digital journey and help cities with to benchmark themselves against similar cities across Europe. By participating in the survey, you will get a better overview of your city's approach to digital innovation. The results of the survey can be used by local governments to apply for funding from future EU or national programmes.

And: There’s even a chance for you to win 1 of 5 reMarkable tablets as a little token of appreciation for your time!

How can we learn from international smart city experiences to ensure that we do not keep reinventing the smart city wheel. In the City Deal “A Smart City, This Is How You Do It” 58 public and private parties are working together to collect, validate and scale smart city solutions in the Netherlands.

On 10 June, Future City Foundation (FCF) and Amsterdam Smart City (ASC) brought together more than 30 Dutch and international colleagues to connect the City Deal to international experiences and best practices. The session consisted of short pitches sharing the tools and solutions developed in the City Deal Working Groups. For every pitch the international experts were asked to share their experience with similar projects, and reflect on what is needed to improve and scale the solutions abroad.

1.     Open Urban Data Platform Tender

As more municipalities look to purchase urban data platforms, can we develop a generalized Program of Requirements? The Dutch cities of Rotterdam, Hilversum, and Helmond are working to develop such a flexible Program of Requirements, taking into account aspects such as scalability, flexibility and shareability of data, as well as privacy, cybersecurity, and data autonomy.  During the session, the city of Aahus shared the experience of Open Data DK, a collaboration of Danish municipalities and regions to not only tender, but collectively develop an open data portal, leading to improved collaboration and cost savings for Danish municipalities and their stakeholders.

2.     Model ByLaw Smart City in Public Space:

The public space is rapidly digitalization with many parties wishing to add sensors, beacons, cameras and other objects to enable various smart city applications. Local authorities need to find effective ways to regulate how this is done, so that the public space does not become a “Wild West” of smart applications. Within the City Deal, a model bylaw has been drawn and it is now being tested in Rotterdam. The question to the group was whether similar bylaws or initiatives been developed in other cities or jurisdictions? The city of Vienna shared its experience developing a Smart City Framework Strategy – a high level but binding document when it comes to designing bylaws related to various smart city domains.

3.     Citizen Measurement Initiatives:

Within the City Deal three Working Groups are exploring how to use citizen measurement to create smart, sustainable, and inclusive cities, and how to link these initiatives to policy. On this topic the group could learn from initiative like iScape and WeCount in Dublin’s Smart Docklands District, which focus on engaging citizens in measurement projects, and linking the results to city policy. And when it comes to engaging citizens in measuring their environment, city of Dublin had another suggestions for the Dutch colleagues: leverage the existing network of public libraries to engage and involve citizens and policy makers in citizen-measurement projects.

Second International Roundtable Planned
The discussion revealed there are a lot of shared challenges, for instance in scaling smart city projects, so it's necessary that we keep sharing approaches and lessons learned internationally.  Following the success of this first international roundtable, we are planning a second session on September 30.  Dutch and international experts who would like to participate, can send an email to Cornelia Dinca via cornelia@amsterdamsmartcity.com with a short explanation of how like to contribute to the session. For more information or any other questions about the City Deal please contact Wendolijn Beukers via wendolijn@future-city.nl.

Thank You to the Participants
ASC and FCF would like to thank all the Dutch and international colleagues who contributed their expertise during the session.

City Deal Working Groups Members
·       Noor van den Brink, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
·       Marcel Broekhaar, Smart City Program Management, City of Zwolle
·       Arjan Hof, CTO, WeCity
·       Daniel de Klein, Business Development Manager Digital City, City of Helmond
·       Anita Nijboer, Partner, Kennedy Van de Laan
·       Shahid Talib, Directeur Smart City, Heijmans
·       Simone Rodenburg, Advisor CIO Office, City of Enschede
·       Henri de Ruiter, Environmental Advisor, RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
·       Jeroen Steenbakkers, Owner, Agaleo

International Peers
·       Ulrich Ahle, CEO, FIWARE Foundation
·       Jamie Cudden, Smart City Program Manager, City of Dublin
·       Bo Fristed, CIO, City of Aahus
·       Gianluca Galletto, Managing Director, Global Futures Group
·       Lea Hemetsberger, Director Projects & Network, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC)
·       Jong-Sung Hwang, Masterplanner Busan Smart City, South Korea
·       Nigel Jacob, Co-Founder New Urban Mechanics, City of Boston
·       Gabriella Gomez-Mont, Former Director of Laboratorio para la Ciudad, Mexico City & Founder of Experimentalista
·       Jonathan Reichental, Former CIO of Palo Alto & author of Smart Cities for Dummies
·       Florian Wollen, Coordinator, Urban Innovation Vienna

This workshop is an initiative by Amsterdam Smart City in collaboration with RVO to bring together stakeholders from the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) and the 100 Climate-Neutral Cities (CNC) mission, to share their ambitions and approaches, creating synergy and amplifying their impact.

Background
The Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) is a project by the European Commission (EC) helping more than 100 European cities on their way to green, climate-neutral and sustainable growth through the use of digital technologies.  In 2021, the EC will also launch the 100 Climate-Neutral Cities (CNC) mission, supporting cities on their away to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. Both the ICC and CNC aim to support European cities in their transformation towards sustainability.

Together with ICC and CNC stakeholders we will discuss:
• The key lessons learned from the ICC regarding collaboration and innovation in city networks
• Examples of technological solutions from the ICC which can be scaled up in the CNC
• Potential collaboration and learning opportunities between ICC and CNC cities

Monday June 21, 15:00-15:55 CEST

Program
• 15:00 – 15:10 Welcome and introductions, Cornelia Dinca (Amsterdam Smart City International Liaison) & Leonie van den Beuken (Amsterdam Smart City Program Director)
• 15:10 – 15:30 Short pitches by ICC and CNC stakeholders including: Jacobine de Zwaan (RVO Advisor Smart Cities), Dana Eleftheriadou (Head of ICC), Paul Tuinder (DG Research & Innovation Advisor), Christiaan Norde (City of Amsterdam International Affairs Advisor)
• 15:30 – 15:50 Roundtable discussion with the audience
• 15:50 – 15:55 Final reflections and program end

Join the Meeting
The meeting will be conducted using Zoom. There are two ways to join:
1.  Click on this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85216055375?pwd=MDhZL0ZhbllZck5pSVo3YmR5dGt2dz09
2.  Join using meeting ID: 852 1605 537 and Passcode: 775720

Call for Contributions
Are you an ICC or (aspiring) CNC city representative or stakeholder and would like to share your experience and perspective during the session?  Please send an email to Cornelia Dinca via cornelia@amsterdamsmartcity.com with a short explanation of how you would like to contribute to the discussion and we will include you in the program.

The session is part of RVO's 100 Climate Neutral Cities Mission. Check the full program here:  https://climateneutralcities.b2match.io/agenda

During the 3rd ICC Lab, this session will bring together city relevant European Commission initiatives promoting the green agenda, with a view to depict the bigger picture, present their objectives, how they contribute to advance the EU policy priorities, show complementarities and discuss cross-fertilization among them.

Registration is possible via: https://www.intelligentcitieschallenge.eu/events/3rd-icc-city-lab

12:00 - 13:00 Tech4Good Marketplace
The Tech4Good Marketplace is an exchange of technology-powered solutions and business models designed to advance social, environmental and economic causes. Showcasing operational services from innovative European SMEs, start-ups and enterprises, the marketplace is a space where cities, regions and rural areas, businesses, technology entrepreneurs, social economy actors and civil society can get inspired and find solutions to the challenges they face.  Join this session to find out why this marketplace is here to stay and why you should sign up, too.

• Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Unit Proximity, Social Economy and Creative Industries, DG GROW, European Commission
• Iordana Eleftheriadou, Head of Cities and Proximity Team, DG GROW, European Commission
• Davor Meersman, OASC

13:00 - 14:00 Break

14:00 – 15:30 Initiatives at European Level on the Green Transition of Cities – Panel Discussion
Bringing together city-relevant European Commission initiatives promoting the green agenda, with a view to depict the bigger picture, present their objectives, how they contribute to advance the EU policy priorities, show complementarities and discuss cross-fertilization among them.

• Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Unit Proximity, Social Economy and Creative Industries, DG GROW, European Commission
• Marek Teplansky, Head of Unit, Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development, DG REGIO, European Commission
• Philippe Froissard, Head of Unit, Future Urban & Mobility Systems, DG RTD, European Commission
• Eddy Hartog, Head of Unit, Technologies for Smart Communities, DG CNECT, European Commission
• Xavier Troussard, Head of Unit, New European Bauhaus, JRC, European Commission
• Helen Mccarthy-O’ Kelly, Policy officer, Environmental Knowledge, Eco-Innovation & SMEs, DG ENV, European Commission
• Luana Maria Bidasca, Policy officer, Innovation & Research, DG MOVE, European Commission

During the EU Green Week, the 3rd Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) City Lab will bring together global thinker urban development experts and city leaders across the globe to issues climate-neutral and socially responsible industrial future.

The event is open to the public and registration is possible via: https://www.intelligentcitieschallenge.eu/events/3rd-icc-city-lab

Program

11:30 – 13:00 Public session 1 – Zero pollution city: Leading the green transition of local businesses

• Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Unit Proximity, Social Economy and Creative Industries, DG GROW, European Commission
• Tadashi Matsumoto, Head of the Sustainable Development & Global Relations Unit, OECD
• Michael Koh, Executive Fellow, Centre for Liveable Cities - City of Singapore, clean and green environment
• Victor Dimoulis, Scientific Advisor to the Mayor on Waste management and Circular Economy affairs - City of Corfu, industrial waste management
• Geertje Pronk, Researcher and Programme manager at KWR Water Research Institute - City of Mechelen, water management
• Rosa Väisänen, Specialist, City of Espoo, Sustainable Urban Development

ICC Cities’ experts to present initiatives on zero pollution:

• Sharing reflections and work done to overcome pollution at city-level
• Inspire others with ideas on how digital tools can be used to prevent intense pollution, monitor status, or warn citizens of high levels of pollution
• Provide insights into key lessons learned

13:00 – 13:30 Break

13:30 – 15:00 Public session 2 – City of the future: New urban trends for a climate-neutral and socially responsible industrial future

• Dana Eleftheriadou, Head of Cities and Proximity Team, DG GROW, European Commission
• Valentina Superti, Director of Proximity and Tourism, DG GROW, European Commission
• Jan Olbrycht, President of the URBAN Intergroup, European Parliament
• Carlo Ratti, Director, MIT Senseable City Laboratory – ICC advisory board member
• Gesa Ziemer, Head of CityScienceLab, UNITAC Innovation Technology Accelerator Centre, Hamburg – ICC mentor city
• Michela Magas, Chair, Industry Commons Foundation
• Nicolás Rivillas Hincapié, Deputy Manager of Design and Innovation, Urban Development Company (EDU) of Medellín - ICC mentor city
• Daniel Gonzalez-Bootello, Director of Smart City Cluster - ICC advisory board member

Bringing together global thinkers, urban development experts, city leaders from across the globe to showcase how intelligent cities will lead the way to a sustainable, productive, zero-pollution future:

• What will the urban future look like after the Covid-19? How can cities prepare?
• ­How can cities reconcile population growth and local industrial production with the European Green Deal?
• ­What can city leaders do to ensure a new City model that is sustainable, resilient, socially just and knowledge intensive?