Amsterdam Smart City

What is you idea for an innovative metropolitan solution?

Great news! After asuccessful first edition last year, AMS Institute releases a new Call for Stimulus Projects. The aim of Stimulus Projects is to give new and existing AMS partners support to innovative research that has a strong upscaling potential. AMS Institute is able to provide co-funding (in cash) up to 50% of the project budget with a maximum of €25.000 (your own contribution may be in cash or in kind).

Finding partners

To facilitate finding partners for this call, AMS will organize a Matchmakingevent on TuesdayMay 24that the AMS Institute, from 14:00-16:00h. This event has limited capacity. If you would like to attend, sign up before or on May19th via the online form.

More information

For more information about the Call, including submission templates and deadlines, check our website.

Sharing City2City Round Table, 27 May 2016

Amsterdam is known as a the “Sharing City”. A majority of 84% of Amsterdam residents is very happy to actively participate in the sharing economy, in the form of AirBNB, Snapcar,

Comms, Peerby, WeGo etc. The College of Mayor and the councillors in Amsterdam have adopted a proactive attitude towards the sharing economy. The College is committed to making the most of this new form of economy. This means encouraging activities in the sharing economy that will benefit: innovation, social inclusiveness, entrepreneurship and sustainability. The College welcomes the disruptive nature of the sharing economy wherever this strengthens the city and benefit its inhabitants. At the same time, the College is aware of excesses that can negatively impact the city, for example if this leads to an unequal playing field or a lack of social security. The College will therefore intervene when unwelcome situations arise as a result of particular initiatives. This means that the approach of the sharing economy is not only a matter of permitting or prohibiting aspects of it, but rather one of closely monitoring and actively responding to certain developments and of utilising opportunities wherever these occur.

This vision of the sharing economy is translated in a “Sharing Economy Action Plan”, with 5 main action points:

1. Stimulating the sharing economy
2. Leading by example
3. A sharing economy for all Amsterdam citizens
4. Rules and regulations
5. Putting Amsterdam on the map as a Sharing City

Sharing City2City Round Table - 27 May 2016 As part of the Sharing Economy Action Plan, at the request of Councilwoman Ollongron, the Amsterdam Innovation Office (CTO) is organizing a round table conference and has invited several European and international delegations to discuss the Sharing Economy.

The aim of the Sharing City2City Round Table is to share insight knowledge and experiences on how cities are dealing with the disruptive effects as seen in the sharing economy. Sharing is nothing new, people have been sharing for centuries, but due to the technological possibilities, sharing has a global potential which can create disruptiveness. New businesses with a sharing business model tend to disrupt existing markets, which brings innovation and a new view on customer services, but can also bring friction for existing entrepreneurs. New markets arise where the government has a role in making sure that these new markets operate in a fair and safe way, but also by stimulating innovation. This brings both challenges and opportunities for local governments.

During the meeting world city leaders will share their knowledge and experiences on this subject.

The RoundTable, coincides with the TNW Conference which is held on 26 May & 27 May 2016 and brings together the world's technology leaders, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to Amsterdam.

You can download the action plan here. Read more information.

The ambition is to make it global, but Amsterdam is kicking off: the city gets a cycle mayor.

The ambition is to make it global, but Amsterdam is kicking off: the city gets a cycle mayor on June 24. He or she becomes the link between the cyclists in the city and the municipality of Amsterdam during the next two years. According to Maud de Vries of CycleSpace this mayor becomes 'the voice of the cyclists at City Hall'.

CycleSpace is a new organization that will promote cycling in the capital and put innovations in motion. The arrival of the cycle mayor, following the example of the night mayor, is step one in these plans. It’s possible for foreign cities to visit 'bike laboratory’ Amsterdam and take advantage of the Dutch knowledge and expertise.

CycleSpace will also devise solutions for parking of bicycles and organize cycling lessons for foreign visitors. People from Amsterdam can apply from 1 May onwards. The first cycle mayor will be inaugurated by Mayor Eberhard van der Laan on June 24. After Amsterdam, CycleSpace wants to help other cities like Beijing, Chicago and Cape Town to get a cycle mayor. Read more information. Read moreinformation.

Source: AT5
Photo: trendslator

1-2 June, Brussels

The European meeting place for public and private leaderships interested in promoting and sharing sustainable solutions while boosting business opportunities for cities.

In parallel and in partnership with the European Business Summit, the European Sustainable Cities Summit event will have an innovative format that comprises exhibition, conference and cross-sectorial network.

The event features are complementary and designed to maximize the exhibitors and attendees experience while showcasing the best in class sustainable urban solutions and boosting public and private partnerships.

• 2 days exhibition , across sectors including:cities, corporates, smart cities providers, financial institutions, investors, universities, NGOs, incubators of innovation and start-ups
• Structured Networking between exhibitors and guests, in private dedicated lounges and office spaces
• Parallel Programme with sessions of Workshops, Round-tables, Movies, Presentations and other supporting activities
• Continuous Conference, in a series of panels. A unique opportunity for learning and update with high-level speakers in a cutting-edge program
• Shared access to European Business Summit, for selected sessions on both days

CONNECTING THE EVENTS TO ADD VALUE
The European Sustainable Cities Summit project is a new adjunct of the European Business Summit, from 2016 - when EBS celebrates its 16 years as successful meeting place where business, policy makers and civil society can develop a constructive debate and co-operation paramount to the EU progress.

EXCHANGE OF ACCESS BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:
- Access for second day of EBS
- Access to EBS opening ceremony and networking receptions

CONBINED FEATURES:
- Cities Panel: ‘Smart Future of Urban Infrastructure’ and ‘European Cities in Times for Bold Moves’
- EBS reception
- VIP dinner

VENUEPALAIS D'EGMONT
Petit Sablon 8 / Kleine Zavel 8
1000 - Bruxelles / Brussel

PARTNERSHIPS We offer tailor made partnerships for cities, companies and organisations. For more information, please contact: Dr Daniella Abreu, ESCS Project Developer at <daniella@ebsummit.eu> or +32(0) 473 57 15 93

Read more information.

The urine will be recycled into fertilizer.

Waternet and the municipality of Amsterdam are going to collect urine on three major Kingsday festivities. The urine will be recycled into fertilizer. The kingsday pee will be collected on April 27 at the urinals at the Nassau Festival, Kingsland and in Vondelpark. The municipality wants event organizers to make their events more sustainable. Alderman Abdeluheb Choho (Sustainability): "We show what concepts like sustainability and circular economy really mean. And it’s great that this happens while the town is celebrating". It is not the first time that Waternet collects urine in Amsterdam: last year the fundraising campaign "Come piss on Sail’’ was organized. This yielded a disappointing result.

Phosphate factory Urine contains phosphate, a precious and scarce fertilizer. It is expected that in thirty years the natural resources where phosphate is currently mined, will be exhausted. Without phosphate it’s impossible for crop to grow. Water network and the Water Board Amstel, Gooi and Vecht therefore win phosphate back since 2013 from sewage in a special phosphate factory in Amsterdam-West. With the phosphate from the wastewater in Amsterdam, 10,000 football fields can be fertilized every year.

All the urine of Koningsdag goes to the special phosphate factory, where phosphate is recovered from pee with the aid of magnesium chloride and oxygen. Next artificial fertilizer is made . One scoop is enough to flourish your entire garden. Read more information.

Source: Parool
Picture: Parool

In May the last funding round will be open to existing homes in Amsterdam.

The European Commission provides funding through City-zen for energy efficient home renovations. Amsterdam Smart City is looking for inspiring and innovative projects in Amsterdam. Some Amsterdam residents have already taken this step, like Wigger Verschoor from Amsterdam North, who has just completed his energy efficient home renovation. Here's a link to the interview with Wigger.

In May 2016, the new and also very last City-zen funding round will be open to existing homes in Amsterdam. These can be private homes, homeowners associations, but also housing associations and investors. For the renovations is a funding contribution up to 50% of the costs and up to € 50, - per m2 is available. There is funding for around 120 to 150 homes.

Do you want to know if your home renovation project is eligible for City-zen subsidy? Then read more about the criteria here.

Keep an eye on this site to find out when the new City- zen funding round starts. Alternatively you can send an email to city-zen@amsterdamsmartcity.nl, or sign up for our City - zen newsletter via the website of Amsterdam Economic Board Newsletter , via this link , you will receive automatic notification when a new City - zen round opens.

You can register for the City-zen funding until June 30, 2016.

More information