Event Report and Video from Second Meeting of EU Smart City and Communities Cluster

URBANAGE joined 17 other Smart City projects on the 6th of June to discuss future collaboration on interoperability, data sharing and data services, and look at potential plans for the next three years. The EC has published all presentations and video from the day.

Slide from EC Introduction

What was the meeting about?

The event was opened by Cristina Martinez (European Commission, Technologies for Smart Communities Unit, DG CNECT) who set out the potential vision for the Smart Communities domain moving forward and asked each project to share a short a presentation on three specific topics:

1. Synergies and links between websites and interactive platforms that are either specifically targeted to or have a strong component on the digital transformation at local or regional level. How to make the Living-in.eu platform the information and communication hub?

2. Efforts on interoperability and standardisation, with a focus on Minimum Interoperability Mechanisms Plus (MIMs Plus) .

3. Sharing of data and data sets to build up the Data Space for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

These presentations may be viewed via the meeting recording below, or downloaded from EC's Shaping Europe's Digital Future website. URBANAGE's statement may be read here.

Why have cluster meetings

These cluster meetings for European projects are important for several reasons:

1. Collaboration and Networking: Cluster meetings bring together project partners from different European countries who are working on related or complementary projects in the smart cities and smart communities domain. These meetings provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking. They allow participants to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices, fostering cooperation and potential synergies among the projects.

2. Information Exchange: Cluster meetings serve as a means of exchanging valuable information about ongoing projects, research findings, methodologies, and emerging trends. Participants can learn from each other's experiences and gain insights into different approaches and perspectives. This information exchange can lead to improved project outcomes and help avoid duplication of efforts.

3. Coordination and Harmonization: European projects often involve multiple partners from different countries, each contributing specific expertise and resources. Cluster meetings facilitate coordination among project partners, enabling them to align their activities, timelines, and objectives. They provide a platform to address common challenges, resolve conflicts, and ensure that the projects remain on track and in line with European Union (EU) guidelines.

4. Policy Alignment: EU programs and initiatives have specific policy objectives and priorities. Cluster meetings offer an opportunity for project partners to align their activities with these policies, ensuring that their projects contribute to the broader EU goals. It allows for discussions on policy implications, potential policy recommendations, and the dissemination of project outcomes to relevant stakeholders.

5. Dissemination and Impact: Cluster meetings provide a platform for disseminating project results, findings, and innovations to a wider audience. They offer an opportunity for partners to showcase their work, present research outcomes, and share success stories. This dissemination contributes to the visibility and impact of the projects, fostering knowledge transfer, and potentially attracting further collaborations or funding opportunities.

6. Capacity Building: Cluster meetings can include workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building activities. These activities help project partners enhance their skills, develop new competencies, and stay updated with the latest advancements in their respective fields. The meetings provide a supportive environment for professional growth, fostering learning and development opportunities for the participants.

Conclusion

Overall, the second cluster meeting for the Smart Communities projects played a crucial role in facilitating collaboration, coordination, and knowledge exchange among project partners. The results from this event will enhance the effectiveness and impact of each project while promoting cooperation and synergy within the European research and innovation community and informing strategy moving forward.