BABLE Smart Cities

What’s next for your city, region, or town in 2025? 🌍 2024 brought challenges, growth, and success! Together, we supported over 80 cities, regions, and towns across Europe, advancing smarter, more sustainable communities. Now, let’s look ahead to a year of innovation and impact. How will your community tackle climate goals, urbanisation, and inclusion in 2025? 💌 Missed our newsletter? Catch the highlights and future plans here: https://lnkd.in/dBKGvWMY 🔍 Share your thoughts—what role will innovation play in shaping a better future? #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #ClimateNeutral #FutureOfCities #Sustainability #Collaboration

How can cities harness climate data to achieve net-zero goals? 🌦️ Our recent webinar, Climate Data for Net-Zero Cities, brought together leading experts to discuss how climate data literacy drives impactful decision-making and accelerates climate action. Our Smart City Expert, Eriko Cekrezi, started the session by providing a detailed summary of our training insights. Featuring contributions from Naomi Clarke and Christopher Lau of Dundee City Council, and Clare Wharmby from the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service, the session highlighted practical strategies and innovative tools to support cities in achieving their sustainability targets. A key example was Dundee City Council’s progress towards net zero by 2045. With the help of a bespoke 15-hour programme, they improved data governance, enhanced cross-departmental collaboration, and leveraged advanced technologies such as AI and digital twins. The panel also underlined the importance of community engagement and offered this powerful reminder: “Data may never be perfect, but it can still guide effective decision-making.” This webinar showcased how partnerships, transparency, and actionable data can transform cities’ responses to climate challenges. Ready to see how cities are turning climate data into action? Watch the webinar now to gain inspiration and practical insights for your city! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dezfCEWS #NetZero #SmartCities #ClimateAction #DataDrivenDecisions #Sustainability #UrbanInnovation

How are CIVINET networks driving sustainable urban mobility across Europe? 🌍 On November 14 and 15, BABLE Smart Cities participated in the 10th Anniversary of CIVINET Czech and Slovak Republics in Brno, Czechia. This milestone event brought together representatives from CIVINET networks across Europe to reflect on achievements and plan future strategies for sustainable mobility. The attendees included: CIVINET Iberia, coordinated by BABLE Smart Cities; CIVINET Greece-Cyprus , represented by Katerina Nikolopoulou; CIVINET Polska represented by Katarzyna Pydzinska Azevedo of INnCREASE; Magyar CIVINET, represented by Marton Csia of Mobilissimus; CIVINET Ukraine, represented by Dzvenyslava Tyslyukevych; and CIVINET Slovenia-Croatia-South East Europe, represented by Magdalena Makar of ODRAZ-Sustainable Community Development Led by Gretel Schaj, BABLE introduced innovative formats like “Campfire” sessions to foster collaboration among cities, transport authorities, and mobility experts. These discussions explored practical solutions such as low-emission zones and transport electrification—critical steps toward achieving Europe’s climate goals for 2030 and 2050. Discover how these collaborations are shaping the future of mobility. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dSmp8quf #SustainableMobility #CIVINET #SmartCities #BABLESmartCities

How can AI chatbots reshape the way your city delivers public services? 🤔 From Berlin to Zurich, cities across Europe are leveraging AI chatbots to create smarter, more inclusive urban experiences. 🚀 These tools are revolutionising citizen engagement by offering: ✅ 24/7 accessibility ✅ Multilingual support ✅ Context-rich, tailored responses Here are some standout examples: • Berlin’s ServicePortal: Reduces administrative burdens while maintaining high service quality through rule-based AI. • Vienna’s WienBot: Connects a diverse population with real-time transit updates, event information, and multilingual capabilities. • Zurich’s RAG Chatbot: Enhances public engagement by delivering nuanced and accurate responses powered by advanced AI. However, innovation doesn’t come without challenges. To truly integrate AI into governance, cities must address data privacy, uphold ethical AI practices, and foster public trust. 💡 Discover how these cities are leading the way in transforming public services through AI: Read the full article on Tomorrow.City here: https://lnkd.in/eiVY2V_U #AI #Chatbots #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #PublicServices #CitizenEngagement #EthicalAI #DigitalTransformation #FutureCities

What does it take to become the world’s most intelligent community? Curitiba has the answer! 🇧🇷 Our 100th podcast episode dives into how Curitiba earned the title of 2024 Intelligent Community Forum of the Year. From turning landfills into solar farms powering 40% of city hall buildings to planting over 500,000 trees in just five years, the city’s focus on sustainability is unmatched. Add in the innovative Urban Hypervisor Platform, which integrates data from traffic, parks, and sustainability to improve city management, and you see why Curitiba is leading the way in smart urban solutions. At the heart of it all? People. Dario Paixão, Secretary of Economic Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, reminds us that “Smart Cities connect people, technology, and the environment—but people must always be at the centre.” With 80% of citizens backing its leadership, Curitiba’s success is proof that when cities prioritise their communities, transformative change follows. 🎧 Celebrate our milestone episode by listening now: https://lnkd.in/ekZE4xqv #SmartCities #Sustainability #Innovation #IntelligentCommunities #UrbanDevelopment #ClimateAction #PodcastMilestone #Curitiba #PeopleCentric

How do you inspire change to create better cities? We’re proud to partner with Urban Future #UF25, the ultimate gathering for passionate urban changemakers, happening in the vibrant city of Łódź, Poland, from 21–23 May 2025! Here’s what makes this event a game-changer: 🟡 3 days of hands-on inspiration to reimagine cities 🟡 250+ stories of real success (and lessons from failure) from urban innovators 🟡 30+ field trips to experience Łódź’s transformation first-hand 🟡 20+ side events to dive deeper into key topics 🟡 A network of 2,000+ #CityChangers ready to connect and collaborate 🎟️ Special Early Bird Offer! 👉 Use the code “PARTNER20” for 20% off your ticket. Offer ends 31 December 2024—act fast! 🔗 Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/edhFH2pm See you at #UF25! #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #CityChangers #UF25

How can climate data literacy transform your city’s journey to net zero? 🌍 ⏳ Just one day to go! Don’t miss our webinar tomorrow, December 4th, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM GMT. Join us to discover how Dundee City Council is revolutionising climate action with innovative data literacy training. Learn how they are breaking down silos, fostering collaboration, and accelerating their ambitious 2045 net-zero goals with the support of BABLE Smart Cities and a Scalable Cities grant. Featuring expert insights from Naomi Clarke, Christopher Lau, and Clare Wharmby, and hosted by Eriko Cekrezi, this webinar will share real-world strategies to build a data-driven climate approach for your city. 👉 Don’t wait—register now to be part of the conversation and take your city’s climate efforts to the next level: Register here: https://lnkd.in/eG3jNwzP #SmartCities #ClimateData #NetZero #Collaboration

How is your city leveraging real-time data to drive sustainable urban transformation? 📈 At Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, the Smart City Leaders Challenge 2024 by Thinkz and BABLE Smart Cities celebrated cities pioneering innovation, and the winners have set an inspiring standard for urban development. 🏆 Vila real Real, Spain, claimed first place with its cutting-edge mobility and air quality initiative, represented by Felix Fuentes from the municipality of Vila Real. The city introduced real-time tracking for bus arrivals, tools for mapping pedestrian and cycling routes based on air quality, and data on street occupancy. Vila Real also prioritised accessibility by providing information for individuals with reduced mobility. Looking ahead, Vila Real envisions expanding the use case to include tailored routes for large events and real-time visibility into open restaurants, ensuring seamless urban mobility and enriched city life. 🥈 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, represented by César García García from Sagulpa, secured second place with its ambitious integration of mobility and sustainability data. This includes real-time parking availability updates to reduce CO₂ emissions, EV charging station monitoring, unified access to shared mobility options, and live beach condition updates, such as temperature and crowd levels. Looking ahead, the platform can seamlessly scale to include additional features such as events, commerce, or port management, further enriching the urban experience for residents and visitors. These visionary projects highlight the transformative potential of real-time data in improving urban life. What innovative steps is your city taking to embrace the future? Read more about the winners here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dPNe_u6T #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #RealTimeData #Sustainability #MobilitySolutions

Is public procurement ready to embrace innovation and sustainability? 📝 On 21 November, our webinar, “Beschaffung im öffentlichen Sektor - zwei Experten berichten”, moderated by Alexander Schmidt, brought Eberhard Siebert-Wieck and Magnus Stammen together to discuss how cities can modernise procurement processes to meet today’s challenges. With the average procurement process taking 22 months, the urgency for faster, smarter approaches is undeniable. Complex regulations, limited collaboration, and barriers for SMEs are just some of the hurdles holding cities back. There is, however, cause for optimism. Functional tendering moves the focus from rigid product specifications to outcome-oriented approaches, fostering innovation and flexibility. AI-powered tools are enhancing transparency, enabling product-neutral decisions, and accelerating market analysis. Sustainability is also emerging as a central pillar, helping cities align procurement practices with the EU Green Deal and ambitious climate goals. Procurement is no longer merely a process—it is a transformative tool to build smarter, greener cities. Catch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/d4NApkN6 #PublicProcurement #SmartCities #Innovation

How can collaborative events foster successful partnerships for urban mobility? 🌍 From 19 to 21 November, IFEMA MADRID and Smobhub hosted the Global Mobility Call! BABLE Smart Cities collaborated with the event by connecting top international experts and facilitating meaningful conversations. We invited a wide array of distinguished speakers, who participated in 16 panels—each offering crucial insights to reshape mobility on a global scale. Over Tapas, we heard insights from CIO Michael Pegues and Mayor Richard Irvin from the City of Aurora, Illinois. Michael, a valued community member of Urban Innovators Global, and Mayor Irvin brought a unique perspective on urban innovation and leadership to the event, as well as energy to build new partnerships between the US and Europe. Our Global Partnerships & Communications Lead, Tamlyn Shimizu, delivered and moderated two key discussions alongside other distinguished panellists: 👉 Bridging the Gap: Regional Mobility Integration Tamlyn was joined by experts including Søren Kofoed Bom (Regional Udvikling i Region Hovedstaden), Nuno Alexandre Cunha (Associação Quadrilátero), Kosmas Anagnostopoulos (CIVINET Greece-Cyprus ), Edwin Mermans (Provincie Noord-Brabant), and Luis Miguel Torres Hernández (Comunidad de Madrid). Together, they explored how multimodal transport solutions and smart infrastructure investments enhance regional connectivity, accessibility, and sustainability. 👉 Planning Future Mobility for Citizens Tamlyn collaborated with Shin-pei Tsay (City of Boston), Oliver Kroner (City of Cincinnati), and Iris Belle (Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart) to highlight the importance of designing citizen-centred mobility systems that prioritise inclusivity, safety, and equitable access for all. Ready to create an impact together and get connected to a network of top innovation leaders? Contact Tamlyn Shimizu today! #SmartCities #SustainableMobility #UrbanInnovation #GlobalMobilityCall