VEFRESH

We are glad to share a short video capturing the #5G4LIVES project audience and our lively panel in Agora during Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona! Our CEF Digital project #5G4LIVES focuses on 5G connectivity that enables airspace planning and drone monitoring for critical services such as public waterfront safety and landscape monitoring with drones (UAM'S) in Riga and Turin. Here are the main takeaways from our time in SCWE: 🧭 5G systems are the way to boost digitalization of critical services 🧭 Clear need for shared airspace user platform to ensure safety 🧭 Implementation of safety and security protocols is accelerating 🧭 Early involvement of citizens and communities is necessary to ensure acceptance in this area We were joined in panel by Guido. Acchioni, from European Commission, DG CONNECT, B5 Unit, our project partners Arnis Gulbis, Riga Digital Agency, Staņislavs Šeiko, Riga Municipal Police, Lorenzo Pessotto, City of Torino and by Renske Martijnse - Hartikka, Forum Virum representing the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project #CITYAM in Helsinki, covering ground on airspace management, scaling drone operations and what it takes to build meaningful civic engagement in this promising arena. The panel was moderated by Viesturs Celmins, VEFRESH. Special thanks to Klāvs Balamovskis-Kalniņš and Inga Barisa from Riga for organizing the event. 5G for a Better Tomorrow: Protecting Lives and the Environment in Riga and Turin Project website: https://lnkd.in/dqh3axab #5G4LIVES

Take a look at some of the highlights from an insightful day at the workshop on public transport digitalization & optimization using AI, held at the Startup House Riga on December 10 and supported by EIT Urban Mobility! 🚉 A special thanks to our speakers and startups for sharing their expertise, best practices and innovative solutions, sparking meaningful discussions about the future of public transport - Søren Sørensen, Siim Esko from Positium, Johan C. Haveland from Asistobe, Hüseyin Gönenç BAŞOL from SmartIR, Ivo De Geus from UrbanVind, and Arta Macijevska from Jūrmala. And thanks to Viesturs Celmins for steering the discussions throughout the event. 🙌 🌟 Through keynotes, presentations, discussions and hands-on workshop, we explored topics like route optimization and passenger demand forecasting using diverse data sources, multimodal connectivity, AI-driven safety solutions and much more – all aimed at transforming urban mobility for a smarter, more sustainable future. We at VEFRESH are grateful to everyone who joined us and engaged both in person and online. Here’s to continuing the journey toward greener, safer, and more efficient public transport systems. 🚌 💡 📸 Jānis Vēveris

🌍 VEFRESH and Bruntor driving innovation together! Since September, Rīgas Meži and Riga City Council have been testing Bruntor electric cargo scooters in parks, forests, and city streets. And what do we have? A fair bit faster and more efficient maintenance that’s making Riga a little cleaner and greener every day. From green areas to Old Town, Bruntor is proving that smart technology can improve our city life. 📌 As partners in the EIT Urban Mobility-funded project “Green Dash”, VEFRESH and Bruntor are collaborating to bring smarter and greener solutions to Riga. Partnerships like this are the future of sustainable cities—thank you to all the collaborators leading “Green Dash” to success! #EITUrbanMobility #GreenDash #Sustainability #UrbanInnovation #LastMileDelivery #GreenMobility

Lars brings extensive experience in both Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), working as a senior advisor for procurements at Trøndelag County Authority. Notably, he has expertise in managing the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in public transport, tackling the strategic challenges and opportunities that come with this transformation. Lars is determined to show us how innovation procurement can be both challenging and fun. We’re eager to learn from the tips, strategies, and real-world solutions he has successfully applied throughout his career. 📅 Don’t miss out! Register for the event by December 3nd to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gzcAwCM9 Date: December 5, 2024 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 Location: Zoom Meeting – https://lnkd.in/dN7WSAGU Language: Latvian/English #InnovationProcurement #PublicProcurement #Innovation #PCP #PPI #vefresh #municipalities #ProcurementSpecialist #InnovationManager #MunicipalInnovation #PublicSectorsh

VEFRESH and the RigaDigitalAgency (Riga) are announcing the third workshop of the EIT Urban Mobility "IPROMO" project - “Innovation procurement: theory and practice”. Present workshop will be dedicated to the practical aspects of the innovation procurement procedure based on real life examples. Is there only challenges or some fun too? Our expert Lars Fabricius, Trøndelag County Authority, is ready to reveal the tips and strategies he has successfully applied in innovation procurements lead by him. 👉 Register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/gzcAwCM9 Date: December 5, 2024 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 Location: Zoom Meeting – https://lnkd.in/dN7WSAGU Language: Latvian/English We look forward to seeing you!

🚍 Join us on December 10 in Riga or online! VEFRESH, with the support of EIT Urban Mobility, is hosting a workshop on public transport optimization and digitalization with AI. We’ll look into practical solutions for improving route efficiency, reducing operational costs, and enhancing service quality. Don’t miss keynote presentations, startup pitches, and discussions to explore the future of smarter, more sustainable public transport. 📅 When: December 10, 2024 📍 Where: Startup House Riga or online 👉 Save your spot and register by December 2: https://lnkd.in/dVMNGzxs

VEFRESH and the Riga Digital Agency (Riga) move forward with the workshop series on innovation procurement. And are announcing the third workshop of the EIT Urban Mobility "IPROMO" project - “Innovation procurement: theory and practice”. Present workshop will be dedicated to the practical aspects of the innovation procurement procedure based on real life examples. Register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/dzQiU9pA 🟢 Date: December 5, 2024 🟢 Time: 10:00 - 11:15 🟢 Location: Zoom Meeting – https://lnkd.in/dN7WSAGU 🟢 Language: Latvian/English We look forward to seeing you!

🌍 Last weekend’s Climathon'24 was an inspiring 48 hours of innovation and collaboration with teams hacking challenges in green mobility and circular economy. 👏 Congratulations to the winners in the green mobility category: 🏆 1500 EUR - Most sustainable solution: Team Effi E Bike Kit, transforming any bicycle into an e-bike thus promoting active mobility. 🚲 🏆 1500 EUR - Highest market potential: Team PowerNest with their EV charging app that streamlines the electric vehicle user experience. 🔋 🏆 2000 EUR - Best technological innovation: Team QS with noise enforcement system designed to reduce urban noise pollution, creating quieter, more livable cities. 🏙️ 🌿 We’re excited to see where these ideas go next and proud to support solutions that will transform the future of urban mobility! Congrats also to the winners in the circular economy category! A big thank you to everyone who made this hackathon a success – our dedicated team mentors Viesturs Celmins, Kaspars Kalnišs, Uldis Žaimis, Jeļena Volkova, Santa Krastina, workshop leads Karlis Skuja, Alise Pizika, Linards Reinis Rozitis, all 35+ industry experts and prototyping mentors as well as jury members Andris Baumanis, Laura Treimane, Miralda Ranga, Elīna Sadauska, Elina Kirilko who dedicated their time and expertise, and of course thanks to all the participants for your creativity and passion in shaping a more sustainable future! Special thanks to our supporter EIT Urban Mobility, our partners Riga, Rīga attīstās, Rīgas Meži, Latvijas Banka, Swedbank Latvija, and our co-organizers RTU Science and Innovation Centre - Zane Derdonska and the team for their collaboration. 📸 Photo credits: Jānis Vēveris #Climathon

🥳 Mums ir lieliskas ziņas – līdz 1. novembrim pagarināta pieteikšanās dalībai hakatonā «Climathon'24: aprites ekonomikas un zaļās mobilitātes risinājumi ilgtspējīgai pilsētvidei». 👉 Nāc talkā ar savu ideju un risinājumu tādiem izaicinājumiem kā banknošu pārstrāde, kas nodrošina zemu SEG emisiju līmeni; efektīva koku lapu pārvaldība Rīgā; satiksmes plūsma un sabiedriskā transporta efektivitāte; ilgtspējīga infrastruktūra un resursi; enerģētika un elektrouzlāde; iedzīvotāju iesaiste un uzvedības maiņa. ℹ️ Vairāk informācijas par hakatona izaicinājumiem un pieteikšanos: https://climathon.rtu.lv 🤝 Izaicinājumus hakatona ietvaros šogad piedāvā sadarbības partneri: Latvijas Banka, Riga, Rīgas enerģētikas aģentūra un Rīgas Meži. 🔋 Dalība hakatonā Tev sniegs iespēju strādāt ar pieredzējušiem ekspertiem un mentoriem no dažādām nozarēm, praktisku un finansiālu atbalstu idejas tālākai attīstībai nākotnē, kā arī pieeju platformai jaunu sadarbību veidošanai. VEFRESH | RTU Science and Innovation Centre | Swedbank Latvija | Climate-KIC | EIT Urban Mobility #Climathon #hakatons

VEFRESH team Viesturs Celmins and Aija Lāce are packing for the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, November 5-7. Along with our partners Riga we have a stand at the excellent Nordic+ pavilion. Please stop by for a chat! We are looking to link and build in: ➡️ Drone technology in urban rescue and emergency ➡️ Living Lab management; ➡️ Innovation procurement; ➡️ Startup Support and Innovation. Sounds familiar to you - just come by Nordic & Baltic Pavilion at Gran Via, Hall 3, Level 0, Street D, Stand 71 for some chat or contact us directly. #SmartCityExpo #SCEWC24 #urbanmobility #TMWC24