Brussels, 06 Feb 2019 – SynchroniCity is driven by a simple question: What would it take for a great data-driven solution in City “A” to readily work in City “B”? Starting in February, 18 cities and 40 companies will join the movement to redefine the social and economic potential of new services using Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Europe and beyond by giving a real answer to that question.
In the coming six months, the cities and companies, which were selected through a competitive process out of more than 130 company-led groups, will roll out a massive wave of new services. Initially, 49 market deployments will be implemented in 18 cities.
These 49 new services will provide services to cities and communities that tackle key development areas such as sustainable mobility, energy and building management, air quality, and agile, inclusive governance. These services were selected by looking at their economic viability and their capacity to scale their business taking the standards-based and city-centric approach of SynchroniCity. Above all, their services must empower cities and communities and demonstrate the sustainable uptake of IoT- and AI-based solutions to provide better, more efficient and cost-effective services.
The current smart city market is fragmented, and the risk profile for investments is challenging. By using a common technical ground based on best practice and emerging standards – the so-called Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) – SynchroniCity helps break down key market barriers to a global market serving local needs. At the core is the ability to exchange data and services between public, private entities in a safe, secure and respectful way. However, SynchroniCity is much more than creating local IoT infrastructure partnerships based on global dynamics. It creates input for policy and validates global standards for other cities and suppliers that can be used to spread good services across sectors and countries.
The approach of SynchroniCity is based on the Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC) principles. They aim at de-risking investments in IoT- and AI-enabled services, by allowing innovation and public procurement of operations to go hand in hand to bring cities and communities safely through the digital transformation.
Martin Brynskov, chair of the Open & Agile Smart Cities network is lead and coordinator of SynchroniCity. He explains: “The 18 cities launching 49 services this week during our Bootcamp in London is a fantastic turning point for SynchroniCity. But in fact, this is just the first of what we see as a new, booming market for IoT- and AI-enabled services based on the needs of cities and communities.”
“All pilots are based on the Open & Agile Smart Cities minimal interoperability mechanisms, adopted last month by the OASC Council of Cities with more than 100 member cities globally. The pilots are concretely adding to the converging global market by addressing current market failures and de-risking investments,” he elaborates.
Follow the businesses and Cities making this transformation at https://synchronicity-iot.eu
About SynchroniCity
SynchroniCity is a European IoT Large-Scale Pilot funded by the European Commission. It aims to open up a global market for IoT-enabled services for cities and communities, where public authorities and businesses develop and deploy services using new technologies in agile partnerships to sustain and improve the lives of citizens, and to ensure sustainable local economic development. The SynchroniCity project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 732240, and it is part of 104m€ Large Scale Pilots Programme. 38 partners worldwide from business, academia, municipalities and NGOs are contributing to the project.
About OASC
Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC) is a non-profit, international smart city network that has the goal of creating and shaping the nascent global smart city data and services market. OASC connects 124 smart cities globally organised in national networks from 24 countries and regions. OASC and its members strive to establish the Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) needed to create a smart city market. More information on www.oascities.org
For More Information about SynchroniCity
Miguel Galdiz +32 2 61448572, comms@synchronicity-iot.eu, European Network of Living Labs, QHHQ – Quadruple Helix Headquarters, Pleinlaan 9, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
For More Information about Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC)
Lea Hemetsberger, +32 498111594, lea@oascities.org, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), QHHQ – Quadruple Helix Headquarters, Pleinlaan 9, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
