A smart city innovation is
everything that provides a
better service, lowers the price
of operation, has a positive
value case for the residents,
visitors, workers and enterprises
situated in Eindhoven, AND that
is accepted and used as such.
Openness, transparency, trust
and innovation friendly
procurement mechanisms are
of a major significance.
It shouldn’t all be about market
and sales only.
I wouldn’t advocate shifting
even more competences to the
private sector. I’d rather be an
equal partner having a sound
degree of influence.
Smart technologies for cities are helpful if they improve the lives of citizens, make services more efficient
or contribute to the development goals of the city. They should never be a means to themselves.
Technological advancements in the last decades have opened up tremendous opportunities for cities to improve their operations, reduce the environmental footprint and increase the attractiveness of urban life: E-car sharing, public transport apps, e-government applications, smart parking, integrated energy systems, smart street lighting or connected waste bins are only some examples of technical solutions to create better cities. The problem with these is – you cannot copy and paste from another city just like that. Each system has to be designed individually to fit into the existing structure and systems of a city – and even more important – to appeal to the society, culture and vibe in the city.