Smart City Expo is the name of an international congress being held in Barcelona on 19-21 November. It has attracted a wide variety of leading international experts in the field of modern urban development.

“The congress focuses on urban development in the future based on sustainable and intelligent solutions. Barcelona is regarded as one of the leading cities in the world when it comes to urban planning, so it’s no surprise that the congress is being held here for the third time,” explains associate professor Martin Brynskov, referring to the focus of the Catalan city on strategic urban planning and new forms of organisation.

But Barcelona isn’t the only city with the chance to present itself as a smart city here. In connection with the congress there is also a large exhibition area, where cities and companies from all over the world can present their smart city initiatives. Martin Brynskov, who is the coordinator of the Danish network of smart cities, is joining the Danish Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs to present the Danish vision of the principles behind smart urban development.

Partnerships are the key
“I’m presenting some of the provisional conclusions of the Danish smart city network, including innovative solutions with regard to traffic, health and climate. These are three of the greatest challenges facing society, and we believe that we can’t any longer meet these challenges individually. Societies that are divided into sectors are a thing of the past – if we want to develop our cities and create the framework for sustainable growth, it’s vital that we adopt a holistic approach covering all the sectors involved,” explains Brynskov. He also underlines the importance of strategic partnerships between universities and companies with a view to meeting the challenges facing society and creating the foundations of sustainable urban and social development.

In other words, the Danish ideas are more about adopting a new mindset than putting your faith in technology. According to Carsten Hansen, the Danish Minister for Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs, it’s all about creating links between urban stakeholders and decision-makers, and about how to help people to feel committed to and included in the development of smart cities:

“It’s important to underline that the smart city concept won’t necessarily change the physical appearance of our cities – but it will make it easier to live in them. Cities are for people to live in, and new technology will enable us to ensure that our cities are adapted to suit the people who live in them – not the other way round. We politicians will have to take the lead in this, but we also need to use these new opportunities for the inclusion of citizens – and this is the approach to the concept that I think is most important,” says Hansen.

Facts
In cooperation with Aarhus University, the Danish Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs has established a smart city network with a view to supporting the development of smart cities in Denmark. The network is a forum in which the participants can exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas with regard to smart city initiatives, as well as providing input to identify the potential of smart cities in Denmark.

For further information:

Martin Brynskov, associate professor and coordinator of AU Smart Cities og Smart City-network and part of the interdisciplinary center - PIT Aarhus University Department of Aesthetics and Communication – Information Science E-mail: brynskov@cavi.au.dk Direct telephone: 87161962 Mobile: 3068 0424