You might have heard the phrase smart cities bandied about in the media over the past few years. But what does it mean? The European Commission defines a smart city as: ‘A place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and business.’
It’s all about using data and tech to create a more sustainable, efficient and better lifestyle. It might mean smarter transport networks, better waste facilities or greener heating and lighting systems. This three-minute video explains more about how smart cities work.
Over the course of 2023, we’re going to look at some cities across the EMEA region that are getting smarter in various ways. Today, we’re spotlighting the southern Finnish city of Helsinki.
Helsinki highlights
Helsinki is ahead of the curve when it comes to smart, sustainable living. The Helsinki Smart Region is using digital solutions to improve the city for people who live and work there, and to meet its carbon-neutral goals. It does this by nurturing innovation, creating opportunities through the availability of open data, and being an early adopter of things artificial intelligence (AI). Everyone from the government to businesses and the people who live there are committed to this and working together to bring it to life.
They’re doing this through all kinds of innovations to make life better and accelerate climate-friendly solutions. For example, they’re working to improve traffic flow, medical care and indoor air quality, while at the same time lowering vehicle emissions and bringing more greenery into the city.
Do you know of any great smart innovations happening in your city or region?