Perspective of companies and research institutions

What role do companies and institutions play in the implementation of Smart City initiatives, and how do their perspectives differ from those of the cities themselves? And above all, what has proven to be particularly effective from the perspective of business and research?

In numerous interviews with experts from the corporate world and leading institutions, we learn more about the challenges and opportunities associated with the development of Smart Cities. They report on innovative solutions, technological breakthroughs, and necessary adaptations to market needs and regulatory requirements.

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Deloitte – “We need to move away from big master plans”

Instead of devising huge digital strategies, local authorities should start small and make their successes visible. Deloitte experts Nina Freund and Falk Streubel explain how a smart city can act as a catalyst and why citizen participation is the game changer.

PIK – Climate change at the local level

Cities are supposed to become climate neutral - but administrative hurdles and political uncertainty are slowing them down. Christiane Walter, Komal Vendidandi, and Dr. Bernd Hezel explain how the Climate Action Strategiser is helping local authorities with the transition.

Neuraflow – “Trust is everything”

Administrations are under pressure: tight budgets, staff shortages and high expectations. In this interview, Jürgen Richter explains how Neuraflow aims to remedy the situation with AI chatbots and smart process automation.

EIT Urban Mobility – “Cities learn best from other cities”

The mobility transition needs to move quickly, but bureaucratic processes and funding gaps can slow it down. Judith O’Meara and Gabriel Knapp explain how EIT Urban Mobility is counteracting this with innovation and networks.

UnternehmerTUM – “We should leverage Europe’s strengths”

Smart cities and the future of mobility: Simon Herzog, Head of Mobility Projects at UnternehmerTUM, explains how start-ups are developing innovative solutions to urban challenges and why Europe needs more cooperation to advance the mobility of tomorrow.

Vitronic – “You have to meet local authorities where they are”

Technology company Vitronic is advancing road safety with networked image processing systems. Peter Ummenhofer and Tim Bissé explain how cooperation with cities is going and what obstacles are slowing progress in Germany.