European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities & Communities

On 10 July 2012, the European Commission launched a Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership (SCC), aiming to boost the development of smart technologies in cities. The SCC is dedicated to the demonstration of innovative urban solutions at the interface of energy, transport and ECT.

The budget allocated for the SCC has been of € 81 Million in 2012 , € 365 Million in 2013 and € 92 million in 2014.

About Smart Cities

Energy is essential in modern cities. It supports economic activities, allows transport and other infrastructure to function, and provides heat, cooling and electricity for people to live comfortably. Smart Cities distinguish themselves by using innovative solutions for supplying energy more effectively and efficiently, in terms of costs, environmental footprint and/or social impacts.

Urban energy solutions can be innovative in different ways. Cities can use and combine innovative (local) generation technologies for the production of energy, or develop network systems that distribute it more efficiently and manage supply and demand better (smart electricity grids). Innovative solutions also exist on the interfaces of energy supply with other urban systems, such as transport, waste processing and water supply.

About the Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform

The Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform is about promoting innovation. It aims to accelerate the development and market deployment of energy efficiency and low-carbon technology applications in the urban environment. The Platform supports the EU towards its goal of an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the Europe’s primary energy technology policy, the SET-Plan.

The main focus: technology integration for European cities. Emphasis will be on their integration, which is a key challenge for all SET-Plan technologies, and particularly for Smart Cities’ technologies

To achieve its goal, the Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform will set up five groups: three thematic expert (technical) Working Groups (energy supply networks; energy efficiency in buildings; mobility and transport) and two horizontal Coordination Groups (Finance; Roadmap). In the Spring of 2013 has been added a fourth thematic Working Group on ICT.The Technical WGs review and rate the submitted Solution Proposals (SPs) with a view of grouping them as Keys to Innovation (KIs). Results are visible for all stakeholders.

The main stakeholders will be technical experts, allowing the platform to draw in expertise from those experts who are directly involved with developing, testing and demonstrating new technologies. Working Groups operate using a bottom-up approach and the overall themes will be fine-tuned by participants based on guidance and the framework provided by the Chairs.

Working Groups will not draw up policy recommendations on general strategic issues such as funding envelopes, regulatory moves; this is done elsewhere, such as within the EU’s decision-making machinery, funding institutions or the Covenant of Mayors’ framework.