Be part of the next Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking – with activities at the SmartEnCity Final Conference on 14 to 15 June on-site in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and online from 13 to 24 June.

The Smart Cities Marketplace Forum, was organised as an on-site event at the Event Lounge in Brussels and featured high-level keynotes, three plenaries (Political, Innovation, Finance), six parallel sessions, a public Action Cluster BarCamp working on nine overarching topics.

Following Commissioner Kadri Simon’s keynote, emphasising how cities are crucial for the European Green Deal and how RePower EU will move the EU away from dependence on Russian fossil fuels towards more sustainable energy, the panellists discussed the way forward.

Following a comprehensive overview of the many offers of the EIC, based on the needs identified in the report of the same name as the session title, and the following comprehensive offer of support, the speakers' debate focused primarily on the importance of planning needed to create the basis for becoming climate neutral.

The importance of the role of innovation funding to develop new technologies was stressed in this session. The discussion was commenced by cities with the intent to install technologies as part of engagement with city procurement offices.

This session included practical examples like the City of Amsterdam that has several ambitious plans, including an energy transition roadmap and a circular strategy.

Eero Ailio emphasised the need for cities to be involved in the energy transition. We have to rethink how cities are working, break down silos and engage in green procurement, for example, by using an integrated approach.

Are you a civil servant, policymaker or researcher with an interest in positive energy districts? Join the two-day conference in Amsterdam (June 23-24) to visit PED projects, exchange experiences, share ideas and develop new insights with like-minded professionals.

The 8th edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is open for submissions until 30 June. The Awards recognise the role cities play in shaping the local innovation ecosytems and promote innovation.

The second edition of European Innovation Procurement Awards (EUIPA) is open for submissions until 22 June. The European Commission will recognise best Innovation Procurement practices in three categories – strategy, societal challenges and leadership.

The EU and its Member States pledge three new commitments taking sustainable urban development forward and accelerating the delivery of the UN New Urban Agenda.

Launched by the EU as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) focuses on implementing the circular economy across Europe’s cities and regions.

procuRE launched the first out of three phases towards reaching its goal to develop innovative solutions to achieve 100% Renewable Energy Supply in existing public buildings.