"Smart Cities Marketplace" Newsletter Issues

Explore & Shape: Technical Assistance for Smart Sustainable and Inclusive Cities (27/05/2024)

Technical Assistance can play a pivotal role in guiding cities towards sustainable solutions. In this Smart Cities Marketplace webinar, experts from ELENA, JASPERS, and GREEN ASSIST will unveil essential strategies to navigate this crucial juncture in urban development.

Explore: Solution Booklet Electric Vehicles and the Grid (27/05/2024)

This Solution Booklet discusses the rise of electric vehicles in Europe with both opportunities and challenges for the energy sector. With around 4.7 million EVs on European roads in 2023, the need for charging infrastructure and grid optimisation has become paramount.

Explore: Green Cities Wiki (29/05/2024)

A comprehensive resource for initiatives, practical knowledge and insights on creating sustainable, inclusive, and climate-neutral cities. If you have any suggestions for additional content and/or improvements to what is here right now, do send a message to: knowledgemanagement@ smartcitiesmarketplace.eu and the Smart Cities Marketplace team will review your suggestions.

Explore: Urban Reverb - Sustainable Partnerships in Focus (22/05/2024)

This podcast episode of Urban Reverb delves into sustainable partnerships driving local solutions for climate-neutral cities across Europe. Experts discuss challenges and opportunities in Smart Cities Marketplace Focus and Discussion groups.

Shape: Deep Retrofitting Energy Performance Contracts for Privately-Owned Single-Family Homes (23/05/2024)

On 4 April 2024, a virtual meeting of the Deep Retrofitting Energy Performance Contracts for Private Households Focus group took place to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding deep retrofitting energy performance contracts for privately owned single-family homes.

Shape: Smart Cities Marketplace, B40 and ICLEI joined forces to advance climate action in the Balkans (27/05/2024)

A key outcome of the workshop was the commitment from participating cities to identify projects for which they seek financing and to submit requests for support through the Smart Cities Marketplace intake process.

Explore: The Smart Cities Marketplace at ChangeNOW 2024 (23/05/2024)

From the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris offering a striking view of the Eiffel Tower, ChangeNOW 2024 emerged as a key event in the pursuit of sustainability. From 25 to 27 March 2024, the conference served as a hub for 35,000 attendees.

Explore & Shape: Scalable Cities - 9th Call for VISITOR CITIES is now OPEN! (22/05/2024)

The Scalable Cities Secretariat is launching its 9th call for visitor cities to participate in a site visit to Valencia. The city of Valencia was a Lighthouse City of the SCC project MATCH UP and has been selected as the European Green Capital for 2024.

Shape: EIT Urban Mobility’s Main Innovation Call (22/05/2024)

The EIT Urban Mobility’s Main Innovation Call with a budget of EUR 8 million aims to support close-to-market projects, that can develop and test new solutions in real-life demonstrations and attain commercial viability by the end of the project.

Explore: EU Mission Label awarded to 6 SCC cities (23/05/2024)

On 21 March, the EU Mission Label was awarded to 23 cities (6 of which are H2020 Lighthouse Cities) that are part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The Label recognises the cities' plans to achieve climate-neutrality already by 2030 and facilitates access to public and private funding.

Explore: Eurocities - Mobility Forum in Utrecht (23/05/2024)

The Eurocities' Mobility Forum in Utrecht emphasised the importance of inclusive urban mobility, focusing on autonomy and connection within communities. Discussions highlighted the need for accessible transportation solutions.

Explore: E-Mobility, Charging Infrastructure and Smart Cities (22/05/2024)

E-mobility is no longer an exotic topic – no news here. Even though some of the governmental incentives have been stopped in various countries, the auto industry and governments have set some ambitious goals for the transition to electric vehicles.

Explore: Heating without Burning - how Cities Can Accelerate the Heat Transition away from Fossil Fuels (22/05/2024)

Phasing out fossil fuels is vital for building the resilient, climate-neutral and just future laid out by the Green Deal. Heating, responsible for over half of Europe’s energy usage, predominantly relies on fossil fuels. We can only create a massive shift away from fossil-based heating with the help of cities.

Explore & Shape: EU Citizens' Engagement Platform (23/05/2024)

The European Commission has recently launched the new Citizens’ Engagement Platform (CEP), an online space for all EU citizens to share their thoughts, exchange ideas and engage in debate about EU policies and actions.

Explore: The European Citizens’ Debate on Energy Efficiency (22/05/2024)

After three insightful weekends of deliberation over the course of three months, the European Citizens’ Panel on Energy Efficiency has concluded. The 150 randomly selected citizens of the Union came together to discuss this pivotal topic.

Shape: CircularPSP - Join the Followers' Network (22/05/2024)

Circular PSP invites all interested cities, and interested organisations to join their follower network to stay updated on the solution concept and to get access to insights and further resources, and later test its innovative solution.

Explore: RISEnergy launched (23/05/2024)

The RISEnergy project, led by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and supported by the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), has officially started with the goal of accelerating renewable energy technology development.

Explore: Meet the Ascend Project (22/05/2024)

The ASCEND project aims to deploy Positive Clean Energy Districts in the two Lighthouse cities Lyon and Munich. The cities are working on the full range of issues encountered in cities to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Explore: European Initiatives at URBIS - The Smart Cities Meetup (22/05/2024)

European projects such as ASCEND, SPARCS, EERA JPSC, CrAFt and NEB-STAR will be attending this year's edition of URBIS: The Smart Cities Meetup taking place in Brno, Czech Republic.

Explore: Best practices book from STARDUST (23/05/2024)

The STARDUST project has released a comprehensive handbook compiling its best practices to assist other cities and stakeholders in learning from the project's experiences across six countries.

Explore: Euroheat & Power Congress 2024 - Scale up, CO₂ down! (03/06/2024)

Attend the exclusive Crash Course for Cities, running in parallel to the Euroheat & Power Congress. This free two-day training program is specially tailored for local authorities and municipality representatives wishing to develop sustainable district heating and cooling!

Explore: How to make renovation more inclusive and beautiful? Renovation projects talk about the New European Bauhaus (04/06/2024)

To achieve 2050 targets, buildings’ energy needs must be reduced massively to improve their energy performance in line with the Energy Efficiency First Principle. To that end, existing buildings need to transform into energy-efficient buildings, with a circular approach and a reduction of whole life-cycle carbon.

Explore: EUSEW Session - Exploring the Heat Map (11/06/2024)

The main objective of the session is to promote different approaches and best practices to manage the heat transition as it is taking place at a moment when member states will have still one year to transpose the Energy Efficiency Directive into national legislation.

Explore: EUSEW Session - Pitching Net-Zero Energy Emission Solutions Implemented by Municipalities (12/06/2024)

This session is designed to address the overarching challenge of transitioning municipalities towards net-zero energy emissions. This includes overcoming various hurdles and barriers associated with implementing sustainable solutions and achieving energy efficiency goals.

Explore: European Sustainable Energy Week 2024 (11/06/2024)

EUSEW returns in 2024 in a hybrid format, in Brussels and online. It comprises a high-level Policy Conference, the EUSEW Awards, and the fifth European Youth Energy Day as well as opportunities to forge connections with the EUSEW community at the Energy Fair.

Explore: EUSEW Session - Turn the Finance on! (13/06/2024)

Hosted by the Smart Cities Marketplace and the Horizon Europe-funded energy renovation initiative oPEN Lab, this session zooms in on a key operational barrier holding the EU back from speeding up the green transition - financing renovation and renewables all across Europe.

Explore: GovTech Connect Pitch Day (13/06/2024)

This session is your chance to discover groundbreaking startups from Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and Ireland, as they look to tackle the most pressing Smart City challenges.

Explore: Hydrogen Valleys Days (17/06/2024)

The event, co-organised by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the European Commission, builds on the successful work of the Clean Hydrogen JU. This involves the collaboration with the regions and cities including project development assistance and funding of already 15 hydrogen valleys across Europe.

Explore: Accelerating the Shift Towards Climate Neutrality - Collaborative Strategies for Regional Sustainability Transition (18/06/2024)

This event will discuss the potential of the Transition Super-Lab approach and address how we can drive the transition towards climate neutrality in an inclusive and just manner.

Explore: Valencia Cities Climate Week (25/06/2024)

The objective of this event is not only to celebrate these three different gatherings but to create synergies. Valencia, as a Mediterranean and green capital, constitutes the perfect scenario for coming together and sharing knowledge between the main European actors and civil society.

Explore: Energy Cities Forum "Grafting Cities" in Valencia (26/06/2024)

The conference sets out to reveal what transformations are already in action. Throughout the two days, participants will explore with municipalities the strengths of each region.

Explore: European Urban Resilience Forum (26/06/2024)

The 2024 edition of EURESFO will be built around three key thematic streams and a fourth special thematic stream, each addressing crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery.

Explore: SPARCS Final Conference (11/09/2024)

Reflecting on the key learnings, successes, and outcomes, the event will offer meetings, public presentations, and networking opportunities that provide key insights into the work and the solutions we implemented within the project.

Editorial (29/11/2022)

Dear Smart Cities Marketplace Community,

Explore: Urban Reverb - Navigating the World of Procurement (21/03/2024)

Based on the Smart Cities Marketplace solution booklet on public procurement Solution Booklet for Public Procurement in Smart Cities, this episode of Urban Reverb outlines the various aspects of public procurement.

Explore: Portuguese Municipalities Dive into Financing Strategies in Interactive Webinar (06/03/2024)

In a bid to navigate the complexities of implementing sustainable and green city projects, municipal representatives from Portugal congregated for a dynamic one hour webinar.

Explore: Missed the Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking Info Session? (06/03/2024)

In case you missed the Smart Cities Marketplace online Matchmaking Info Session on 13 February 2024 - this is your chance to catch up.

Explore: Missed the Smart Cities Marketplace Webinar on Exploring AI Integration in the Energy Sector? (06/03/2024)

This Smart Cities Marketplace webinar focused on the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping the landscape of smart cities, power systems, and mobility.

Explore & Shape: New Smart Cities Marketplace Focus group Supports 'Small Giants' (06/03/2024)

As part of the Smart Cities Marketplace, a new Focus group has been established seeking to support the local transformation outside of the major European Cities. A majority of European city residents live in small and medium sized cities and towns. Therefore, these towns take the spotlight in this Focus group.

Explore & Shape: Deep Retrofitting Energy Performance Contracts for Private Households Focus Group (21/03/2024)

The primary objective of the Focus group is to address the legal clarity surrounding credit legislation, laying the groundwork for the broader adoption of performance-based deep retrofit solutions. By doing so, they aim to make deep retrofitting feasible and appealing to all private homeowners, fostering sustainability and energy efficiency on a wider scale.

Explore: The State of European Smart Cities has been published! (06/03/2024)

Scalable Cities is thrilled to announce the publication of its report outlining the current state of the art of European smart cities. The report highlights some of the most ambitious and impactful solutions that are also cost-competitive and ready for a wide-scale replication.

Explore: The EuComMeet Project’s Experience (06/03/2024)

The Project EucomMeet – Deliberative Spaces for Democracy, funded under Horizon 2020, is currently organising a final conference to be held on 26 June 2024.

Explore: Deploying a European Mobility Data Space (13/03/2024)

The initiative will cultivate a broad EU ecosystem of data providers and users, facilitating the adoption of common building blocks. The work planned in the framework of the DeployEMDS project's use cases will contribute to the development of innovative services.

Shape & Deal: PROSPECT+ Open Call on Innovative Financing (06/03/2024)

This unique programme serves as a dynamic platform for peer-to-peer learning and exchange, focusing on innovative financing schemes tailored to enhance local and regional energy and climate actions.

Shape & Deal: RAPTOR Call 2024 - European Cities Partner with Startups for Urban Mobility Solutions (13/03/2024)

The RAPTOR 2024 Call was launched on 29 February 2024, inviting startups to propose solutions addressing these city mobility challenges. Supported by technical and business advisors, each city will select promising startups to receive funding.

Explore: Enabling a Data-informed Public Sector - An Introductory Course to BDTI Essentials (06/03/2024)

This free course aims to help public administrations explore the free-of-charge data analytics playground the Big Data Test Infrastructure offers through a practical use case.

Explore: The European Capital of Innovation Awards (14/03/2024)

The 2024 edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is now open for submissions. The winner of the 2024 European Capital of Innovation category will receive €1 million.

Explore: The #FOROURPLANET CAMPAIGN (06/03/2024)

Biodiversity loss and climate change are impacting our planet, but also our lives and wellbeing. Together, we can join forces to help restore and protect natural ecosystems and make a real difference #ForOurPlanet.

Explore: 5G in Public Service - EC's Support for Smart Communities Deployment and Replicable Use Cases (06/03/2024)

Let's delve into the 5G for Smart Communities (5GSC) initiative. There are several areas, such as mobility, emergency services (fire, police departments), energy management, and many other public services, which are positively affected by the deployment of a 5G network.

Explore & Shape: Discover the GovTech Connect Boot camps! (13/03/2024)

The GovTech Connect boot camps are a new opportunity for European startups to develop and scale their government technology solutions and tackle key public sector challenges.

Explore & Shape: Coming soon - Citizen-led renovation Open Call (13/03/2024)

Get ready to make a difference in your community's energy future! Phase II of the Citizen-led renovation (CLR) support service launched and will soon publish an Open Call. No matter your community's stage or size, there's valuable support and a network waiting for you.

Shape & Deal: Second Call for Twin Cities (13/03/2024)

NetZeroCities are thrilled to share with you the upcoming launch of the second Call for Twin Cities on 08 April 2024, within the framework of the EU Cities Mission. The Twinning Learning Programme pairs cities (who are not already engaged with the Cities Mission) with Pilot Cities.

Shape: €17 million EU project supports Zaragoza in becoming a climate-neutral city by 2030 (13/03/2024)

REDOL promotes the transition of Zaragoza towards a zero residue city by 2040, thus recycling 100% of the produced urban waste. The project targets to re-use, valorise or transform over 140,000 tons of solid urban waste per year.

Explore: Meet Udene (06/03/2024)

Funded through HORIZON Europe, UDENE kicked off last February 2024 in Ankara (Turkey) determined to build sustainable urban environments and address the challenges posed by increasing urbanisation and the effects of climate change.

Explore: SPARCS & ASCEND present Data-driven Solutions for PEDs at Leipzig Data Week (15/03/2024)

During Leipzig Data Week, the ASCEND and SPARCS projects will organise a joint in-person event to present digital tools and data-driven solutions that enable Positive Energy Districts.

Explore: Meet InterPED (06/03/2024)

The InterPED project, funded by the European Union's HORIZON 2023 programme aims to facilitate Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) by integrating various sectors, utilising renewable energy sources (RES), storage, and excess/waste heat (E/WH) sources.

Explore: How to PED. The +CityxChange Cookbook (06/03/2024)

This “How to PED” cookbook contains experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations gained throughout the five years of the +CityxChange EU Horizon 2020 project, specifically focused on the variety of activities necessary to design and build Positive Energy Districts.

Explore: ASCEND General Assembly Took Place in Munich (20/03/2024)

The ASCEND project organised its second general assembly in Munich between 6 and 8 March 2024. The main goal of the event was to provide oversight of the project's roadmap, activities, scope of work and most importantly the shared ambition to accelerate Positive Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs)

Shape: NEUTRALPATH's Call for Speakers (20/03/2024)

NEUTRALPATH is launching a call for three speakers / visitors cities at the replication-oriented workshop in Dresden which will host the upcoming NEUTRALPATH General Assembly.

Explore: SPARCS Webinar - E-mobility solutions for PEDs (04/04/2024)

Join SPARCS for a transformative webinar on electric mobility solutions for Positive Energy Districts. The event, inspired by the learnings and insights from the SPARCS brings to light the initiatives from the Lighthouse City of Espoo, Finland.

Explore: Focus Group Deep Retrofitting Energy Performance Contracts for Private Households (04/04/2024)

The primary objective of the Smart Cities Marketplace Focus group is to address the legal clarity surrounding credit legislation, laying the groundwork for the broader adoption of performance-based deep retrofit solutions.

Explore: POCITYF General Assembly (15/04/2024)

The Smart Cities and Communities project POCITYF will host its upcoming General Assembly in the Spanish Fellow city Granada between 15 and 17 April 2024.

Clean energy for EU islands forum 2024 (14/05/2024)

This isn't just a conference; it's an opportunity for us to connect, collaborate, and make positive changes together. Participate in interactive sessions, workshops, and discussions focusing on key aspects of island sustainability.

Explore: Partner Event - SPARCS Project Final Event (11/09/2024)

Scalable Cities and SPARCS project are eager to announce the date of the final event that will be jointly organised between 11-12 September 2024 in Espoo, Finland.

Explore: Urban Reverb: REPowerEU (22/01/2024)

This episode of the Urban Reverb podcast discusses the REPower EU initiative. Listen to Paula Pinho, Director of the European Commission's DG Energy, Eckart Würzner the Mayor of Heidelberg and Sofia Barbosa the Director of Regulatory Affairs for a European energy services company (GreenVolt).

Explore: Urban Reverb: The Family (22/01/2024)

"Urban Reverb - The Family" highlights various European initiatives, including the Covenant of Mayors, Scalable Cities, and NetZeroCities, aiming to drive sustainability in cities.

Explore: Watch now - Urban Insights Episode 1 (24/01/2024)

In this video Georg Houben, Project Officer of DG ENER and responsible for the Smart Cities Marketplace, discusses the urgency of addressing climate change, particularly in Europe, where the EU Green Deal aims to make the continent climate-neutral by 2050. The video is available in German and English.

Urban Insights: Cooperation as a Driver of Change in Cities (22/01/2024)

In this episode of Urban Insights, interviewees discuss the importance of cooperation for the transition to smarter, more sustainable and liveable cities. Listen to Han Vandevyvere (SCM), Fons Janssen (European Climate Ambassador for the Netherlands), Stefano Tarantola, (Joint Research Centre of the EC) and Simone van Raaij (Province of South Holland).

Explore: Updated Solution Booklet: PV and Battery (22/01/2024)

This updated booklet emphasises the dynamic role of batteries in the evolving energy landscape, highlighting their potential beyond traditional static installations. With the surge in electric vehicles, car batteries emerge as valuable assets for storing energy.

Explore: Scalable Cities is launching the 5th Call for Visitor Cities for a site visit in Munich (24/01/2024)

Join us in Munich between March 6th - 8th 2024 for an enriching three-day event. This presents an exceptional opportunity for visitor cities to gain insights into the achievements offered by the ASCEND project.

Explore: Scalable Cities Call for Experts on Energy Communities is now OPEN! (24/01/2024)

The call for experts aims to support the Task Group Energy Communities to analyse approaches used by cities in Smart Cities and Communities projects to establish energy communities, emphasising social sustainability and citizen engagement.

Explore: Let’s Make 2024 the Mayors’ Year! (22/01/2024)

This year, European elections will take place and with that a new Commission will be established. The European Green Deal will officially be rooted into European law, with the recent adoption of the remaining components of the ‘Fit for 55’ Package.

Shape: Scalable Cities Call for Experts is now OPEN! (22/01/2024)

Scalable Cities is thrilled to announce a new Call for Experts with five distinctive topics. The Scalable Cities Expert Group is a networking and co-working community of experienced and motivated smart city experts.

Shape: Unlock the path to net zero emissions: New Covenant of Companies Guide on Clean Energy Transition (31/01/2024)

The Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy has published its new Clean Energy Transition guide. From guidance on how to develop clean energy transition plans to addressing sector-specific challenges, the guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for EU enterprises.

Explore: Scalable Cities Announces Calendar of Events for the City Coordinators Group (18/01/2024)

Scalable Cities would like to present a new calendar of events for the City Coordinators Group. The Group gathers cities to address specific challenges and create a space for the co-design of shared solutions.

Explore: Welcome to the Govtech Connect startup survey (24/01/2024)

GovTech Connect is embarking on an ambitious journey as a pilot project within the European Commission's DG Connect, aiming to revolutionise the digitisation of the public sector and advance the Green Transition in Europe.

Deal: CircularPSP – Launch of Tender (22/01/2024)

The EU pre-commercial procurement project CircularPSP launched a €5.64 million tender (Contract Notice and PIN on TED) for Suppliers to design, develop and test an innovative ‘circular economy solution’ (CE-solution).

Explore: Citizen-led renovation Initiative Publishes Factsheets about Pilot Countries (24/01/2024)

The project Citizen-Led renovation aims to empower energy communities and put citizens in the driver’s seat for energy-saving renovation projects. In the course of the project, four energy communities in four different countries are assisted to deliver citizen-led energy renovations and renewable energy installations.

Shape: SMCNetZero Blog: Illuminating the Path to Energy Efficiency (22/01/2024)

The SMCNetZero project has recently identified some significant roadblocks on the path to achieving net-zero in SMCs. When it comes to energy efficiency in small and medium-sized cities, there is a significant need to break down silo thinking.

Explore: Webinar - Solutions for Low Noise Road Surfaces (06/02/2024)

The Commission is promoting a webinar to explain to local authorities, in simple and practical terms, what the possibilities are to use low-noise road surfaces, thanks to several past EU-funded projects and solutions engineered.

Explore: Join the Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking Info Session (13/02/2024)

Register for the info session and learn all about the matchmaking opportunities of the Marketplace as well as the ongoing call for applications and the Urban Transition Challenge.

Explore: Webinar - Como os municípios podem beneficiar de consultoria gratuita da Comissão Europeia? (28/02/2024)

O Smart Cities Marketplace, da Comissão Europeia, é uma iniciativa independente e não comercial, apoiada pela Comissão Europeia, que junta cidades, empresas e investidores com o propósito de tornar as cidades e comunidades mais resilientes, sustentáveis e inclusivas.

Explore: STARDUST Final Conference (28/02/2024)

Scalable Cities project STARDUST will be hosting its final event in Pamplona, Spain. STARDUST project is part of the Smart Cities and Communities family of project under the Scalable Cities.

Explore: ASCEND General Assembly (06/03/2024)

The ASCEND project organises its second General Assembly event which will be held in Munich. The event will be filled with plenary sessions and workshops focused on the progress and achievements of ASCEND Lighthouse and Multiplier cities in their quest to develop and replicate Positive Clean Energy Districts.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace @ 11th Procura+ Conference (13/03/2024)

This year the Smart Cities Marketplace will present at the 11th Procura+ conference covering the topic of "Procuring Smart Solutions".

Explore: Conference for Mayors (15/03/2024)

The Government of Flanders will gather 550 mayors and representatives of local governments to the conference “Translating the EU green deal to local action”, in Brussels, within the framework of the Belgian EU Presidency.

Explore: CHANGENOW 2024 CITIES PROGRAM (27/03/2024)

In the framework of its yearly summit gathering more than 35,000 impact changemakers from 120 countries, ChangeNOW has developed a dedicated day to mayors and cities representatives, the Sustainable Cities Program, where the Smart Cities Marketplace will join with experts and a stand.

Explore & Shape: Launch of the Green Cities Wiki on the Smart Cities Marketplace Website (28/11/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace is excited to announce the launch of the online version of the Smart City Guidance Package on its website called Green Cities Wiki.

Explore & Shape: Smart Cities Marketplace Financing Masterclass (28/11/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace's next financing masterclass will take place on 25 January 2024, in an online format. Join us!

Explore: Urban Reverb - What's new? (24/11/2023)

In this episode of Urban Reverb, important changes to the Smart Cities Marketplace such as the online wiki, Focus- and Discussion Groups as well as the matchmaking process are discussed.

Explore: Successful SCWEC showcases climate-neutral and smart cities initiatives (23/11/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace played a pivotal role, hosting a 120 square metre booth that brought together a diverse array of partners, totalling 31 platforms, initiatives, projects, and seven EC services – literally being the single booth bringing together the European dimension.

Explore: SCEWC 2023 congress session - Creating irresistible climate-neutral cities (24/11/2023)

Speakers from European cities and organisations discussed the pivotal role of cities in climate action. They highlighted the need for local-level initiatives and emphasised the importance of financial support.

Explore: SCEWC 2023 agora session - Cities challenges 2023 (23/11/2023)

During the agora session, speakers from European cities and organisations discussed the crucial role of cities in climate action. They emphasised the need for local-level initiatives.

Explore: SCEWC 2023 booth session - Matching needs with solutions (24/11/2023)

The booth session began with discussions on the EU Green Deal and the Smart Cities Marketplace's role in aiding smaller cities. Various presentations highlighted success stories and challenges in decarbonisation efforts, followed by group discussions to identify needs and potential solutions in digital mobility and energy-related topics.

Explore: SCEWC 2023 booth session - Quick wins through collaboration (24/11/2023)

This discussion stressed the importance of collaboration and cooperation among organisations dedicated to creating smart and climate-neutral cities, to foster more sustainable urban environments.

Explore: SCEWC 2023 Deep Retrofit Focus Group (23/11/2023)

This is a summary of the on-site meeting of the Smart Cities Marketplace's Deep Retrofit Focus Group at the Smart City World Expo in Barcelona in October 2023.

Explore: SCM webinar explores hydrogen integration (24/11/2023)

In response to the pressing challenges of urban decarbonisation, a recent webinar delved into the potential of hydrogen in city energy frameworks. It was organised by the Smart Cities Marketplace as part of the Urban Transition Challenge for Smart Cities 2023.

Explore: SCM webinar explores strategies for decarbonising mobility (24/11/2023)

On 24 October, in an insightful webinar “Empowering Cities - Decarbonising Mobility through Strategies, Success Stories, and Innovation” hosted by the Smart Cities Marketplace, experts and city representatives came together to discuss innovative strategies for decarbonising urban mobility.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace @ European Urban Resilience Forum (24/11/2023)

In addition to a stand presence in the EURESFO Marketplace, the Smart Cities Marketplace hosted a session titled ‘How to Finance Smart and Climate-Resilient Projects’, which took place during EURESFO’s Resilience Investment and Financing Forum on 19 October 2023. It was organised by consortium partner ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.

Explore: Empowering Cities: Smart Cities Marketplace and EDIHs Drive Digital Transformation (24/11/2023)

In a session held in October at the EU Week of Regions on 10 October 2023, the Smart Cities Marketplace, and the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) converged to present their roles as driving forces in the city journey towards climate neutrality.

Shape: The 3rd Call for Proposals of the Scalable Cities Action Grant is now open! (23/11/2023)

The Scalable Cities Action Grant is a financial tool to support the replication of measures already successfully tested in Smart Cities and Communities projects.

Explore: The First Scalable Cities Café (24/11/2023)

On October 30th, The Scalable Cities Secretariat hosted a “Scalable Cities Café”, the first of a series of online events aimed at exploring the activities that the Secretariat coordinates to foster cross-collaboration between stakeholders and cities.

Explore: Scalable Cities at the Smart City Expo World Congress (23/11/2023)

Between the 7th and 9th of November, a large delegation from the Scalable Cities Secretariat, alongside several projects from the SCC community attended the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona.

Explore: Wondering what the ASCEND project has been up to? (23/11/2023)

November brought a highlight as ASCEND proudly participated in the joint EU representation at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from 7 to 9 November. Alongside 30 other projects, initiatives and DGs, the event provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in knowledge sharing, and learn from other projects’ experiences.

Explore: Photo contest - Every1 can contribute to the energy transition (24/11/2023)

The EU-funded Every1 project has launched a photo contest under the motto “Every1 can contribute to the energy transition”. The project is calling for people to participate in the energy transition, green digital technologies and further energy transition motifs.

Explore: Mobility data spaces are taking off (24/11/2023)

Data spaces are transitioning from research projects, use case Proofs of Concept (PoCs) and limited demonstrations, to deployable and operational platforms. But what are these data spaces?

Explore: Empowering small and medium-sized cities (24/11/2023)

In the global pursuit of a sustainable future, small and medium-sized cities (SMCs) are stepping into the spotlight as key players in achieving net-zero emissions.

Explore: How can you measure innovation in a city? (24/11/2023)

Statistically, 80% of you will be reading this as a resident of a city. So, think of the city you are in – does it have a net zero target? And if so when does the city plan to be net zero? A highly ambitious 2030, or a more relaxed 2050?

Shape: SPARCS unveils comprehensive toolkit (24/11/2023)

Are you gearing up to host a startup competition and feeling overwhelmed by the many details that you need to manage? Look no further than the Startup Competition Toolkit from SPARCS, your comprehensive guide to organising a successful event that meets your objectives.

Deal: CEF Digital – A third call opening (24/11/2023)

A third CEF Digital call, worth over €240 million, opened with a deadline to apply by 20 February 2024. It aims to strengthen the deployment of ultra-fast, secure and sustainable digital infrastructures.

Explore: Launch of Focus Group on Smart Heating and Cooling (01/12/2023)

On behalf of the European Commission’s Smart Cities Marketplace, Euroheat & Power, ICLEI Europe and the RHC-ETIP Platform are launching a Focus Group on the topic of ‘Renewable Heating and Cooling’ in Smart Cities.

Explore: Webinar - Business models and financing for PCEDs (05/12/2023)

The primary aim of the webinar is to boost the collaboration and knowledge sharing on financing between ASCEND and NEUTRALPATH cities and enhance the EU-level collaboration with Scalable Cities and the SCC community. The registration for the webinar will be available through ASCEND and NEUTRALPATH social media channels.

Explore: Scalable Cities Roadshow - Financial Language for Public Administrations within the Smart City (11/01/2024)

Get ready for the Roadshow! Scalable Cities is launching an empowering financial capacity-building programme designed to support cities to acquire the knowledge they need to scale up their projects, obtain funding to boost their climate neutral strategies.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace Financing Masterclass (25/01/2024)

Once your project is submitted, you have the opportunity to participate in a free Masterclass focused on the bankability of the projects, and you will receive relevant insights and expertise from different stakeholders, including investors.

Explore: Conference for Mayors (15/03/2024)

The Government of Flanders will gather 550 mayors and representatives of local governments to the conference “Translating the EU green deal to local action” in Brussels, within the framework of the Belgian EU Presidency.

Explore: Solution Booklet for Public Procurement in Smart Cities (18/09/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace team is excited to introduce a new solution booklet dedicated to public procurement. It is available in English, French, and German, ensuring a wider reach and accessibility for stakeholders and decision-makers.

Explore: Unlocking Resilience - A Guide to Financing Solutions for Small-to-Middle Sized Cities (18/09/2023)

In addition to the solution booklet on public procurement, the Smart Cities Marketplace team published a Solution Booklet on financing solutions for small-to-middle sized cities.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace and Partners at Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona (31/08/2023)

From 7 to 9 November, the Smart Cities Marketplace team will take part in the Smart City Expo World Congress. Come visit the stand of more than 30 EU initiatives and projects and use the opportunity to take part in this year’s Smart Cities Marketplace forum.

Explore & Shape: Smart Cities Marketplace Discussion and Focus groups - First Call for Topics (14/09/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace invites everyone to join an open call for topics related to sustainable and smart cities. The SCM will facilitate voluntary Discussion and Focus groups around the selected topics. Join us!

Explore: Webinar - Empowering Cities - Decarbonising Mobility through Strategies, Success Stories, and Innovation (07/09/2023)

Together with the Smart Cities Marketplace, embark on the journey to sustainable urban mobility, hear about city success stories, master project financing, and discover innovative solutions on 24 October, 10-12 CEST.

Explore: Webinar - Introduction to Navigating Hydrogen Integration in Smart Cities (07/09/2023)

Join the Smart Cities Marketplace webinar on Hydrogen on 26 October, 10:00 - 12:00 CEST. In the face of the challenges posed by urban decarbonisation and the selection of sustainable energy solutions to effectively combat it, recognising the significance of hydrogen.

Explore: Transforming Urban Mobility - City of El Escorial and Don Cicleto Secure Technical Support from the Smart Cities Marketplace (21/09/2023)

In a groundbreaking meeting held on September 18, 2023, Don Cicleto, a pioneering mobility scale-up in Spain, joined forces with the city of El Escorial and the Smart Cities Marketplace to transform urban commuting patterns.

Shape: Share Your Insights - Help Shape the Smart Cities Marketplace Website (07/09/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace team values your input in making our website even better! We invite you to provide your valuable feedback and suggestions to enhance your experience.

Explore: Matchmaking Info Session - Recording available (14/09/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace hosted an informative session about their Matchmaking services on 7 September 2023. The Matchmaking services provide technical, financial, legal and governance-related support at no cost to cities and other stakeholders - so what are you waiting for?!

Explore: Propagating City Renewal at District Level - which Methods to Use? (07/09/2023)

A Scalable Cities Session at the Energy Cities Forum in Modena: Are you wondering how district approaches can help cities make a leap in energy transition, with whom to build the strategy, and where to start?

Explore: Small Giants Momentum Continues to Build (13/09/2023)

Small Giants Focus Group launched: The Small Giants initiative has been confirmed as the latest Focus Group as part of the Smart Cities Marketplace's community.

Shape: From “Global Boiling” to another Winter of Energy Crisis - Sustaining the Cities Energy Saving Sprint (13/09/2023)

As we emerge from one of the hottest summers on record, we must start preparing for another winter strained by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the consequent energy crisis. The growing hazards of climate change experienced this summer are exerting mounting pressure on local governments across Europe.

Explore: Energy Cities Annual Forum in Modena, Italy (07/09/2023)

The Energy Cities Annual Forum gathers many cities from across Europe and offers a rich agenda. This will be a unique session co-organised with projects ASCEND, Cities4PEDs and the Affordable Housing Initiative.

Explore: Every1 - Overview of Ecosystems (07/09/2023)

The Every1 Project recently published a Structured Overview of Ecosystems affected by the digitalisation of the Energy Transition. The report investigates how stakeholders are interconnected in ecosystems and the analysis results in a structured overview of the stakeholder networks' goals, members, activities, and outreach channels.

Shape: EP Think Thank publishes Guide to EU Funding 2023 Edition (07/09/2023)

The European Union extends financial support to regional and local authorities, NGOs, businesses, professionals, and citizens through an extensive array of funds. The European Parliamentary Research Service has compiled a comprehensive 'Guide to EU funding,'.

Explore: Curious about how Member States Have Developed legal Frameworks for Energy Communities? (13/09/2023)

The Energy Communities Repository has collected data from the European Union Member States on their existing policies and regulations for energy communities in the context of the Clean Energy Package.

Explore: Joint closing conference of the Energy Communities Repository and Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (13/09/2023)

The closing conference of the Energy Communities Repository and Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub will display inspirational examples from energy communities that have received technical assistance under the RECAH or ECR projects.

Explore: +CityxChange Final event with Scalable Cities - 2nd Call for Visitor Cities is now open! (03/10/2023)

This is an extraordinary opportunity for visitor cities to acquire invaluable insights into the cutting-edge solutions offered by the +CityxChange project. Immerse yourself in the firsthand experience of witnessing how these innovative solutions have been implemented in the demo sites, making significant contributions to the development of Positive Energy Districts.

Explore: The Smart Cities Marketplace at the European Week of Regions and Cities (09/10/2023)

Come and see us at the Smart Cities Marketplace stand and visit both of our sessions "EDIHs and Smart Cities Marketplace as catalysts of digitalization" on 10/10/2023, 09:30-10:30 CEST and "Access to finance for the local energy transition: how to move away from subsidies?" on 12/10/2023, 11:30 - 13:00 CEST.

Explore: Interested in 5G for Smart Communities? Join the Commission’s Conference on 11 October! (11/10/2023)

The conference will offer informative presentations by the European Commission on the 5G for Smart Communities action and the upcoming third CEF call for proposals, which is expected to open in October 2023.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace @ European Urban Resilience Forum (18/10/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace will host a session as part of the EURESFO Resilience Investment and Financing Forum on 19/10/2023, 12:00 - 13:15 CEST, titled ‘Financing smart and climate-resilient solutions’ which will delve into the crucial nexus of smart cities and resilience.

Explore: Webinar - Empowering Cities - Decarbonising Mobility through Strategies, Success Stories, and Innovation (24/10/2023)

The multi-disciplinary approach to the decarbonisation of mobility, facilitated by the Smart Cities Marketplace team, will enable you to learn from thought leaders, cities, and innovators, providing you with the right tools to shape cities and the way we move.

Explore: RE-energising Europe - Discussions, high-level Panels, Poster Session and Field Visit Organised by 7 EU-Funded Projects! (24/10/2023)

Taking place in Brussels (Atelier 29) on 24-25 October, the event is bringing together speakers from EU institutions, project representatives and key players of the energy market.

Explore: Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum 2023 (25/10/2023)

Join the 2023 edition of the Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum - Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place that will take place in Brussels. The Smart Cities Marketplace will participate with a session "The role of Positive Energy Districts in the ongoing energy transition in urban areas" on 25/10/2023, 13:30 - 14:30 CEST. Discover the pivotal role of Positive Energy Districts in urban energy transition.

Explore: Webinar - Introduction to Navigating Hydrogen Integration in Smart Cities (26/10/2023)

Find out how hydrogen can be part of a city’s energy system, the lessons learned from hydrogen projects and its financing options.

Explore: Smart City Expo World Congress & Smart Cities Marketplace Forum (07/11/2023)

Held in Barcelona since 2011, the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) is the world’s biggest and most influential event for cities and urban innovation.Please note that the annual Smart Cities Marketplace Forum will also take place at the Smart City Expo World Congress this year.

Explore: Joint closing conference of the Energy Communities Repository and Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (10/11/2023)

The closing conference of the Energy Communities Repository and Riral Energy Community Advisory Hub will display inspirational examples from energy communities that have received technical assistance under the RECAH or ECR projects.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace Financing Master Class (16/11/2023)

The master class will be organised following the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona on 07-09 November 2023. In the context of the Smart Cities Marketplace matchmaking services, representatives of city administrations and smart city project developers are invited to submit their project ideas.

Explore: POWER UP YOUR CITY - A Summit on Policy Guidelines for Positive Energy Districts (16/11/2023)

This Making City event is dedicated to policy guidelines for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and is aimed at professionals implementing carbon-free energy solutions. You can learn from the lighthouse city of Oulu and gain valuable insights into PEDs implementation, best practices and lessons learned.

Explore: The annual Smart Cities Marketplace Forum - part of something big! (24/07/2023)

This year's edition of the Smart Cities Marketplace Forum will be a part of the joint EC representation at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona on 07-09 November 2023.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace and Partners at Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona (24/07/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace team is happy to announce that we are again part of the Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s biggest and most influential event for cities and urban innovation, which will take place from 7-9 November 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

Shape & Deal: SCWEC Smart Cities Challenges - Apply now! (24/07/2023)

Key partner of the Smart City Expo World Congress, Catalonia Trade and Investment, together with GOOSE project, the EEN and the Smart Cities Marketplace, organises its main Brokerage Event - Smart Cities' Challenges.

Deal: City of Bydgoszcz Secures Technical Support for Ambitious Renewable Energy Project from Smart Cities Marketplace (24/07/2023)

The City of Bydgoszcz, located in northern Poland, has made significant progress towards its sustainable development goals. Recently, the city's project application for technical assistance and consultancy services from the Smart Cities Marketplace was approved.

Explore: Key take aways - Citizen Engagement: Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition (24/07/2023)

With a particular emphasis on citizen engagement, affordable housing, energy efficiency, and digitalisation, this webinar as part of the EUSEW sustainable energy days served as a platform for exchanging ideas and forging partnerships to shape the future of urban environments.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace featured at the Urban Futures Conference (24/07/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace was present at this year’s Urban Futures Conference, held in Stuttgart, Germany from 21 - 23 June 2023.

Explore: Discover our Digital Brochure 2023 (24/07/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace as an initiative of the European Commission is constantly evolving and so is our digital brochure. Discover the most fascinating and important information about the Marketplace all in one location.

Explore: Looking back at Polis Mobility, Cologne (24/07/2023)

Smart Cities Marketplace (SCM) actively participated in the polisMOBILITY conference held in Cologne, Germany from 24th to 26th May 2023, in collaboration with its consortium partner, EIT Urban Mobility. The main focus of the event was on the four pillars: Engage, Explore, Shape, and Deal.

Shape: Scalable Cities Action Grant first round of projects are under way! (24/07/2023)

The Scalable Cities Action Grant financially supports cities and ad-hoc partnerships that wish to replicate measures that were successfully implemented through SCC projects to facilitate the transition towards climate neutrality.

Shape: Accelerating Digital Transformation the European Way - Living-in.EU Movement (24/07/2023)

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Living-in.EU movement has emerged as a powerful force, supporting cities and communities across Europe in their journey towards digital transformation.

Explore & Shape: Citizen-led renovation - Four pilot energy communities selected and homepage launched (26/07/2023)

The support service for citizen-led renovation is proud to announce the four winners of the open call for support to set up renovation services.

Explore: Systemic Changes in Governance Infographics (24/07/2023)

As part of the Smart Cities and Communities initiative, designed and supported by the European Commission and funded by Horizon 2020, European cities have become laboratories of change to develop innovative climate solutions and pilot new ways of living and working.

Explore: Positive Developments for Small Giants Group Discussed at City Workshop (24/07/2023)

In a recent workshop held on June 22nd, city representatives and numerous small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) guests convened to review and discuss the significant achievements of the Small Giants group during the first half of 2023.

Shape: EIT Urban Mobility and Bosch collaborate to shape the future of mobility (24/07/2023)

Smart Cities Marketplace consortium member, EIT Urban Mobility is pleased to announce the support of Bosch’s challenge-based open innovation programme “digital.auto”. This strategic collaboration aims to support Bosch and its partners in identifying innovative solutions and engaging the brightest developers to drive the future of mobility.

Explore & Shape: 5G Connectivity to improve digital services (24/07/2023)

5G connectivity has the potential to improve all kinds of digital services. Opting for the right type of connectivity is becoming increasingly crucial and at the same time challenging for local decision-makers.

Explore: European Project kicks-off to build a universal method for battery discharge for a wide range of Electrical Vehicles (24/07/2023)

More than 170 0000 tons of batteries will have reached their end of life in 2030 in Europe alone. Extending their lifespan and feeding valuable materials back into the economy at their end is crucial to reducing their environmental impact.

Explore: LIFE CALL 2023 NOW OPEN (24/07/2023)

New funding opportunities for actors on local and regional levels across Europe. The Clean Energy Transition sub-programme of LIFE is dedicated to facilitating the transition towards an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and resilient economy.

Explore: Every1 Project Consortium meets at first 2023 General Assembly (24/07/2023)

On June 9, 2023, the Every1 Project Consortium held an online meeting to update all stakeholders on their recent accomplishments and upcoming plans. Partners from across Europe took part in discussions regarding project developments, including updates on each Work Package.

Explore: Winning the Race to Net-Zero - Insights from the ManagEnergy Talk (24/07/2023)

For this edition, ManagEnergy has invited Jens Burchardt, Boston Consulting Group’s Managing Director and global expert on climate impact. He shared why it makes sense for private companies to accelerate their own energy transition.

Explore: Harnessing Talent Platform - A new boost for EU Regions (24/07/2023)

The Harnessing Talent Platform (HTP) is a newly formed knowledge-building and experience-exchange platform, which seeks to support regions in addressing the consequences of the demographic change and in mitigating the challenges associated with the decline of tertiary educated populations across the EU.

Explore: Join the Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking Info Session (07/09/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace invites all stakeholders to take part in a matchmaking info session on 07 September from 15:00-16:00 CEST.

Explore: International Forum on Urban Digital Twins (12/09/2023)

ASCEND would like to invite you to the International Forum On Urban Digital Twins taking place in Munich. The event is organised by the Landeshauptstadt München and the Technical University of Munich and will focus on the current status of the digital twins in cities.

Explore: REAL CORP 2023 (18/09/2023)

28th International Conference on Urban Planning and Regional Development in the Information Society.

Explore: NEUTRALPATH - Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement for PCEDs and climate neutrality workshop (18/09/2023)

NEUTRALPATH’s first thematic workshop will be hosted in Zaragoza and will be dedicated to Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement for PCEDs and climate neutrality.

Explore: URBIS SMART CITY FAIR (19/09/2023)

URBIS SMART CITY FAIR brings a clever combination of the fair with an exclusive conference program, which will introduce the leaders in the field of Smart city.

Explore: +CityxChange Final event with Scalable Cities (03/10/2023)

This is an extraordinary opportunity for visitor cities to acquire invaluable insights into the cutting-edge solutions offered by the +CityxChange project.

Explore: European Week of Regions and Cities (09/10/2023)

The European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) is the biggest annual Brussels-based event dedicated to cohesion policy.

Explore: RE-energising Europe (24/10/2023)

Discussions, high-level panels, poster session and field visit organised by 7 EU-funded projects taking place in Brussels (Atelier 29) on 24-25 October, the event is bringing together speakers from EU institutions, project representatives and key players of the energy market.

Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum 2023 (25/10/2023)

Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum 2023

Explore: Smart City Expo World Congress & Smart Cities Marketplace Forum (07/11/2023)

Held in Barcelona since 2011, Smart City Expo World Congress is the world’s biggest and most influential event for cities and urban innovation. Every year, leaders gather from the most innovative companies, governments and organisations to move cities towards a better future.

Explore: Save the Date - 15th Citizens' Energy Forum (09/11/2023)

The Citizens' Energy Forum meets on an annual basis and aims to explore consumers' perspective and role in a competitive, 'smart', energy-efficient and fair energy retail market.

Explore: Hot off the press - the new Smart Cities Marketplace brochure (19/05/2023)

Learn all about the Smart Cities Marketplace in our latest brochure. Focusing on the concept of ENGAGE; EXPLORE, SHAPE and DEAL the brochure outlines all engagement possibilities for cities and towns of all sizes.

Explore: Cities Forum Torino - a joined success (22/05/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace had a successful showing at the Cities Forum 2023 in Torino, Italy. The Smart Cities Marketplace partnered up with the Covenant of Mayors Europe and the European Green City Accord for a joint stand at the Cities Forum Torino.

Explore: EUSEW Energy Fair joint stand (23/05/2023)

Brussels is gearing up for the EUSEW Energy Fair, where the Covenant of Mayors, Covenant of Companies, and Smart Cities Marketplace are joining forces on a joint stand.

Explore: Workshop Explores Smart City Financing Strategies for a Sustainable Future (23/05/2023)

In a quest to unlock the climate neutrality potential of Smart City projects, a workshop was held yesterday as part of the PolisMobility conference in Cologne, bringing together a city representative, an investor, and the representative of a mobility startup.

Explore: EUSEW Energy Day: Citizen Engagement - Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition (23/05/2023)

In the context of RePowerEU, realising a citizen-led or citizen’s community approach to renovation can break the mammoth challenge of retrofitting millions of buildings into more manageable initiatives, conducted at the community level.

Explore: Update and translations of Solution Booklets now available! (22/05/2023)

We are thrilled to announce that the Solution Booklets on E-Buses, Urban Freight Logistics and Building Envelope Retrofit are have been updated and are now also available in French and German translations.

Shape: Make a Pledge - Covenant of Companies launches campaign (22/05/2023)

The Covenant of Companies invites environmentally-conscious businesses in the European Union to reduce their fossil energy footprint by pledging to join their community.

Explore: Latest ongoing projects - the "Scalable Cities Roadshow" (22/05/2023)

The Roadshow consists of 30 tailored capacity-building activities (either training, peer-to-peer, or training) supporting cities finance cities' solutions or to deploy innovative financial schemes and bridge the financial gap.

Explore: How european cities are turning the energy crisis into an opportunity (22/05/2023)

The 2023 Covenant of Mayors Conference showcases how local leaders are carrying out the EU’s objectives of energy sovereignty and climate neutrality, and what they need to continue leading the way.

Deal: EUCF opens call on clean energy investments (22/05/2023)

With the new call by The European City Facility (EUCF) 70 local governments can receive €60,000. A total of 70 European municipalities or local authorities, their groupings and local public entities aggregating municipalities and local authorities will benefit from a new call launched by the European City Facility.

Explore: Eyes Hearts Hands Project helps built-up areas become sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically beautiful (11/05/2023)

Can built spaces be sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful all at the same time? The answer is yes. The EU-funded project Eyes Hearts Hands Urban Revolution (EHHUR) will make this possible by developing and testing a robust co-design methodology for 7 Lighthouses.

Explore: How is your country progressing in energy efficiency? (22/05/2023)

FEDARENE warmly invites you to participate in an EU-wide survey on the progress of energy efficiency in the last years in your country. Your opinion counts! By taking part in the survey, you will be making an important contribution to energy efficiency efforts in Europe.

Explore: GovTech Connect Boot camps | Open calls (22/05/2023)

The GovTech team is excited to be launching applications for the GovTech Connect Boot camps! They are on the hunt for GovTech start-ups across Northern and Southern Europe to take part in our 4 week-accelerated and intensive training programmes.

Shape: A new three-stage model - how to manage energy communities and grid constraints (11/05/2023)

Renewable energy communities (REC) are one of the essential drivers for a successful energy transition since they provide the means to match local demand and supply and promote local renewable generation.

Explore: Knowledge-exchange community for '5G for Smart Communities' (22/05/2023)

The networking and knowledge-exchange community for '5G for Smart Communities' is a platform connecting stakeholders involved in 5G projects. It provides valuable information about upcoming calls, networking opportunities, and support materials to enable the successful implementation of 5G solutions in Smart Communities.

Shape: Launch of the Citizen-Led Renovation project and open call for participation (22/05/2023)

‘Citizen-Led Renovation’ is a new EU initiative aiming to empower energy communities and put citizens in the driver’s seat for energy-saving renovation projects. Its support service will strengthen community building and assist in replicating programmes for energy renovations of buildings.

Explore: Making City - Solar foodpath opens in Groningen (22/05/2023)

On Friday 24 March, the first 400 m2 Dutch solar footpath for pedestrians at the Europapark was opened by Alderman for Energy Transition, Philip Broeksma as part of the MAKING-CITY project.

Explore: From positive energy districts to climate neutral cities (22/05/2023)

On 29 and 30 March Scalable Cities Secretariat and the MAtchUP project organised a number of key sessions dealing with the pressing issues and challenges cities are facing in the race to reach the Net Zero.

Shape: Madrid - Piloting a sustainable last-mile delivery system (19/05/2023)

Our Smart Cities Marketplace colleagues from EIT Urban Mobility have published another one of their noted Best Practice Essentials. The program aims to assess the economic, social, and environmental impact of the solution for potential long-term integration and to address urban mobility challenges effectively.

Explore: REHOUSE at the Institut National de l'Énergie Solaire (19/05/2023)

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) played host to the REHOUSE consortium at the Institut National de l'Énergie Solaire (INES) headquarters in Le Bourget-du-Lac, France, on May 10-11.

Explore: Every1 completed extended stakeholder and ecosystem mapping task (19/05/2023)

The Extended Stakeholder and Ecosystem Mapping Task has now been submitted. The report shows how the range of stakeholders can be supported in the digitalising energy system, which will inform further steps in the Every1 project.

Shape: ATELIER - Energy communities in Kraków! (19/05/2023)

On the 19th of April 2023, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow officially opened the conference introducing the series of workshops dedicated to developing energy communities called “Possibilities of creating energy communities in Krakow”.

Explore: EUSEW Sustainable Energy Days: Citizen Engagement - Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition (05/06/2023)

Join us for an engaging and informative webinar as we dive into how citizen engagement can help the energy transition and reach the goals of the RePowerEU plan.

Explore: Clean energy for EU islands Forum 2023 (06/06/2023)

In 2023 we will select 30 islands that want to become fully renewable by 2030. Achieving fully renewable-energy-powered islands is the North Star objective for the third phase of the Clean energy for EU island secretariat. At the #CE4EUislands forum 2023, we will discuss all the building blocks to be able to achieve that ambition.

Explore: Living-in.EU Mayors' Digital Assembly 2023 (15/06/2023)

The Living-in.EU movement organises its first EU Mayors Digital Assembly in Brussels, in the framework of the Brussels Urban Summit 2023. The Mayors' Digital Assembly is the political advisory body which provides strategic orientation to the Living-in.EU movement.

Explore: European Sustainable Energy Week (20/06/2023)

EUSEW returns in a hybrid format, in Brussels and online. It comprises a high-level Policy Conference, the EUSEW Awards, and the fourth European Youth Energy Day as well as opportunities to forge connections with the EUSEW community at the Energy Fair.

Explore: Recording available - Smart Cities Marketplace Call for Applications Info Session (16/03/2023)

We are excited to announce that the Smart Cities Marketplace recently held an informative session regarding the call for applications for their matchmaking services.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: We are here to help! (27/03/2023)

The first matchmaking event of the Smart Cities Marketplace took place online on 21 March 2023. With over 60 meetings booked via the online platform during the matchmaking slots, the event was a success for the Marketplace.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: How to join and cooperate within the Investor Network (28/03/2023)

A panel discussion among representatives from Smart Cities Marketplace, Covenant of Mayors, European Cities Facility, EIT Urban Mobility and Suma Capital.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: How to prepare a bankable project (29/03/2023)

Smart Cities Marketplace Experts explained the support available to achieve climate neutrality through matchmaking events, financial masterclasses, and one-to-one consultancy services. They highlighted the importance of involving multiple stakeholders.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: Accelerating city-business cooperation (28/03/2023)

This session focused on the market engagement process in public procurement and described the opportunities for sustainable public procurement in smart city project development.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: Inspiring projects & strategic approaches to accelerate investment to power cities sustainably (29/03/2023)

Presentations of a selection of inspiring projects were given followerd by a discussion about strategic approaches to accelerate investment in projects to power cities sustainably network with innovators and prospect project ideas.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: The future is green (28/03/2023)

In this session, presentations of successful implementations of mobility solutions that increase air quality, reduce congestion and promote multimodality were given.

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace, Spring Matchmaking: Inspiring traffic & fleet real live implementations for cleaner, better-connected cities (28/03/2023)

In this session, the participants got to know three EIT Urban Mobility-supported products that have worked with cities to promote smart EV charging, improve traffic flow, and implement dynamic public transport.

Shape: Join the Smart Cities Marketplace (22/03/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace helps cities and towns of all sizes to deliver more sustainable urban environments and offers all the information needed to explore, shape and set up successful smart city projects – in one place.

Explore: Cities Forum Torino - a joined success (29/03/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace had a successful showing at the Cities Forum 2023 in Torino, Italy. The Smart Cities Marketplace partnered up with the Covenant of Mayors Europe and the European Green City Accord for a joint stand at the Cities Forum Torino.

Shape: Getting to Climate Neutrality - 53 Pilot Cities Offer a Path Toward Transformation (16/03/2023)

Fifty-three cities from across twenty-one European Union and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries have been invited to embark upon unprecedented climate action, through the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme, managed by the Mission Platform of the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities (EU Cities Mission).

Explore: Covenant of Mayors Podcast Episode 3 - How to assess the impact of climate measures? (21/03/2023)

In the third episode of the podcast series on adaptation, the Covenant of Mayorsbrought in a technical expert, environmental engineering Ion Sola Torralba, to help us tackle the complex question of assessing adaptation.

Explore: The METABUILDING platform - Innovating Together for a Sustainable Built Environment. Join and register now! (21/03/2023)

The METABUILDING innovation ecosystem brings together stakeholders from construction and 4 emerging industrial sectors; recycling & circularity, additive manufacturing, nature-based solutions and digital industry.

Explore: Applications now open for ICC 2.0! (27/03/2023)

The Expression of Interest for the second phase of the Intelligent Cities Challenge is now open! Apply now to accelerate the Twin Transition in your city and join one of the EU’s largest city support programmes.

Shape: Atelier - Energy Austerity Measures in Riga (21/03/2023)

One of the consequences of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine taking place on the other side of Latvia's borders has been to precipitate what is shaping to be a real energy crisis, after a dramatic rise in energy prices affecting every single resident of Riga city.

Explore: Enable eVeryone's Engagement in the eneRgY transitiON (Every1) (21/03/2023)

Launched in late 2022, the EU-funded Enable eVeryone's Engagement in the eneRgY transitiON (Every1) project is dedicated to developing training and networks for the digitalisation of the energy transition.

Explore: Masterclasses on smart city financing (20/04/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace offers masterclasses aiming to bridge the ‘Shape’ and ‘Deal’ phases focusing on the financial aspects, by providing knowledge for improving the maturity of a project idea from the point of view of its value-for-money, affordability, and bankability assessments.

Explore: polisMOBILITY (24/05/2023)

polisMOBILITY is the international event that takes a whole-system approach to the future of mobility and urban life. The Smart Cities Marketplace will offer its matchmaking services to participants of the conference. Meet us at the EIT Urban Mobility stand, book a free 1on1 meeting with the matchmaking team via the ticket system of the event and join our financing workshop in the speaker lounge. More info coming soon

Explore: Smart Cities Marketplace publishes Solution Booklets (25/01/2023)

Technologies and markets are ever changing, particularly in times like this. Thus, the Smart Cities Marketplace team has reviewed its solution booklets “Solution Booklet E-Bus”, “Solution Booklet Building Envelope Retrofit”, “Solution Booklet Urban Freight Logistics”.

Explore & Shape: Open the curtain for Discussion and Focus groups (24/01/2023)

The Smart Cities Marketplace would like to introduce the concept of Discussion and Focus groups to guide peer exchange and support cities in their smart development.

Deal: Smart Cities Marketplace takes part in Investors Dialogue on Energy (19/01/2023)

The First Plenary Meeting of the Investors Dialogue on Energy aimed to update stakeholders on the platform’s work, particularly at developments and initiatives related to the implementation of the REPowerEU plan.

Explore: Let’s recap (20/01/2023)

The incredible undertaking of the joint presence of European Smart Cities and Communities projects at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2022. 28 different European projects and initiatives joined forces with representatives from the European Commission to present cross-cutting innovative solutions, policies, and best practices with the overall aim to achieve climate neutrality.

Explore: Implementing inclusive ±15-Minute City Concepts (19/01/2023)

Researchers from Munich shed new light on the accessibility and inclusion debate in urban mobility. Taking Carlos Moreno’s 15-Minute City concept as a starting point, nurtured by the latest insights from recent experiments.

Explore: A peek at the Energy Communities of the Future (19/01/2023)

During the Covid 19-induced lockdown in 2020, many of us were busy trying to bake sourdough bread and ordering yoga mats. Marco Bailo, the mayor of Magliano Alpi, a commune of 2200 inhabitants in Italy’s Piedmont region, had a different idea.

Explore & Shape: First Wave of Projects selected for Co-funding 5G Connectivity Infrastructures (19/01/2023)

Following the first Connecting Europe Facility – Digital (CEF Digital) call for proposals at the beginning of 2022, the Commission selected seven projects that will deploy 5G connectivity and enable innovative use cases for public services and services of general interest.

Explore: Small Giants go big in Barcelona (25/01/2023)

The Barcelona Smart City EXPO and World Congress (SCEWC) included an Agora session on 15th November: "Small Giants" – Collaborating to Transform Mobility Habits.

Explore & Shape: Madrid becomes first major European city with a 100% clean bus fleet! (20/01/2023)

Congratulations, Madrid! The City Council's efforts, together with EMT, the Municipal Transport Company of Madrid, have made it possible to ensure that 100% of Madrid’s bus fleet is green and in compliance with the EU's Clean Vehicles Directive.

Explore & Shape: How to implement a circular transition in your city? (20/01/2023)

Cities can be key to drive circular change. That is why the European Investment Bank has set up a specific competency and resource just for cities: the Circular City Centre. Its aim is to to support EU cities in their circular economy transition.

Explore & Shape: #CE4EUislands Studies on Regulatory Barriers in Seven European Countries (20/01/2023)

After two years of research, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat published a series of studies accompanied by booklets on regulatory barriers and recommendations for the clean energy transition on EU islands concerning seven EU member states.

Explore & Shape: Welcome to CIVINET Iberia and CIVINET Polska (20/01/2023)

Through an open call, CIVITAS made one-off “kick-start funding” available to support the re-activation of CIVINET secretariats in France, Poland, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, or in one or more language areas covering these countries.

Explore & Shape: Be part of something BIG – Open Call for Innovators (20/01/2023)

During the oPEN Lab project, the oPEN Living Labs in Tartu, Pamplona, and Genk are working on Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PENs). These PENs can serve as a testing ground for new market-ready technologies that can operate in combination with other technologies to tackle the challenges of our time. Join the Open Call.

Explore & Shape: +CityxChange LHC Limerick’s Citizens’ Observatory (20/01/2023)

Citizen engagement is key to successful energy transitions, with citizens playing critical roles in co-developing localized solutions and adapting behaviours.

Explore: Making-City has been featured in a new Publication! (20/01/2023)

The MAKING-CITY project has been featured in a new publication “Lessons Learned from Positive Energy District (PED) Projects: Cataloguing and Analysing Technology Solutions in Different Geographical Areas in Europe” as part of the energies special issue Advanced Energy Systems in Zero/Positive Energy Buildings, Communities and Districts.

Explore: Cities Forum 2023 (16/03/2023)

The Cities Forum is a biennial event of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy. For this edition, our host is Torino, a city with a vast history in urban transformation due to its transition from factory town to a city of knowledge, culture and innovation.

Explore: Standing on the shoulders of giant's journey (29/03/2023)

A Scalable Cities community event hosted by the two Smart City Projects MatchUP and Making Cities together with the City of Valencia - Standing on the shoulders of giant's journey. From Positive Energy Districts to Climate Neutral Cities. How to scale up our technologies and solutions

Impressions from the Smart City Expo World Congress 2022 (28/11/2022)

🎄🎅🤶❄️⛄️🔵🗻🎁🛷⛷️⛸️🌲🌨️🌠💨☕️🫖🍰🏂🍾🍬🎀📦🎆👼🥶

European Smart Cities and Communities in Barcelona (28/11/2022)

The Smart Cities Marketplace and Scalable Cities were spearheading the organisation and management with 7 commission DGs/Agencies and 28 projects and initiatives funded under the EC to bring forth a joint presence of projects named “European Smart Cities and Communities”. 🎄🎅🤶❄️🛷⛷️🍾🍬🎀📦🎆👼🥶⛸️🌲🌨️🌠💨☕️🫖🍰🏂⛄️🔵🗻🎁