In today's urban environment, innovation and sustainability are essential in order to address environmental, economic, and social challenges. Cities around the world are experiencing rapid technological and demographic development, requiring creative solutions for balanced and sustainable growth. Innovation introduces new ideas and technologies that improve the quality of life, while sustainability involves practices that meet current needs without compromising those of the future. Incorporating these dynamics, cities can become more livable, efficient, and resilient spaces. Can growth and sustainability coexist? Yes, through well-planned and technologically advanced strategies. Like these.
Copenhagen (Denmark - Europe): water as a smart source
The Danish capital is a benchmark for its innovative tourism offerings and high quality of life. A green city at the forefront of sustainability and innovation, it has embraced its transformation into a smart city with a visionary long-term outlook. From zero-impact neighborhoods with avant-garde design to the careful preservation of its historic buildings and traditions. With over 400 kilometers of bike paths and a goal of becoming Carbon-zero by the end of 2025, Copenhagen has adopted Smart Water Management, which monitors and optimizes water use, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
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Amsterdam (Netherlands - Europe): the most bike-friendly city in the world
Bikes are known to play a fundamental role here. Also known as the city of bicycles since the number of bicycles is greater than that of its inhabitants, thanks to a decades-long campaign that has designed the roads around the needs of cyclists, not motorists. Today it has a complex network of bike paths, some 800 kilometers in length, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. In addition to supporting the use of electric bicycles, Amsterdam is committed to becoming a zero-waste city by 2050, promoting the reuse and recycling of materials.
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Seoul (South Korea - Asia) and the growth of scaleups
South Korea and innovation are a combination that we will be hearing about more and more.
According to "Tech Scaleup South Korea Report 2022" by Mind the Bridge, the scaleup ecosystem in South Korea has reached a level that puts the country on par with some of Europe's major economies. In Korea, science and technology play a central role in political, economic, and social life. In recent years, the government has been pushing hard toward funding policies that prioritize both basic science and applied research. This explains the explosion of start-ups such as Riiid, which specializes in artificial intelligence used in educational applications, and Lunit, a scaleup in the healthcare sector which uses artificial intelligence to develop advanced medical diagnosis solutions, improving accuracy in the detection of diseases such as cancer.
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Singapore (Singapore - Asia) the Smart Nation
Southeast Asia's technological capital focused on the electronic, IT, telecommunications, and biotechnology sectors. A unique urban model that is rapidly heading towards becoming a major smart city, like one giant brain. But that's not all, for in 2014 it launched its program to become a smart nation, where the information produced by its citizens is processed and reused in various economic sectors as well as in public administration.
In 2022, Singapore implemented plans to build a network of 100 million smart devices linked together via a wireless network to collect and then process data, including pedestrian and vehicular road traffic, pollution levels, and weather conditions in the city.
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Tokyo (Japan - Asia) where tradition meets innovation
A captivating megalopolis, as well as the world's largest urban agglomeration economy. With its new slogan proclaiming "Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New", it's no coincidence that it offers the world's leading technology and towering skyscrapers hiding quiet gardens and ancient temples. Increasingly, it is a laboratory for the development of new trends and technologies, thanks to its unique nature of continuously evolving entertainment culture and technologies while still knowing how to carry on the ancient traditions of the past. Among many examples is the Kashiwa-no-ha neighborhood, which aims to become a model low-carbon city, with energy-efficient buildings and a smart grid infrastructure for energy management.
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Vancouver (Canada - North America): a zero-emissions future
Vancouver is one of the greenest cities in the world, with ambitious goals to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy. By 2040, Vancouver aims to obtain 100% of its energy from renewable sources. Its neighborhoods are designed to be walkable and bikeable, and the city has invested significantly in public transportation infrastructure, such as the SkyTrain network, one of the most advanced public transportation systems in North America.
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Shanghai (China - Asia) uses renewable energy
The city has made enormous investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Projects such as the Shanghai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, are examples of sustainable architecture that use state-of-the-art technologies to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact. The city boasts one of the world's most extensive and modern metro networks, spanning more than 830 kilometers, with trains using environmentally friendly technologies to reduce carbon emissions. The city is also developing numerous parks and green spaces, such as the Huangpu River Park, which also contribute to improving air quality and reducing the heat island effect.