Walas presents at EIP-SCC 2018

The city of Sofia Bulgaria hosted the 2018 general assembly of the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC) on June 27 and 28, 2018. Walas presented our vision on sustainable cities and communities, how to bring innovations together in an integrated system, and how that transforms actual projects on the level of city neighbourhoods.

The European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC) is a major undertaking supported by the European Commission. It brings together cities, industries, SMEs, investors, researchers and other smart city actors.

Lots of interesting talks were heard at round-table sessions, presentations, and discussion groups. Dutch architect Rene Wnasdronk shared the process of coming up with a system where a water column can store energy in houses and office buildings. A discussion group about mobility was led by Nissan Motor Group, and they explained their vision on an e-mobility ecosystem. It is a combination of renewable energy production, mobility services like car sharing, energy storage and transport, and a fleet of non-fossil fuel powered vehicles.

Walas Presents

Walas gave three presentations; one on Carbon6 and the gradual redevelopment of of an old office building, one on CarbonBlue and energy transitions, and one on gradual finance and how that worked in the Carbon6 project. Our message focused on our comprehensive approach to technical, ecological, economical and social innovations for successful sustainable urban development. This contrasted with the other presentations focused on strategies and policies. Like our hero Jan Tinbergen pointed out: each policy needs an actionable tool. In the end it is about action and doing the work.

In conclusion, it is clear that Europe is leading in developing innovations that can help cities to become a sustainable settlement for people. It as also clear that there are plenty of funds available to finance them all. There is also an opportunity around the allocation of funds to local projects for ecological, economical and social innovations. This is Walas in action!

-Team Walas