Over the past 10 years we have witnessed significant interest in and implementation of Smart Cities across the world. This advancement was mainly driven by the introduction of IoT and communication technologies which enabled the installation and interconnection of numerous sensors and systems. These technologies have assisted Municipalities to become Smart Cities by gathering and processing data to benefit citizens and society.
We are now witnessing the emergence of the next generation of Smart Cities – so called METACITIES – mainly across Europe. This evolution is driven by the introduction of Digital Twins, more advanced communication technologies such as 5G, Mobile Edge Computing, and LEO satellites, as well as immersive technologies (MR, XR). We are pleased to observe that several regional projects across Europe are exploring new technologies and paving the way towards the next generation of Smart Cities.
Such programs include (a) the Metacities Excellence Hub in South-Eastern Europe with partners from Greece, Bulgaria, and Cyprus, (b) the MetaCities Project in the Baltic area with partners from Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia and Poland (c) Smart partnership “METACITY – OUR FUTURE LIFE” involving a cross-sectoral Metacity ecosystem of Latvia (d) the Italian Ecosystem.
Recognizing the diversity of partners and activities involved in these programs, p-NET and the partners of the Metacities Excellence Hub in South-Eastern Europe took the initiative to organize a co-creation event during the 5G Techritory Forum in Riga, Latvia, on October 30, 2024, where representatives from all ecosystems were invited. The objectives of the co-creation event were to:
- Understand the objectives, initiatives and activities of each project.
- Exchange best practices as well as ideas for collaboration and interconnection.
- Brainstorm possibilities for a more connected and integrated path forward.
The event was successful and brought together representatives from the various programs. The main outcome was the significant interest expressed by numerous organizations in connecting with partners, sharing best practices, exchanging ideas, and, most importantly, establishing the European Metacities Partnership.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the participating organizations, indicating their strong commitment to maintaining connections and fostering collaboration in a more structured and organized manner. With the signing of this MoU, the European Metacities Partnership has officially been launched, paving the way for several planned activities to initiate collaborative efforts.
As part of the agreement, we aim to reach out to additional relevant ecosystems and invite them to join this partnership. Some of the target organizations and associations include:
- OpenARCloud
- OIA (Oulu Innovation Alliance)
- LTU, Sweden (Botnia Living Lab)
- EdTechHub Accelerator
- Metaverse Standards Forum
We have furthermore agreed that the European Metacities Partnership should create a Task Force to pursue funding opportunities in the context of private funding as well as EC and Regional/National R&I funding programs.
Marios Nicolaou, Business Development Director, p-NET