INTRO
Do you know that Internet of Things may be considered as the arrival of new disruption? Or do you know what cloud computing is? There are many questions that we can ask in terms of smart cities and where smart cities technologies could be used. That is why we have created a number of blog articles which you can have a peek at and to grasp a pretty good idea of what applications for smart cities technologies exist.
By smart city technologies we mean technologies that refer to the concept of a smart city, most often – digital and/or data-based technologies applicable in the real conditions of the city and contribute to the city’s coping with public challenges.
By smart city technologies we mean technologies that refer to the concept of a smart city, most often – digital and/or data-based technologies applicable in the real conditions of the city and contribute to the city’s coping with public challenges.
About "Smart by Design"
The aim of the project is to develop the competences of SME managers and owners to drive smart disruptive technology business. The duration of the project is two years, starting in October 2019. The project will provide a map of digital disruptive technologies and a training programme for smart disruptive innovation. The project embraces 3 very important elements: Design thinking, Technology, Smart innovation.
In our Smart by Design Newsletter 1 we have presented information about the target groups of the project as well as what outputs we are aiming to deliver. For more information on these, click here. There you will also find more about our partners and what they specialize in.
In our Smart by Design Newsletter 1 we have presented information about the target groups of the project as well as what outputs we are aiming to deliver. For more information on these, click here. There you will also find more about our partners and what they specialize in.
Webinar "Smart Technologies by Design"
On October 15th we organised the “Smart Technologies By Design” Webinar for the presentation of market-oriented technological solutions in the field of Smart Cities.
The webinar was aimed at managers and professionals of organizations in the ICT sector, active in the change and transformation of their processes, products or services, who seek, through the sharing of experiences, solutions to support the digital transformation of cities.
The webinar was aimed at managers and professionals of organizations in the ICT sector, active in the change and transformation of their processes, products or services, who seek, through the sharing of experiences, solutions to support the digital transformation of cities.
Where Are Smart City Technologies Used? Areas of Application. By smart city technologies are meant those technologies that refer to the concept of a smart city, most often these are digital and/or data-based technologies that are applicable in the real conditions of the city and contribute to the city's coping with public problems or challenges. In smart cities, these technologies are used to develop "critical infrastructure" in the following areas: transport, water and waste management, construction, energy, security, education, health, and urban management. Read more
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Smart City - Good Practices from BulgariaSmart Cities are, by design, municipalities that address challenges via a process of digital transformation (DX); in fact, the mission of Smart Cities can be described as “outcomes-based digital transformation”. This means using new methods of innovation and creativity, and new sources of information to enhance experiences, increase sustainability and resilience, and improve financial and operational performance. In this blog article we have presented some good practices for the digital transformation of cities in Bulgaria, based on smart city technologies. Read more
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Disruptive Technologies for Smart Cities – Cloud ComputingCloud Computing is a set of technologies that enables computational services over the network (usually the Internet). Namely, they are services accessible from any device connected to the network and allows access to applications, information and services without having to be installed on a hard drive. This type of technology enables the user to obtain total mobility as they can access their services, programmes and information from anywhere (Xhafa, F. et al., 2014). Read more
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Disruptive Technologies for Smart Cities – Internet of ThingsIt is expected that Internet of Things may be considered as the arrival of new disruption in the digital realm. The term is quite recent. It was in 2009 when Kevin Ashton, a professor at MIT at that time, used the expression Internet of Things. In a summary it can be described that it is based on interconnection of any product with any other around it. Its significance is brutal and, according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute (Manyika, J., 2015), IoT is one of the 12 most important technological trends for the future. Read more
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Smart By Design Project Meetings
We are happy to share with you that despite the tough times of COVID-19 our project Smart by design is going smoothly and we had various online meetings. We are ready with the first intellectual output which you will be able to see and apply very soon. As you can see from the below pictures we have worked to collect most valuable insights and develop interesting case studies of companies developing smart technologies. Thus we have a collection of case studies for YOU which we will share in our newsletters and will be available for download from our website as well. Below we share case studies from the Netherlands. |
2 Case Studies from the Netherlands
THE PRODUCT
SmartBook is an application developed for scholarly books that applies real-time translation to 16 languages of academic books. The app also contains a real-speaker functionality that allows users to listen to study-books.
Edwin Broxterman, co-owner and sales director, says in the recent interview to United Academics Foundation:
’’We have researched for the Open University in The Netherlands where and how studies will be done in the future.Traditional study books will disappear in the coming 5 to 10 years.
All studies will be done in a digital way and study books will gradually be converted to digital publishing. Young people and older students from 18 to 40 years old will be using laptops, tablets, and smartphones for their studies.
We call this ‘’anywhere, anytime and anyplace’’ to do your study.’’
’’We have researched for the Open University in The Netherlands where and how studies will be done in the future.Traditional study books will disappear in the coming 5 to 10 years.
All studies will be done in a digital way and study books will gradually be converted to digital publishing. Young people and older students from 18 to 40 years old will be using laptops, tablets, and smartphones for their studies.
We call this ‘’anywhere, anytime and anyplace’’ to do your study.’’
Despite the unstoppable digital evolution, Edwin also shares that there is an aversion to risk by some members of the institution’s management board, intrinsic to working with smart technologies. Taking decisions to advance the app use is a time-consuming process. ‘’They [management board]are afraid to change and innovate.’’-Edwin added.
With the certainty of an even deeper, academic world internationally connected, Smartbook app is looking into the future to expand the business beyond The Netherlands; the UK is the next target market. Another future goal is to broaden the catalogue of resources by adding more books, magazines and other publications to the currently available stock.
With the certainty of an even deeper, academic world internationally connected, Smartbook app is looking into the future to expand the business beyond The Netherlands; the UK is the next target market. Another future goal is to broaden the catalogue of resources by adding more books, magazines and other publications to the currently available stock.
THE PRODUCT
The AirBliss+ mask is equipped with a chamber for exhaling air, a filter to block hazard particles and a small, battery powered fan. An electronic device allows for the incorporation of sensors that warns the user when to change the filter and informs about the quality of air.
Adel Arigue, CEO of AirBliss+, says that, after having registered a patent for smart face masks, the company is in a growing phase and expects to expand its market. The process of registering a patent is relatively easy in the Netherlands, especially compared to other European countries, Adel says. Additionally, the Dutch government is helpful in giving funding to small companies that are starting their smart technologies business.
But, despite the ease in setting up a small enterprise in the Netherlands, the process of obtaining a CEE certification for the smart masks has not been simple, according to Adel. The AirBliss+ CEO stresses that working with hardware carries a significant monetary investment when moving from a prototype to a deliverable product.
Adel adds that attracting investment from banks and venture capital is not an easy task in The Netherlands.
The current pandemic has expanded the market for face masks. Even though the initial target group of AirBliss+ is cyclists who are concerned with air pollution, Adel says the company is adapting its products to confer protection against SARS-CoV-2.
Moreover, the company will focus on making the masks “smarter”, by adding sensors with multiple capabilities and functions.
Adel Arigue, CEO of AirBliss+, says that, after having registered a patent for smart face masks, the company is in a growing phase and expects to expand its market. The process of registering a patent is relatively easy in the Netherlands, especially compared to other European countries, Adel says. Additionally, the Dutch government is helpful in giving funding to small companies that are starting their smart technologies business.
But, despite the ease in setting up a small enterprise in the Netherlands, the process of obtaining a CEE certification for the smart masks has not been simple, according to Adel. The AirBliss+ CEO stresses that working with hardware carries a significant monetary investment when moving from a prototype to a deliverable product.
Adel adds that attracting investment from banks and venture capital is not an easy task in The Netherlands.
The current pandemic has expanded the market for face masks. Even though the initial target group of AirBliss+ is cyclists who are concerned with air pollution, Adel says the company is adapting its products to confer protection against SARS-CoV-2.
Moreover, the company will focus on making the masks “smarter”, by adding sensors with multiple capabilities and functions.
Project Partners
- KISMC - NGO that is focused on developing competences in innovation management, creativity and entrepreneurship;
- SULSIT - Bulgarian State university of library studies and information technology that offers undergraduate, masters and doctoral degree programmes, and supports innovation and technology transfer in Bulgaria;
- ARIES TRANSILVANIA – industrial cluster and BSO that contributes to designing; implementing the smart city strategy of Cluj in Romania, supports digital transformation and creates digital innovation hubs;
- GAIA - cluster BSO that unites companies from the knowledge and applied technologies industries and supports policy and deployment of ICT, Engineering and Electronics in Basque Country;
- UNIVERSITY OF DEUSTO - leading university in Spain specialized in educating and training in the innovation and entrepreneurship, design thinking and IoT Smart city solutions through its Business School and the Faculty of Engineering;
- UNITED ACADEMICS - Foundation in the Netherlands that promotes, supports and maintains open-access library and publishing that results in faster scientific communication, wider influences of scientific knowledge on the industry, government, and education.