Smart City Challenge: 3.7M euros to solve urban challenges with cities, researchers and companies
Külle Tärnov, Head of Innovation and Piloting Program at FinEst Centre, introduced the 4th round of our Smart City Challenge, explaining how companies can benefit. Through the Challenge, we aim to validate and develop four innovative ideas and initiate pilot projects that address complex urban challenges. These projects will result in scalable solutions that enhance the overall quality of life in cities.
Cities, counties, and campuses internationally have submitted 35 urban challenges. Now, we need solution ideas to address these challenges, which include energy efficiency, circular economy, city maintenance and planning, urban mobility, and people-centered urban environments.
On May 29, we will host a workshop where those who submitted challenges will introduce them. Those with potential solution ideas will have the chance to ask for specifics and create relevant connections.
We invite all researchers who could utilize their experience and research interests to solve real-life urban challenges, work with cities, and make a a great impact with their research.
Company representatives are welcome to join to see if any challenges match their services and to explore how researchers’ resources and collaboration with cities can be leveraged to develop new solutions.
International collaboration projects focused on ecosystem building: Metacities and FINEST Scaleup
Henry Patzig presented the Metacities project and concept, introducing a few real-life use cases of how virtual and augmented reality can be used for hybrid education facilities, meeting rooms, training engineers in virtual power plants, and remote control of power plants.
Project team will host a session on May 31 to introduce further the Meta City concept and find use-cases that could be relevant for Estonia. You can register and join here.
Another new international project that FinEst Centre has an important role is the FINEST Scaleup project.
Introduced by Kaija Veskioja, the project aims to build a strong and inclusive deep tech ecosystem in the Baltic Sea Region, with a special focus on connecting deep tech companies with investors. Most of the events are scheduled to start in autumn in collaboration with Estonian Business Angels Network.
