Strengthening cooperation between SMEs in the Mediterranean basin and making cities ‘smarter’ is the objective of SME4SMARTCITY, the EU-funded project that from 2019 to 2023 involved four countries and led to the development of a training programme, a web platform, a Mediterranean SME cooperation programme and seven Smart City Solutions.
Today more than ever, it is necessary to propose and implement innovative and intelligent solutions in our cities that are able to cope with the climate crisis, make urban mobility more sustainable, enhance the resources of each territory and improve the quality of life of citizens: To combat urban pollution linked to road congestion and the use of cars that still use fossil fuels, California Innovation Group (Italy), MAGNA BSP (Israel) and ACTISA (Spain) have prototyped BEAIR, an intelligent pedestrian crossing tested for the first time in Genoa, which integrates a signage system equipped with a smart camera, aimed at preventing accidents, and a series of sensors to monitor air quality and transmit data in real time, as well as an app that can provide useful information for choosing more sustainable alternatives for getting around the city.
Also QUICK, conceived by Owners Partners (Spain) with the aforementioned California Innovation Group, takes on the problem of urban mobility, this time encouraging the use of zero-emission means of transport: a modular car park, adaptable to any type of space, with a charging station for e-bikes and electric scooters, equipped with solar panels, a smart locker, an online platform for service managers and an app for users.
A smart city cannot ignore inclusiveness: the free Park4Dis® app allows people with reduced mobility (PRM) with a European disability card to view the parking spaces reserved for them and to report any irregularities in occupying these spaces. It is a project of Solmes and Hopu (Spain) with AIM (Italy).
Global warming is changing the planet’s weather patterns with a significant impact on Mediterranean areas, which are increasingly affected by abnormal heat waves. Urban Oasis is an innovative response to mitigate urban heat islands: a self-powering solar pergola that atomises micro-particles of water, cooling the surroundings while providing shaded shelter. It was developed by BIPV Israel in collaboration with SIT Technologies (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Genoa), with the support of Tel Aviv University and the Municipality of Kfar Saba. In a context in which drought is a looming threat, water is the most precious commodity: Waisense Efficiency and Waisense Safe are two solutions promoted by Métrica6 Ingeniería y Desarrollos S.L. (Spain) and Haruspex S.L.R. (Italy) aimed respectively at monitoring water consumption and quality, thanks to a system of IoT devices, such as sensors, meters and cameras digitally interconnected, applicable to both public spaces and rural areas.
But in order to really look to the future, it is necessary to protect the past: In-Heritage, developed by the Italian companies Artys and PM_TEN and the Spanish company Hopu, is a platform for collecting and sharing up-to-date information on the state of conservation of the architectural heritage, enabling local administrations to intervene promptly to counter its deterioration.
In a world driven by technological evolution, the Smart City Solutions designed within SME4SMARTCITY are virtuous examples that can inspire public administrations to shape their cities by making them more efficient.
