European cities regarded as pioneers of using smart city immersive technologies 2020

As of early 2020, 13 percent of industry professional surveyed felt that Barcelona and London could be regarded as pioneers of using smart city immersive technologies. A further 12 percent of respondents suggested Amsterdam was pioneering in its use of smart city immersive technologies. A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital and telecommunication technologies for the benefit of both residents and businesses.

Catalysts and collaboration

Major technological, economic, and environmental changes have generated increased interest in smart cities, including climate change, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, ageing populations, urban population growth, and pressures on public finances. In Europe, the European innovation partnership on smart cities and communities (EIP-SCC) is an initiative supported by the European Commission that brings together cities, industry, small business (SMEs), banks, and research institutions. It aims to improve urban life through more sustainable integrated solutions and addresses city-specific challenges from different policy areas such as energy, mobility and transport, and ICT.

Barcelona as a smart city

Barcelona is often regarded as being one of the world’s ‘smartest’ cities. Following a period of economic stagnation and unemployment in the 1990s, the authorities in Barcelona recognized the need to transform the city’s economy, promoting a new economy based on knowledge industries, modern-city tourism, and quality infrastructure for all. Technology was a key feature of this transformation, supporting the city’s strategy and focus to become properly recognized as a smart city in 2010. To support this, Barcelona played host to the first ‘Smart City Expo and World Congress’ in 2011 which further helped to launch and promote the city’s smart city policy.