In a world as globalized as the one we live in today, the presence of smart cities has become a factor of major interest for tourists, entrepreneurs, and investors. But, do you know the characteristics of these cities? Do you know which are the most outstanding in Europe? Find out below!

What are smart cities?

Intelligent cities, also known as Smart Cities, are those that focus on sustainable urban development, taking into account innovation and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) when managing and providing various services.

Therefore, this type of cities uses technology as a tool to facilitate mobility, boost social services, as well as generate wellbeing in its citizens.

In addition, it is understood that one of the main objectives of smart cities is linked to improving their policies, fostering social inclusion and quality, as well as minimizing the waste produced to boost sustainability.

In this sense, three main pillars that smart cities must have today are considered. These are:

● Providing services to citizens

● Protecting residents

● Boosting the local economy

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What are the characteristics of smart cities?

Depending on the geographic location and the social context in which the city in question is located, the characteristics that define a Smart City may be given greater or lesser relevance.

In the following infographic we show you what are the key characteristics that identify smart cities:

What are the main European smart cities?

According to a survey of 118 citizens around the world, the Smart City Index (SCI) report showed Europe as a continent that takes into account the adoption of technologies in areas such as health, security, mobility and governance.

Cities such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, Munich, Berlin and London stand out for having R&D investment per inhabitant that exceeds at least 800 euros.

In the case of London, it is worth mentioning the presence of a neuralgic center in artistic, commercial, educational and entertainment areas.

Paris is also recognized as one of the most outstanding smart cities in terms of mobility, transportation and international outreach.

According to the IESE Cities in Motion Index (CIMI), in 2020 Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, ranked among the top 5 most striking smart cities. Its public transport application for buses is ideal for the well-being of society, as well as its environmental initiatives.

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Does Spain have any smart cities?

In the specific case of Spain, over the years we have witnessed greater environmental awareness and a great effort to incorporate technological development in various cities in the country.

The State has a National Plan for Smart Cities, with a budget of more than 180 million euros, in which 89 Spanish cities are participating, making it one of the European destinations with the greatest responsibility and awareness among its population.

In this sense, according to the Spanish network of smart cities, more and more areas are being counted as smart cities in Spain. Below, we explain what these locations are:

Barcelona

When we talk about smart cities in Spain, it is appropriate to mention first of all Barcelona, which is considered a world reference in terms of Smart Cities.

The various connectivity solutions, its urban mobility, and being the venue of the Smart City World Congress to showcase the latest innovative projects worldwide make Barcelona stand out as a true smart city.

Likewise, we cannot forget that it was named in 2015 as the best smart city worldwide, by the Juniper Research Institute.

Madrid

The Spanish capital is recognized for establishing the country’s first Smart Integrated Space, based on technologies that improve social integration through accessibility in various sectors.

In addition, thanks to the MiNT technological platform, a service management system is implemented which, in turn, allows citizens to communicate possible inconveniences in real time in order to obtain assistance from the Madrid City Council.

Seville

The municipality of Seville is closely related to innovative projects that seek energy savings, technology and sustainability in the country.

In addition, one of the most important objectives in this city involves a transformation of Isla de Cartuja by 2025, where it will become an open, renewable and digital ecosystem.

Valencia

Another smart city in Spain is Valencia, which stands out as one of the most transparent areas in terms of citizen management thanks to the creation of a technological platform called VLCi.

This platform allows acquiring information through an advanced storage and computing system that helps community managers to make a Big Data analysis and draw conclusions for decision making.

Malaga

Smart cities focus on achieving greater sustainability and energy efficiency, and this is just what Malaga represents through its power grid.

In addition, it is estimated that it has achieved energy savings of around 25%, and a reduction of CO2 emissions by 20%, not to mention the use of digital meters and the implementation of LED lighting in public lighting.

Spain undoubtedly represents an important focus in Europe in relation to smart cities and the search for sustainability and technological development.

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Now that you know a little more about European Smart Cities, and you have seen several cities in Spain that are planning to contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens, would you like to discover more about our country? Enter our blog TAS Consultancy and find out how the Spanish business world works.