references
Trends in
KNOWLEDGE
The opinion of the alumni
Ferran Garrigosa (EMBA 12) Member of the ESADE Energy Club Board
‘Smart cities’ is a globally-used buzzword meaning a lot of markets are involved, often leading to difficulty in understanding what aspects are actually included in the definition. In this particular context, I am developing a spin off project within Allia Renovables Allia Smart eMobility. Thanks to my technical training administration studies (MBA this pioneering project where entrepreneurship, knowledge and innovation come together. Building a pilot project in the ESADECREAPOLIS environment, based on the integration of business models (energy and car sharing solutions (renewable energy, savings measures and energy efficiency, electric vehicles and CO2 involving ESADE Business School interns, the Public Administration (Ayuntamiento technology partners, has experience that is allowing me to reach goals that were previously unthinkable. Without a doubt, smart cities is a very new market offering many aspects to explore and great business opportunities.
leads in this commitment with cities like Barcelona, Santander and Malaga that repeatedly appear in city rankings and whose initiatives are considered good practice in cities around the world. For example, over 12,000 fixed and mobile sensors placed on lamp posts, rubbish bins, municipal buildings and vehicles in the last year in Santander have given way to real-time information laboratories that allow for more efficient decision-making. In Barcelona, the truly unique
In fact, Spain leads in this commitment with cities like Barcelona, Santander and Malaga
Ateneus de Fabricació Digital are co-creation and learning spaces dedicated to social innovation, new technologies and, specifically, digital manufacturing, where citizens are active users and the main players in innovation processes. For its part, the smart city of Malaga has the biggest initiative for an ecoefficient city, and in the five years that it has been in place, it has achieved energy savings of over 25% and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 20%.
ation must be promoted. Smart cities are an opportunity for economic development based on new emerging products and services. For example, CISCO estimates business in smart cities at 1.2 billion dollars over the next 10 years. But, beyond the development of the local economy, a smart city can not be built by the public administration on its own. This requires different players in the city (local government, universities, entrepreneurs, citizenship) to openly and creatively collaborate in order to accelerate the development and deployment of smart services. 3) Technological challenges must be addressed. Interoperability, security and privacy are aspects related to the use of technology that must be managed. But, above all, smart cities should be cities for everyone. In this sense, technology can not be a factor in social exclusion.
Points to keep in mind
But building a smart city is no easy feat. Although there is no single model in place and every city should adopt one based on its own idiosyncrasies, on the one hand, and its has competitive advantages, on the other, there are certain aspects that need to be considered: 1) Developing the city strategy requires both political and organisational leadership. 2) Public-private collaboration, collective intelligence and co-cre-
CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN CITIES Studying, analysing and contributing to the process of building smart cities is the new overall objective of the recently established Center for Innovation in Cities of the ESADE Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management, bringing together a group of academics with expertise in open innovation, new technologies and public administration interested in improving the management of cities. More information at: www.esade.edu/cic
22 APRIL--JUNE 2015