Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast

In this episode recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference ,  Lykke Leonardsen , Programme Director for Resilient and Sustainable City Solutions at the City of Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses the integration of resilience and urban development, and the innovative water management solutions implemented in Copenhagen. She also addresses challenges in advancing urban climate action, the importa...

In this episode recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference , Anna Wierzbicka , Director at the City of Łódź in Poland, discussed with us the city's history, its transition to addressing climate issues, and the importance of community involvement in urban development. She emphasised the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability, economic growth, and collaborative efforts with ot...

This episode was recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference , where we sat down with Christophe Najdovski , the Deputy Mayor of Revegetation, Green Spaces, Biodiversity & Animal Welfare at the City of Paris. He shared his insights and experiences in redistributing and redesigning public spaces in Paris, highlighting key initiatives such as the pedestrianisation of the Seine Banks and th...

In the sixth and last episode of our  SMCNetZero series , we discussed the project's key achievements with  Clara Plata Ríos , Project Director at Smart City Cluster , and  Goran Lampelj , Project Coordinator at  ODRAZ-Sustainable Community Development .   They shared their insights on the project's goals, the collaborative efforts among different stakeholders, and the significance of the market a...

This episode was recorded live at the Urban Future 2024 conference with José Besselink , Senior Urban Planner for the Municipality of Rotterdam, Netherlands . With her, we discuss the city's efforts in creating pedestrian-friendly spaces, enhancing green areas, and promoting active mobility through initiatives like the City Lounge framework, the Green and Healthy Neighborhood program, and tactical...

In this episode, we talked with Milan Sarzik , Business Development and Marketing at iTranSys , about their AI-powered public transport optimisation tool. The discussion covered how this innovative solution addresses driver shortages and inefficient scheduling in Slovakia, showcasing significant improvements in cities like Povazska Bystrica. The conversation also delved into the challenges and ins...

In this episode, we talked with Simone Mangili , Executive Director of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) , about how cities are innovatively pushing the boundaries to achieve carbon neutrality. With him, we explored key topics such as scope 3 emissions, sustainable urban development, food systems transformation, climate justice, and addressing residual emissions through policy innovations...

In this fifth episode of our  SMCNetZero series , we talked with  Mario Rajn , Mayor of the City of Krizevci, Croatia. With him, we explored Križevci's journey towards energy independence and sustainability, focusing on the city's green agenda, citizen engagement in renewable energy projects, and innovative initiatives to enhance the quality of urban life.   Visit the  SMCNetZero Website  to learn...

In this episode, we welcomed one of the winners of our Urban Shark Tank session : Peter Ball , International Project Manager for Karos Mobility , as well as  Juan Carlos Escudero , Head of Mobility and Data Science at the Environmental Studies Centre of  Vitoria-Gasteiz , Spain. They presented and discussed the AI-driven carpooling pilot project in Vitoria-Gasteiz aimed at reducing carbon emission...

In this episode, we welcome  Peter Brown , the Director of Public Works for Belmont, California, to discuss the evolving challenges and innovative solutions in urban infrastructure amidst climate change. Our guest shared insights from his experience in urban planning within various Californian coastal cities, focusing on major infrastructure projects designed to adapt to climate realities like sea...

In this episode, we dive into the world of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with  Thomas de Bassompierre , MaaS Project Manager at Floya for Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB), Belgium, and  Damian Bown, CEO of Trafi . With them, we explored how Brussels is integrating various transportation modes into a unified service platform, discussed the challenges faced in implementation, and looke...

In this fourth and last episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with one of our previous guests  Raffaele Gareri , Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures & former CDO of Rome, and with  Islam Bouzguenda , Lecturer & Researcher in Smart Sustainable Cities' Governance & Planning at the University of Twente, Netherlands. With them, we expl...

In this fourth episode of our  SMCNetZero series , we discussed decarbonisation in Small and Medium-sized Cities with  Luca Leomanni , CTO and Co-Founder of Social Tech Projects , focusing on infrastructure maintenance and the role of AI in urban planning. The discussion explores innovative solutions for sustainable mobility, particularly cycling infrastructure, and the importance of community eng...

In this third episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with  Honorata Grzesikowska , Founder and CEO of Urbanitarian & spatial and equity designer, and  Mela Atanassova , a Facilitator in Innovation Design. With them, we delve into the topics of collective learning, urban innovation, and the significant influence of city design on societal behaviours. Our guests...

Smart in the Cities'in ilk bölüm Türkçe bölümünde MBB'den Veri ve Teknoloji Merkezi Direktörü Samet Keskin ve mimar ve Kıdemli Şehir Politikası Uzmanı olan İrem Kurtuluş ile bir araya geldik. Sohbetimizde Marmara Belediyeler Birliği (MMB) ve BABLE arasındaki yerel yönetimleri güçlendirmeyi amaçlayan, dinamik işbirliğini keşfederken MARUF23’ün bizde bıraktığı izleri konuştuk. MMB Türkiye'nin Marmar...

In this second episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we welcomed  Jose Antonio Ondiviela , who after 29 years of experience leading Microsoft's Smart Cities initiatives, is now spearheading his own research department at the Universidad Francisco de Victoria in Madrid, Spain. The discussion focused on talent attraction and development within cities: the global competition fo...

This episode, part of our collaboration as one of the podcast partners for the Creative Bureaucracy Festival , features Dr. Philipp Rottwilm , Mayor of Neuental and District Council Member for the  Schwalm-Eder-West region. The main topics discussed in this episode include the concept of creative bureaucracy and its importance in small and medium-sized cities, the transformation of the Schwalm-Ede...

In this first episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we welcomed back  Bas Boorsma - Founder and Partner of Urban Innovators Global , Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Management, Author of A New Digital Deal , and the former CDO of Rotterdam - and  Jonathan Reichental – Founder of Human Future , Professor at the University of San Francisco, Author of Smart Citie...

This episode features Anna Huttunen , Climate Neutral Cities Advisor for Climate-KIC at Net Zero Cities . Recently recognised as one of the BBC 100 Women for 2023 , she shared her insights on climate mitigation, the role of cities in achieving net zero emissions, and the importance of resilience and systemic change. Additionally, the discussion touched on the broader theme of gender inclusivity in...

In this episode, we dive into the world of Smart City IoT and explore the intriguing possibilities of the metaverse with Teppo Rantanen , the Executive Director at the City of Tampere, Finland .  Discover how Tampere is pioneering urban innovation through projects like educational robots, data-driven city planning, and immersive metaverse experiences aimed at enhancing urban life.   European citie...

This episode features an interview with Alexander Schmidt , CEO and founder of BABLE Smart Cities , and a discussion which centres on the challenges and innovations within Smart City procurement processes. It highlights the need for agile procurement processes to match technological advances, the role of AI in improving city services, and the importance of strategic funding for innovative urban so...

This  Urbanistica Podcast episode is hosted by  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mustafa Sherif  and was not produced by Smart in the City. Mustafa welcomed our host, Tamlyn Shimizu , to talk about podcasting, urban planning and the different perspectives we collect in the podcast about Smart Cities.     Some of the questions: - How do you define a Smart City?  - On what projects is BABLE Smart Cities working? -  How...

In this episode featuring  Lisa Olsson - the  Innovation and Transformation Director for the City of Helsingborg, Sweden - we delve into the strategies and leadership philosophies driving Helsingborg's success. Topics include the city's approach to cross-sector collaboration, leveraging technology for public benefit, and fostering a culture that embraces learning from failures. This insightful con...

In this third episode of our  SMCNetZero series , we had the pleasure of talking with  João Dinis , Office Coordinator at Cascais Ambiente , a company owned by the Municipality of Cascais, Portugal which focuses on various aspects of environmental management and urban planning. With him, we discussed Cascais' strategies for environmental challenges and net-zero emissions, highlighting smart waste...

This episode features  Raffaele Gareri - Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures and former CDO of Rome - and delves into various aspects of urban innovation. Key topics discussed include the importance of bringing key decision-makers together for community improvement, leveraging data-driven approaches for urban development, and the role of leadership in fostering urban innovatio...