Smart Capital Cities and Regions: strategies for 2014-2020

In the frame of the 11th European Week of Regions and Cities the Brussels-Capital Region on 9 October organised a conference entitled Smart Capital Cities and Regions: strategies for 2014-2020, together with 11 other capitals.   Political representatives, including the Mayor of Oslo, Stian Berger Røsland, and the President of Île-de-France, Pierre Kanuty, took advantage of the opportunity to hold meetings with M. Dirk Heinrichs and Mrs Inete Ielite, two experts on the subjects of transportation and energy from Berlin and Riga among others. Mrs Henriette Van Eijl added a European perspective to the debate on behalf of DG Move. The conference provided an insight into the strategic importance of research and SMART initiatives, but also emphasised that these should be implemented in a European context. On the one hand European programmes can turn urban territories into SMART centres which are dedicated to technology and innovation. On the other hand the capital cities and regions can create new solutions and improve the quality of life of their inhabitants with partnerships. Mr Peter Steijn, from Utrecht, could only confirm these observations in his conclusion.