Smart communities: AI, Digital Transition and Social Change
TIME
24th September 2024, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
TRACKS
TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
TRACK 4: Living Labs for Business and Emerging Technology
ORGANISERS
CommuniCity & Go Li.EU Projects
Target Audience
Policy makers; City representatives; Researchers & academics; Living Lab representatives and practitioners; Students and community members
Type of Session
Topic Debate; Workshop
DESCRIPTION
The session is divided into two main parts: a workshop and a debate. These aim to foster community engagement in technological innovations and explore the implications of digitalisation in public management and citizen participation.
Through the interactive workshop, CommuniCity’s methodological approach – from identifying challenges to implementing solutions – will be presented. Participants will explore effective strategies for engaging citizens in driving social and digital transitions in cities and regions while collaboratively developing solutions for implementation.
Two comprehensive manuals on conducting open calls and pilots will be introduced, offering participants practical guidance. Additionally, we will present CommuniLab, a platform designed for mutual learning, ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
The debate will focus on the social implications of digital transition and the use of big data in public management. Key topics will include:
- Ethical considerations and potential benefits of digital innovations in cities
- The challenges and opportunities presented by big data in enhancing public service
As part of this side event, we will inaugurate ENoLL’s Digital Urban Systems and Solutions for Transition Urban Innovation (DUSST UI) Working Group. This initiative aims to lead the way in developing and scaling up innovative solutions and driving digital transformation generated through living lab approaches across urban areas, ensuring sustainable and inclusive development.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This side event aims to increase awareness and understanding of the ethical implications, opportunities and challenges associated with using digital innovations in governance, and share knowledge of innovative strategies for involving citizens in digital initiatives of cities and regions.
Agenda
- 9.00 – 9.10 Welcome and agenda points, Danae Pantelide (10min)
- 9.10 – 9.25 The projects CommuniCity and Living-in.EU (Go Li.EU), Danae Pantelide, Silja Peltonen
- 9.25 – 9.40 Open calls and piloting manual presentation, Silja Peltonen, Anne-Mari Sandell
- 9.40 – 10.30 Interactive session: Innovating together – Digital solutions and communities, Danae Pantelide, Michelle Gonzalez Torres, Silja Peltonen, Anne-Mari Sandell
- 10.30 – 10.40 Wrapping up & Conclusions, Danae Pantelide, Michelle Gonzalez Torres, Silja Peltonen, Anne-Mari Sandell (10min)
- 10.40 – 11.00 Coffee break
- 11.00 – 11.30 Living Labs for Digital Urban Transition – ENoLL’s Digital Urban Systems and Solutions for Transition Urban Innovation (DUSST UI) Working Group, Wim De Kinderen
- 11.30 – 12.20 Round table, discussion and questions from the audience, Moderator: Wim De Kinderen (City of Eindhoven), Panel: Riccardo Saraco (city of Torino), Adeeb Sidani (Porto Digital), Josephine Di Pino (OASC), Joana Moreira (Porto Digital), Julia Costa Carneiro (KWMC), Diana Andone (UPT)
- 12.20 – 12.30 Wrapping up & Conclusions, Wim De Kinderen
SPEAKER BIOS
Wim De Kinderen
Programme Director European Affairs Brainport Eindhoven EU Office
Wim De Kinderen
Programme Director European Affairs Brainport Eindhoven EU OfficeWim De Kinderen is employed within the Brainport Eindhoven EU Office in Brussels, representing the City of Eindhoven, Brainport Development and other economic stakeholders towards fellow regions and the European Institutions. In this role he is responsible for policy lobbying, networking/communication and project development, focussing in particular on ICT/data, Health, Mobility, Security and Manufacturing. Within the City of Eindhoven, he is part of the Strategy Department. Through his position he has strong links with European networks such as the Vanguard Initiative, ENoLL, Eurocities, ERRIN and OASC. Wim De Kinderen has represented the City of Eindhoven as a committed member of the Urban Agenda for the EU Digital Transition Partnership.
Riccardo Saraco
Project Manager, EU Funds and Innovation Dept., City of Torino
Riccardo Saraco
Project Manager, EU Funds and Innovation Dept., City of TorinoWith a background in Political Science and Public Policy evaluation, he works for the City Council as project manager. He is engaged mainly in urban renovation plans and projects promoting innovative approaches for digital and ecological transition aimed at developing a sustainable and competitive urban ecosystem.
Danae Pantilde
Project Manager, ENoLL
Danae Pantilde
Project Manager, ENoLLDanae Pantelide holds a BSc in Environmental Science and Technology and an MSc in Management. Through her involvement in EU-funded projects she has managed initiatives focused on environmental conservation and sustainable urban and digital development.
Michelle Gonzalez Torres
Junior Project Manager, ENoLL
Michelle Gonzalez Torres
Junior Project Manager, ENoLLMichelle is a Junior Project Manager at ENoLL, where she has over two and a half years of experience in European project management and communications. She holds a bachelor's degree in Modern Literature, focusing on gender equality, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Relations in the Digital Era at LUMSA University. At ENoLL, Michelle contributes to EU-funded projects, manages communications activities, and serves as the SPOC for the Culture & Creativity WG and Co-SPOC for the Digital Urban Systems & Solutions for Transition – Urban Innovation (DUSST-UI) WG. Her professional interests lie in green and digital transformation, open innovation, and sustainable urban development. She is committed to advancing her expertise in project management, Living Labs, and co-creation strategies.
Josephine Di Pino
Project Manager, OASC
Josephine Di Pino
Project Manager, OASCJosephine Di Pino is the OASC project manager of CommuniCity and brings in over 10 years of experience in EU funded project management for municipalities and local authorities. She has previously worked as a business development manager and sales director in the telecom industry.
Silja Peltonen
Project Portfolio Manager, Forum Virium Helsinki
Silja Peltonen
Project Portfolio Manager, Forum Virium HelsinkiSilja Peltonen is a Project Portfolio Manager at Forum Virium Helsinki, where she has over 16 years of experience. She specializes in project management and collaboration with companies and research organizations to co-create innovative solutions. Working closely with the City of Helsinki, Silja has piloted cutting-edge digital technologies and services across various sectors, including elderly care, AR-education tools in schools, and sustainable mobility solutions.
Anne-Mari Sandell
Project Manager and Communications Specialist, Forum Virium Helsinki
Anne-Mari Sandell
Project Manager and Communications Specialist, Forum Virium HelsinkiAnne-Mari Sandell has been working at Forum Virium Helsinki as Project Manager over 15 years successfully leading and supporting projects fostering urban innovation and activating living-lab communities under various topics. Her expertise and passion lie particularly in agile piloting programs, and the application of service design methodologies for co-creating inclusive smart city solutions. Anne-Mari has played a key role in several international projects, particularly those focused on developing future robotics, fostering smart city innovations, and cultivating living-lab ecosystems. She has a proven track record of successfully developing and implementing open call initiatives at both national and international levels. Currently, Anne-Mari serves as the Open Call Work Package Lead for CommuniCity, a European project aimed at creating more inclusive and sustainable cities through innovative technologies, co-creation and community engagement. Anne-Mari holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Vaasa and is currently completing a Master's degree in Service Design at Laurea University of Applied Sciences.
Adeeb Sidani
Project Manager – Porto Digital
Adeeb Sidani
Project Manager – Porto DigitalProject Manager at Porto Digital, specializing in technology-driven projects to advance smart cities and urban innovation. He leads large-scale national and international initiatives, collaborating with major cities and companies. He holds a PhD from the University of Porto, focused on using BIM, automated rule checking, and immersive technologies for Occupational Safety in Construction. An experienced architect and academic, he also lectures at the University of Porto, with expertise in immersive reality tools.
Joana Moreira
Head of Innovation Management and Experimentation, Porto Digital
Joana Moreira
Head of Innovation Management and Experimentation, Porto DigitalJoana Moreira has a Master’s in Design from ESAD Matosinhos and a postgraduate degree in Product and Service Innovation from Porto Design Factory (ME310 – Stanford), Joana combines her design expertise with a strong focus on sustainability. As an Innovation and Sustainability consultant, Joana has taught innovation programs across Germany and Finland, collaborating with prestigious universities like Stanford and leading companies such as SAP and Sonae MC. Driven by the belief that companies play a crucial role in fostering more conscious behaviours, Joana strives to help build a better world through projects that inspire change.
Julia Costa Carneiro
Research Lead, Knowle West Media Centre
Julia Costa Carneiro
Research Lead, Knowle West Media CentreJulia works with organisations and initiatives to design processes and interventions for civic innovation for over 10 years. In her arts-based approach on collaborative action research she applies systems thinking and knowledges for social-ecological transformation to build capacity for experimentation and collective learning towards just urban futures.
Diana Andone
Director, Digital Education and Distance Education Department, Politehnica University of Timisoara
Diana Andone
Director, Digital Education and Distance Education Department, Politehnica University of TimisoaraDr. Diana Andone is the Director of the Digital and Distance Education of Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania, responsible for planning and implementing digital education and associate professor in multimedia, interactive and web technologies. EDEN Senior Fellow, IEEE Education Society 2021 Distinguished Chapter Leadership Award winner, IEEE Education Society VicePresident (2024-2025), with extensive research experience and intense publication and more than 30 research and educational international projects, she teaches course modules in universities from UK, France, USA, Finland, Italy, Greece. https://elearning.upt.ro/ro/diana-andone/