The Smart Cities Marketplace at the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) is the biggest annual Brussels-based event dedicated to cohesion policy. It has grown to become a neutral platform to discuss common challenges for Europe's regions and cities by bringing together a diverse community of speakers and participants. In 2022 reached a record number of almost 20.000 participants, 272 sessions and 528 partners.
The Smart Cities Marketplace is represented this year with a stand and involved in two sessions:
Please come and see us at the Smart Cities Marketplace stand (10-12 October 2023, 09:00 to 18:00 CEST, SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Agora Village)
We are currently also working on the content of two sessions for the EU Week of Regions, you can have a first sneak preview below:
EDIHs and Smart Cities Marketplace as catalysts of digitalization
A session with Funding Box: ( 10.10.2023, 09:30-10:30 CEST), Location: SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Room: Hall 300 --> Register here.
The Smart Cities Marketplace (SCM) and the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) provide complementary services to support cities and SMEs in their journey to climate neutrality. The SCM aids the green transition with tailored support, knowledge, and facilitated access to funding and financing. The EDIHs provide easy access to tech, cooperation opportunities, and boost SMEs’ and the public sector’s digital transformation. The interactive session will show how to engage with the two initiatives.
Speakers: Maria Roca Puigserver | Digital Innovation Hubs Lead, FundingBox, Georg Houben I Policy Officer European Commission - DG Energy, Luigi Lo Piparo I Partner Technopolis Group I Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking Coordinator
Access to finance for the local energy transition: how to move away from subsidies?
A session with Covenant of Mayors (12.10.2023, 11:30 to 13:00 CEST), Location: SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Room: Hall 400 in SQUARE --> Register here.
After an intro to the EU energy policy framework, results of a survey on barriers to using financing instruments to implement SECAP measures and practical tips from an investor perspective will be presented to stir discussion. Then 3 pitches of successful best practices from cities engaged in the applying initiatives will be presented. Participants will be invited to take an active role in the session by choosing 1 and moving to the relative table to discuss replication potential.
Speakers: Eero Ailio | Policy Adviser on Energy Transition and Local Governance at the EC - DG Energy, Sylwia Slomiak | Prospect +, Tommaso Buso | Senior Analyst at Bankers without Boundaries & Smart Cities Marketplace Matchmaking expert
Session Facilitators: Angela Rivada | Coordinator of Economic Development and European Programmes at Valladolid City Council - Agency for Innovation and Economic Development - City of Valladolid, ES, Rogerio Bonilla | Auvergne-Rhone Alpes Regional Energy Agency, (AURA-EE), FR, Sanela Mikulčić Šantić | Municipality of Krizevci, HR