About

Open public data is the key to smart city innovation, with an estimated €300bn of currently untapped value (EU 2015). As both data suppliers and buyers of innovation, cities are ideally positioned as customers for smart products and services. The SCIFI project brings together cities with innovators to pilot and launch new smart public services.

Aim
SCIFI aims to activate the market for innovative solutions to improve public service delivery using data. Cities collaborate on identifying shared challenges in mobility, energy and environment. They jointly explore innovative procurement methods to work with businesses in developing data-based solutions, implementing them in living labs, and demonstrating the value of opening data.
Approach
SCIFI aims to activate the market for innovative solutions to improve public service delivery using data. Cities collaborate on identifying shared challenges in mobility, energy and environment. They jointly explore innovative procurement methods to work with businesses in developing data-based solutions, implementing them in living labs, and demonstrating the value of opening data.
Results

The SCIFI framework will establish relationships and the methodologies for 2 Seas cities to source smart, data-driven solutions to urban challenges. This will increase the competitiveness of the 2 Seas region in the field of urban innovation, stimulate innovative sectors of the regional economy and increase quality of life in cities.

Impact

By acting together, medium-sized cities can better pool the innovative potential of the 2 Seas region. Through a local and transnational network, SCIFI increases the growth potential for regional businesses, leverages the world-class knowledge institutions in the region, and provides cities wider access to innovative solutions.

Partners

The SCIFI project gathers eight partners from the 2-Seas region, including cities, universities and private sector experts.

Mechelen

As Lead partner, the City of Mechelen will work with citizens and other city partners to create a cross-border market for innovative and data-driven smart solutions.

Bruges

The city of Bruges is the third biggest city in Flanders, dealing with various challenges in sustainable urban development, mobility and climate. Our goal is to keep the city vibrant and livable for our citizens.

Delft

Like many cities, Delft faces challenges in energy, environment and mobility. In 2016 the city decided to invest in open data and becoming a smart city. It will be a test-bed for piloting new smart solutions.

Saint Quentin

The City of Saint-Quentin has solid experience in open data policy and enabling citizen participation in new projects. They will define their smart city challenges and test the solutions.

University of Southampton

As Expert Partner they provide best practice guidance and assessment across all parts of the project: approach, challenges, solutions and co-creation.

Faubourg Numérique

Faubourg Numérique’s role is to provide cities with technical and strategic expertise to make their public data market-ready and manage the inter-operability of solutions.

Agoria

Agoria is paving the way for technology-inspired companies in Belgium which seek to contribute to the world’s advancement by developing innovations. They will facilitate dialogue between cities and industry.

Cambridge Cleantech

Cambridge Cleantech acts as a business matchmaker linking “buyer” organisations with SMEs developing innovative technologies. They bring their cluster of 300 companies with potential smart city solutions to the project.

Bax & Company

Bax & Company is a leading European innovation consultancy. Their Data and Smart Cities cluster helps cities use data and technologies to address daily challenges in a way that is driven, open, scalable and financially sustainable.