SPARCSeu

We have released our SPARCS final book, 'Towards Smart, Sustainable, Energy Positive, and Zero Carbon Communities: Challenges, Solutions and Impacts'. This comprehensive publication captures over 5 years of innovative solutions to reduce urban carbon footprints, featuring insights from 30+ partners across nine countries. Highlights: ✔️ Foreword by Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency ✔️ Roadmap for cities to adopt innovative energy solutions ✔️ Case studies from SPARCS lighthouse cities Designed for policymakers, researchers, students, and citizens, this book inspires future innovation and collaboration for zero-carbon urban environments. 📘 Download the book and join us in shaping a sustainable future 👇 https://lnkd.in/ekdEW7Cs #Sustainability #SmartCities #UrbanDevelopment #ClimateAction #Innovation

🚀 Unlock the future of sustainable energy with the Ecosystem Business Model Handbook for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)! This comprehensive tool, developed as part of the SPARCS project, is designed to drive business transformation in urban zones aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The handbook emphasises the importance of cross-sector collaboration and provides a detailed blueprint for sustainable energy business models. It guides users through the necessary changes to achieve common goals and illustrates how various stakeholders can collectively create and capture value. Covering a wide array of topics—from operational environment to impact targets and KPIs—the handbook serves as a vital resource for any organisation looking to engage with or expand its role in PEDs. 🌟 Don't miss out! Download the Handbook HERE: https://lnkd.in/eZCgZWgj #Sustainability #BusinessTransformation #PositiveEnergyDistricts #SPARCSProject #NetZero #GreenEnergy

🚀 Join us for the Scalable Cities Café on Innovation Procurement! We're excited to support this event happening on October 2, 2024, from 14:00 to 15:00 CET. This is an amazing opportunity to delve into how cities can revolutionize their procurement strategies to adopt cutting-edge technologies, foster robust public-private partnerships, and navigate regulatory challenges. 🔍 Why Attend? Learn how innovative procurement can drive smarter, more sustainable urban projects. Engage with industry experts Andrea Geyer-Scholz (Smart Cities Consulting GmbH) and Damian Wagner-Herold (UrbanDynamiQs) during the live Q&A. Network with peers dedicated to accelerating urban transformation across Europe. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gY-2QycT Let's support cities in leading the way toward smarter, more sustainable futures! 🌍 #ScalableCitiesCafe #InnovationProcurement #SmartCities #SustainableDevelopment #PublicPrivatePartnership #TechnologyAdoption #UrbanTransformation

Exciting news! You can still pre-order your hard copy of the SPARCS final book today. This comprehensive book covers groundbreaking insights and key learnings from our innovative project. Secure up to 10 copies before the September 27 deadline and ensure you don't miss out on this invaluable resource. Act now and be part of something transformative! Pre-order your book now 👇 https://lnkd.in/emm2u2gS #PreOrder #SPARCSFinalBook #Innovation #Learning #ProjectInsights #Deadline #BookRelease

🚀 Big news from #SPARCS! With AtelierH2020 we’ve launched the PED Business Ecosystem & Stakeholder Engagement MOOC at our final conference in Espoo, Finland. This comprehensive, free 12-hour course is perfect for city planners, urban developers, and sustainability enthusiasts eager to lead the charge toward climate neutrality. Key topics: 🌟 Integrating PEDs in city development 🌟 Engaging local stakeholders 🌟 Business models for PED projects 🌟 Assessing the economic viability of PEDs With resources like the “How to PED Cookbook” and real-world case studies, you'll have all you need to drive sustainable urban transformation. 🌱✨ Ready to make a difference? Enroll now and be part of the change 👇 https://lnkd.in/eYG3Z8Xh #SPARCS #Sustainability #UrbanPlanning #ClimateNeutrality #PositiveEnergyDistricts #MOOC

🚀 SPARCS Final Conference: Paving the Way for Sustainable Urban Transformation We wrapped up the SPARCS Final Conference in Espoo, Finland, marking five years of dedication towards sustainable urban innovation and climate neutrality. 🌱🏙️ Here are some key achievements: 🌍 400+ contributors 📚 25+ scientific publications 🗓️ 1,000+ events 🛠️ 43 interventions in demonstration districts The conference united experts, city representatives, and stakeholders to reflect on milestones, share insights, and plan future urban transformations. Highlights included: PEDs for Climate-Neutral Cities: Emphasising clear expectations and collaboration. Impactful Sessions: Featuring climate-neutral innovations. PED Business Ecosystem & Stakeholder Engagement Course: A new resource to empower European cities in sustainable change. The event wasn’t just a conclusion but a launchpad for ongoing collaboration and urban sustainability innovation. With SPARCS cities leading the way, a greener, sustainable urban future is well underway. Discover more now: https://lnkd.in/eCAsvpY6 #SPARCSFinalConference #ClimateNeutrality #SustainableUrbanDevelopment #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #Collaboration

The SPARCS Final Conference has come to an inspiring conclusion. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to the engaging discussions last week. Key takeaways from the sessions included: ⭐ The critical role of collaboration between cities, companies, and citizens in driving sustainable urban development. ⭐ The power of AI in optimising urban environments, enhancing services, and improving resource management. ⭐ The ongoing journey and challenges cities face in achieving climate neutrality by 2030. ⭐ The importance of innovative business models and ecosystem-based approaches in promoting sustainable energy solutions. Your insights and participation have been invaluable in shaping the path forward. Let's continue to harness collaboration and innovation to build smarter, more sustainable cities. Thank you for being a part of this journey! #SPARCSFinal #Sustainability #UrbanInnovation #ClimateNeutrality #Collaboration #AI #CommunityEnergy

🌍 The SPARCS Final Conference showcased an engaging lineup of workshops, each focusing on pivotal topics such as AI, climate neutrality, NEB practices, and citizen engagement. These discussions are key to driving sustainable urban transformation. ⭐ Harnessing AI for smart urban transformation: Our hosts Mengjie Han and Wolfgang Loibl captivated the audience with insights into AI and its various applications in urban transformation. The session covered the benefits, challenges, gaps, and roadmaps for implementing AI in smart cities, encouraging participants to share experiences and learn from one another. ⭐ Climate-neutral city Espoo: Elina Wannerholm and Niina Nousjärvi shared the inspiring journey of Espoo towards achieving climate neutrality by 2030. They detailed the city’s Climate City Contract, lessons learned, and the practical challenges faced in making urban environments more sustainable. ⭐ NEB in practice and proposals: Kelly Riedelsen and Dirk Ahlers led a dynamic session on integrating the New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles into proposal writing. Participants engaged in interactive discussions, exchanging insights and best practices on how NEB can effectively contribute to climate neutrality. ⭐ Engaging residents: Our host Ritva Salminiitty, along with experts from Espoon kaupunki - Esbo stad - City of Espoo, KONE, Leipzig, and seecon Ingenieure GmbH, introduced innovative citizen engagement methods used in various projects. The focus was on strategies to effectively reach citizens and understand what motivates them to participate in the development of positive energy areas. These sessions underscored the crucial role of collaboration, innovation, and community engagement in advancing sustainable urban development. #SPARCSFinal #SmartCities #AI #ClimateNeutrality #Sustainability #UrbanTransformation #CitizenEngagement #NEB #UrbanInnovation

The second day of the #SPARCS Final Conference has featured sessions on advancing smart cities, community energy, and scaling sustainable solutions. ⭐ Plenary session - Scalable cities: Results from 3 expert groups: Smart cities use integrated strategies for sustainability, resilience, and efficiency in urban services. AI enhances citizen services, mobility, energy management, public safety, and social services. As cities evolve, AI's role in smart city initiatives grows increasingly important. ⭐ Energy Communities workshop: Discussions with Judith Borsboom and Daniele Vettorato highlighted the potential and challenges of community-driven sustainable energy. David Škorňa shared efforts from the Energy Communities Task Group, with insights on the smartness, sustainability, and scalability of Community Energy. ⭐ Joint workshop between tasks groups for City-to-City Group, Replication, and Business Models and Financing:  A joint workshop for the City-to-City Group, Replication, and Business Models and Financing addressed accelerating and scaling pilot solutions. Participants focused on 5 pillars to prioritise climate-friendly proposals. A collaborative miro board visualised these strategies for urban growth and climate action. ⭐ Monitoring and evaluation workshop: A session dedicated to drafting a call for monitoring and evaluation experts, and planning future activities, emphasised the importance of enhanced oversight for sustained urban innovation. These sessions showcase collaboration and innovation, essential for building smarter, more sustainable cities. #SPARCSFinal #SmartCities #AI #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #Resilience #CommunityEnergy #ClimateAction #Collaboration #ScalableSolutions #Monitoring #Evaluation

🌍 Welcome to the 2nd day of the SPARCS Final Conference! Starting the day with Dr. Mari Hukkalainen from VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, along with event hosts Elina Wanne from the City of Espoo and Dr. Sami Kazi from VTT. Today's exciting agenda includes: ⭐ A plenary session on the results of scalable cities. ⭐ Parallel workshops focused on monitoring and evaluation, energy communities, and city-to-city collaboration. ⭐ Afternoon sessions will cover innovative topics such as harnessing AI for smart urban transformation, Espoo's climate-neutral journey, practical applications of NEB, and effective citizen engagement methods. Looking forward to another day filled with knowledge sharing and collaborative efforts towards sustainable urban innovation! #SPARCSFinal #Sustainability #UrbanInnovation #ClimateAction #Collaboration