Speaking at the launch of the Smart City LAB, UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova highlighted the UNECE’s efforts to enhance engagement with the private sector in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The LAB concept is expected to be replicated with a view to establishing a global network to enhance the development of future cities.
30 May 2018: The first United Smart Cities (USC) Smart City LAB has opened in Vienna, Austria, to support the creation of solutions for smart sustainable cities across the globe. The LAB will develop and implement urban sustainability projects in cities in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, mobility, energy and Internet of Things (IoT), among others, and will support the acceleration of new projects.
During the launch of the Smart City LAB, more than 25 smart urban solutions were presented. Speaking at the event, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova highlighted the UNECE’s efforts to enhance engagement with the private sector in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She said that smart cities should be part of broader local economic development efforts, and help boost public sector-driven innovative economic development in a flexible manner to incentivize the private sector to test various solutions.
USC aims to address urban issues in the UNECE region, and supports local-level implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.
According to UN estimates, technologies and approaches for smart sustainable cities are already helping communities overcome the challenges of urban development and advance the SDGs, particularly SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). The first USC LAB demonstrates how such a platform can facilitate sustainable urban development. The LAB concept is expected to be replicated with a view to establishing a global network to enhance the development of future cities. Solutions developed in the LAB will be available through a digital platform called ‘Co-Create Locally, Share Globally!’
USC is a global smart cities programme implemented by the UNECE and the Organization for International Economic Relations (OiER). Launched in 2014, it aims to address urban issues, particularly in medium-sized cities, in the UNECE region, and supports local-level implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. USC has piloted projects in the cities of Voznesensk, Ukraine, and Goris, Armenia. [UNECE Press Release] [United Smart Cities Webpage]