News



event on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, 23 October 2023







27 June 2023



'Mission In Progress' the 2nd Annual Conference of the EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities took place in Brussels on the 27 June 2023.


The event gathered the 112 Mission cities from Europe and beyond

and the inspiring discussions focus on the challenges of the mission implementation.​



26 June 2023



A discussion over a drink of the members of the Mission Board following the plenary meeting of the board that took place in Brussels on the 26 June 2023.



an active period since the appointment of the new mission board





12 September 2022



Event titled “The process towards Climate Neutrality. The Municipalities of Greece and Cyprus which were selected by the European Commission and joined the "100 Climate neutral cities by 2030 - by and for the citizens".


The event was organized by the Hellenic Regulatory Authority for Energy within the framework of the 86th International Exhibition of Thessaloniki.



10 September 2022



Event about "100 climate-neutral and smart cities" organized by General Secretary Efthimios Bakogiannis of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy!


The meeting was part of the annual international exhibition of Thessaloniki and the discussion was with General Secretaries from Greek ministries, and Mayors and representatives from the Greek mission cities Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, Trikala, Thessaloniki, Athens and Limassol from Cyprus.



14 March 2022



Event on 100 climate neutral cities by 2030 in athens



On Monday, March 14, 2022, an informative event on the European Mission "100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030", took place in the Amphitheatre of the Ministry of Environment and Energy on the occasion of the visit of Matthew Baldwin,

the Deputy Director-General of DG Move and Manager of the Commission's Mission on Climate Neutral Cities by 2030, in Athens. ​



The event was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Mr. Nikolaos Tagaras,

the Secretary General Of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment Mr. Efthymios Bakogiannis, the Secretary General of Natural Environment and Water Management, Mr. Petros Varelidis and the Secretary General of Waste Management Coordination, Mr. Manolis Grafakos, while earlier Mr. Matthew Baldwin met the President of the Green Fund Mr. Stathis Stathopoulos.


The event was attended by representatives of the business community, the academic and research community, and by Civil Society organizations.


The Deputy Minister of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Mr. Nikolaos Tagaras, pointed out in his speech that "the Mission is a great development opportunity which will emerge as a critical parameter for the acceleration of private investment."



The General Secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Efthymios Bakogiannis, stressed the intensive effort of the Ministry of Environment and Energy in the last 2 years for Greek cities to embrace the Mission for cities. Regarding the benefits that will emerge through it in the coming years, he said that 'the market will be motivated to move towards climate investments, holistic solutions related to urban planning will be presented and smart technologies will be promoted for the best energy management of urban centers.


Mr. Matthew Baldwin presented the latest developments of the Mission on cities and mentioned that through the support of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to the Greek candidacies, 22 Municipalities or Municipal Partnership Associations submitted eligible proposals in respond to the call of expression of interest and have moved to the evaluation phase. The selection process is planned to conclude in April, at which time the successful cities will be invited to join the Cities Mission.



9th December 2021



The 20th and last meeting of the Cities Mission Board was held today via videoconference as due to the

coronavirus situation in Belgium new restrictive measures went into effect.



4th SmartBlueCity Conference 2020



The 4th edition of SmartBlueCity Conference is completed successfully despite the ups and downs due to the COVID-19 measures

Visit Conference website

"100 κλιματικά ουδέτερες πόλεις έως το 2030 - από και για τους Πολίτες"


Οι πόλεις της Ευρώπης, ανεξάρτητα από το μέγεθος, τον βαθμό ετοιμότητας, τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά, καθώς και τις τεχνικές και οικονομικές δυνατότητές τους, προετοιμάζονται για να επιτύχουν να συμπεριληφθούν στον κατάλογο των 100 επιλεγμένων πόλεων.

Σχετικό άρθρο

EU missions – Climate-neutral and smart cities


A video on the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities published by the European Commission ​

view in Youtube

EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL: BRUSSELS UNVEILS €1 TRILLION PLAN TO MAKE EU CLIMATE NEUTRAL BY 2050


Becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is the greatest challenge and opportunity of our times.


more

Public session during the R&I days in Brussels


An impressive start in co-creating the mission on Cities with the public session organised by the European Commission during the R&I days in Brussels, and with the involvement of members of the Mission Board.


more

Chrysses Nicolaides appointed to EU Mission Board


Smart Cities Mediterranean Cluster (SMART-MED) Founder and Coordinator Chrysses NICOLAIDES selected as member of the European Commission Mission Board for ‘Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities’.

more

event held by the Embassy of Romania in Cairo



ANNOUNCED 03/December/2019



​It was an honor to participate in the event held by the Embassy of Romania in Cairo, on the occasion of the National Day of Romania, and was a pleasure meeting Romanian Ambassador to Egypt H.E. Mihai Stefan STUPARU.





Launching of phase 2 of the 'Alex-Smart' project for the city of Alexandria



ANNOUNCED 06/November/2019



Useful and productive meetings with Professor Walid Abdelazim, Advisor to the Governor of Alexandria, Professor Yasser Zaki, former Chairman of University of Alexandria, Dr Zeyad El Sayad, Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering at Alexandria University and Professor Yasser Gaber Dessouky, Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation at Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). The visit to Alexandria was organized by George Spyrou of Datacom to announce the launching of phase 2 of the 'Alex-Smart' project following the approval of the pre-feasibility study funded by the Romanian Agency for International Development Cooperation (ROAid).​




Chrysses nicolaides selected as member of the eu mission board for ‘Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities’.



ANNOUNCED 12/August/2019



Smart Cities Mediterranean Cluster (SMART-MED) Founder and Coordinator Chrysses NICOLAIDES selected as member of the European Commission Mission Board for ‘Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities’.

Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas announced the names of the experts who have been selected as members of the mission boards to work on five major European research and innovation missions. The five missions focus on cancer, climate change, healthy oceans, climate-neutral smart cities and healthy soil and food.

Each mission board consists of 15 members and over 2,100 individuals from across the EU and beyond applied to become member of a mission board.

The European Commission is now in the process of finalizing the signature of contracts and the first board meeting for ‘Climate-neutral & Smart Cities’ will take place in early September in Brussels.







The 3rd SmartBlueCity Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Smart Cities and Blue Growth took place in October 5-6, 2018, in Larnaca



ANNOUNCED 8/Oct/2018



The SmartBlueCity Euro-Mediterranean Conference and Exhibition is organized annually with the help of many partners and supporters. The aim is to: bring together city and regional authorities with industry, SME’s, academics and professionals; and present current developments and innovative ideas for strengthening smartness and pursuing sustainability objectives in small and medium-sized cities and communities in the Mediterranean scenery





European commission : €30 billion



INVESTMENT FOR NEW SOLUTIONS FOR SOCIETAL CHALLENGES AND BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION THROUGH HORIZON 2020 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FUNDING PROGRAMME



Today (27/10/2017), the European Commission presents the final Work Programme for Horizon 2020, covering the budgetary years 2018, 2019 and 2020 and representing an investment of around €30 billion.

The 2018-2020 Work Programme builds on the success of Horizon 2020 so far, and takes account of the extensive interim evaluation of the programme. The Work Programme also responds to the European Commission's political prioritiesand paves the way for its successor programme.


The new features include measures to support market-creating innovation, highly integrated activities called focus areas, emphasis on better dissemination of results and a focus on open access to data. The Work Programme also includes measures to increase simplification (e.g. lump sum funding), to widen participation from less performing countries, and to address skills mismatches.




Our mission to alexandria in egypt



Our mission to Alexandria - a port city in Egypt with a true Mediterranean atmosphere, a cosmopolitan, history-rich, a multicultural city, - "The Pearl of the Mediterranean" !!!



Alexandria is a Mediterranean port city in Egypt. During the Hellenistic period, it was home to a lighthouse ranking among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as well as a storied library.


Today the library is reincarnated in the disc-shaped, ultramodern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The Alexandria & Mediterranean Research Center (Alex Med) is dedicated to revive the city’s pivotal position in the Mediterranean and become a cultural center for the Euro-Mediterranean Region and the Middle East, to spread internationalism and promote a healthy spirit of diversity, pluralism and interaction among civilizations.


The city also has Greco-Roman landmarks, old-world cafes and sandy beaches. Its 15th-century seafront Qaitbay Citadel is now a museum.




SMART CITIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN



Coping with Sustainability Objectives in Small and Medium-sized Cities and Island Communities



Highlights the strength of smart cities, embracing not only urban systems but also geographical locales


Editors:

Anastasia Stratigea , Elias Kyriakides , Chrysses Nicolaides


The book is a product of the 1st Euro-Mediterranean Conference that took place in Limassol in April 2016




the 2nd 'smartbluecity'
euro-mediterranean conference 2017



20 February 2017



The 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Conference took place in September 28-29, 2017, in Heraklion, a coastal city and a well-known tourist destination in the island of Crete.


The Theme of the Conference was “Smart, Inclusive and Resilient Small and Medium-sized Cities and Island Communities in the Mediterranean: Exploring Current Research Paths and Experience-based Evidence”, incorporating a range of sub-themes touching upon all different dimensions of the smart city concept.


The Conference was organized by the National Technical University of Athens; the Smart Cities Mediterranean Cluster (SMART-MED) ; the URENIO Research Group, the University of the Aegean, the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Cyprus, and the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) of the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH).


More information in the Conference website www.smartbluecity.com




Zero power water monitoring -
Prize € 2 million



6 May 2017



The Zero Power Water Monitoring Horizon Prize is challenging innovators to come up with solutions based on self-powered and wireless smart sensing technologies designed for real-time monitoring of water resources.


This Horizon Prize will award € 2 million to any entity (innovators, SMEs and non-profit organisations acting alone or together with other entities) that will come up with a breakthrough solution able to boost self-powered energy consumption in Smart Water Management System.


The best applications will be invited to demonstrate their solutions in front of a jury, to assess the cumulative award criteria: positive impact, reliability and innovative design.


View details in http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizonprize/index.cfm?prize=watermonitoring&nbsp


more

Western Mediterranean: Actions for the sustainable development of the blue economy



19 April 2017



European Commission - Fact Sheet Western Mediterranean: Actions for the sustainable development of the blue economy Brussels,


19 April 2017


Find out more http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-1001_en.htm


more

Commission simplifies Horizon 2020



3 March 2017



​The European Commission will further simplify participation in Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme. New funding rules will reduce administrative costs to participants and help prevent accounting errors.


more

LIFE 2017 call for project proposals –
A new opportunity for green jobs and growth



2 March 2017



In 2017, there is more than €390 million available in funding, in particular, for:

  • Environmental technologies and solutions (including close-to-market)
  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures,
  • Nature conservation and biodiversity projects, and
  • Climate and environmental governance and information initiatives.

The call is expected in April 2017



The 2nd 'smartbluecity' conference is launched



27 February 2017



This is to announced the launch of the 2nd 'SmartBlueCity' Euro-Mediterranean Conference 2017, titled:

Smart, Inclusive and Resilient Small and Medium-sized
Cities and Island Communities in the Mediterranean:
Exploring Current Research Paths and Experience-based Evidence.

The Conference will take place 28-29 September 2017 in Heraklion-Crete.

For more information visit www.smartbluecity.com


more

Connecting Europe Facility Telecom: over €27 million to foster the European digital service ecosystem



23 February 2017



The European Commission has opened today a call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to stimulate and support the deployment of European Digital Service Infrastructures (DSIs).

Up to €27.5 million will be made available to meet the needs of public administrations, businesses and citizens in their cross-border activities.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 18 May 2017


more

A mission to the smart city of Heraklion to prepare for the SmartBlueCity International Conference 2017.



14 February 2017



The mission was arranged by Anastasia Stratigea, Assoc. Prof., National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Chrysses Nicolaides Coordinator of Smart Cities Mediterranean Cluster, Conference Organizers and met with Petros G. Iniotakis, Debuty Mayor of the Municipality of Heraklion and Costis Mohiankis, Director of Planning, Organisation & IT.


The meeting was interesting and beneficial, and an opportunity to exchange "smart" ideas.



Competition to Create
City Innovation Labs



The closing date is 14 April 2017



The SELECT for Cities competition is built around the premise that cities across the world are seeking new methods, technology and tools to foster open innovation to solve challenges, create value for their citizens and business, and to become ‘smart cities’.


Internet of Everything (IoE) is one of the dominant drivers transforming the way people manage and live in urban environments. This new connected approach involves physical spaces as well as objects and provides a massive opportunity for the creation of new smart services and businesses especially in the areas of logistics, transport, environment, security and wellbeing.


More information

2017 TRANSPORT BLENDING CALL
CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY



The deadline for submission for this call for proposals is 4 July 2017, 30 November 2017



The European Commission launched today a new and innovative way to finance transport infrastructure projects in Europe.


The call for proposals will seek to combine €1 billion of grants (Connecting Europe Facility - Transport) with financing from public financial institutions, the private sector or, for the first time, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe and a top priority for the Juncker Commission.


seamless, intelligent and sustainable mobility


​CEF Transport supports innovation in the transport system
in order to improve the use of infrastructure, reduce the
environmental impact of transport, enhance energy efficiency and increase safety.

More information

Other News


Over €100M to finance energy innovation in SMEs across Europe



Renewable energy i.e. solar, wind and biomass, and energy efficiency projects account for 40% of the investments made through the SME Instrument in the field of energy.



Energy-funded projects represent 14% of all projects under Horizon 2020 SME Instrument. Its 327 projects contribute to achieving the EU energy initiative goals.

Looking at the country statistics, Spanish SMEs received €23 million for 69 projects followed by Italian companies amounting for €17 million with 49 projects. UK tops three with €12 million invested in 35 projects.



More information

2016 CEF Transport Calls for Proposals



These calls are open (deadline for submission of proposals - 7 February 2017).



The 2016 CEF Transport Calls for Proposals, opened on 13 October 2016, make €1.9 billion of funding available for projects of common interest in the transport sector.




More information

The PRIMA initiative



Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area



The Commission has agreed on a proposal for a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area, PRIMA, which is set to develop much-needed novel solutions for sustainable water management and food production.


The Commission's proposal already includes Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. The participation of Germany is currently under negotiation. As the initiative is evolving over time, more participants are expected to follow, both EU and non-EU countries.​


More information

Different City > Smart City - The 1st International Conference & Exhibition 2016
to take place in Bucharest





Smart Blue City - The 1st International Conference & Exhibition 2016
that took place in Limassol


click on this link to visit the SmartBlueCity Conference dedicated website

for information about the conference or submit a paper
www.smartbluecity.com


Launching of the 1st Euro-Mediterranean Conference - Exhibition 2016


14.11.2015 Smartbluecity Organizing Committee



The Euro-Mediterranean conference and exhibition “smart and blue city” is organized with the

help of many partners and supporters, to bring together city and regional authorities with industry, SME’s, academics and professionals to present information and ideas for smartness and growth.


The Conference consists of two interrelated parts, namely:

  • the “Scientific” part, in which recent developments and supportive technologies relevant to challenges faced by small and medium-sized Mediterranean cities and communities will be presented; and
  • the “Exhibition” part, aiming at giving the opportunity to industry and SMEs to present products that can solve current and forthcoming problems of these communities.

The above distinction reflects an effort to bring together scientific knowledge and industry developments for increasing knowledge stock on potential solutions and providing options on technological products and solutions that can support cities and communities in the Mediterranean to cope with current challenges and needs.




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