SCIFI
Smart Cities Innovation Framework Implementation
Priority Axis
Technological and Social InnovationSpecific objective
Framework Conditions for Innovation
Lead partner
Stad MechelenContact
Begindatum
01/07/2017Einddatum
31/12/2021Project budget
3 165 503 €ERDF amount
1 899 302 €ERDF rate
60%Over
Common challenge
The market for public sector open data in Europe is €22,1B (EC 2015). Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) encourage smart innovation. Eg the private sector has data-based technologies available that can reduce traffic by directing cars to available parking. 2Seas cities are looking for solutions like these for their congested centres. However, the 2Seas innovation sector faces shared public sector challenges in unlocking this value for businesses, triggering region-wide brain drain.
The market failure is mainly within 2Seas cities in opening up datasets and using innovative procurement. SCIFI partners (4 cities, 2 international open data experts, and 2 business networks) identify the need for transnational framework conditions that 1) create a cross-border market that gathers the fragmented resources of cities and smart innovation potential of businesses and 2) increase the capacity of cities to activate the dormant demand for smart public services.
Overall objective
Main outputs
Cross border approach
Main Achievements
From January-May 2019, SCIFI cities Saint-Quentin, Mechelen, Delft, and Bruges selected and defined urban challenges within the sectors of mobility, energy, and environment for the first SCIFI accelerator cycle. The desirability, applicability, and feasibility of the challenge selection criteria were agreed upon. Cities looked at their available datasets and internal (political) support to see whether the challenges could be solved (feasibility).
Cities also engaged citizens (desirability). Lastly, SCIFI organised a transnational public consultation survey (73 responses) to see what challenges are shared in the 2Seas region (applicability). In total, 7 challenges were selected for open call 1 e.g. “How can we use data to encourage cycling for journeys around the city?” Cities were meanwhile also mapping the datasets that can be used to develop smart solutions.
SCIFI knowledge partners The University of Southampton, Faubourg Numérique, Cambridge Cleantech and Agoria prepared the accelerator programme to pilot solutions, the application and selection procedure for solution providers, and guidance documents for cities to help them in opening up datasets and engaging the market.
From 02 June-October, the SCIFI cities opened up the 7 urban challenges (with available datasets) to the international market. The open call was promoted on the SCIFI website, F6S platform and through webinars. 11 Webinars were organised to interact directly with the market on the challenges and the general application procedure (378 views).
The consortium used the F6S platform for the application procedure. In total, there were 22 closed and eligible applications from 8 different countries. After an application review and interviews by the consortium, with selection criteria agreed upon priory, 6 applicants were selected to join the first SCIFI accelerator programme. 5 challenges out of 7 have a match. 2 solutions will be implemented in 2 cities and 1 challenge has 2 different solutions. The acceleration programme was officially launched on January 17th.
The programme will coach both solution providers and SCIFI cities on various topics like interoperability (EU standards), GDPR, and multi-stakeholder engagement for the pilots. The consortium has mapped and activated an ecosystem of 400-500 local authorities, knowledge and research institutions and business associations. The consortium started documenting the SCIFI framework for open data innovation by collecting best practices.