Cities are facing myriad challenges — and as cities are essentially social and political entities, social issues are always high on the agenda for the people and authorities that manage them. So it’s about establishing the right conditions for a prosperous economy, one that creates and protects jobs and promotes social equality in an era of digital transformation. What’s more, cities must provide functioning infrastructure at affordable prices. Most important here is a working mobility system, but other important factors include urban safety and disaster management, adequate education and healthcare options, and affordable housing — in other words, everything it takes to make a city somewhere people actually want to live. For this year’s Darwin’s Circle we want to focus on smart-cities as a topic which leads us in a time where our infrastructure and digitalization is a constant safety in uncertain times.

As we become more and more prosperous, our cities are compelled to keep their finances in order and ensure the cheapest possible supply of power, heating, and cooling from renewable energy sources. They must also offer good recycling and waste-management services, clean air and water, and attractive conditions for innovative new businesses, students, and the scientific community.

This all means cities need solutions that not only make them safe, efficient, and livable — with a first-rate mobility infrastructure, for example. At the same time, they need solutions that pave the way for innovation and economic growth, such as a data-based mobility infrastructure that can be supplemented by new services like car sharing or neighborhood-level logistics services. The more problems a smart city platform can solve, the more likely it is to be adopted.

This year DARWIN’S CIRCLE will focus on the relevant topics of our time, especially smart-cities and digitalization to ensure our infrastructure in uncertain times. © DARWIN’S CIRCLE

What are the technologies that make a smart city smart and innovative?

1. Hybrid energy systems in which the production, storage, and consumption of renewable energy can flow “freely” between buildings, power grids, heat networks, and consumers. Ideally this takes place through economic incentive schemes, such as tenant electricity models, which allow users to be both consumers and producers.

2. Multimodal transport systems based largely on power from renewables. These require not only conventional public transport systems, electric vehicles, and charging technologies, but also booking, routing, and information systems that make public mobility more appealing to users — thus helping make the private car obsolete for city travel.

3. Interoperable software platforms, with which all kinds of data can be combined, analyzed, and processed with the aim of improving urban services or launching new ones.

Smart cities offer better use of space, less traffic, cleaner air, and more efficient civic services, all of which increases quality of life. What’s more, smart cities provide more career and economic opportunities as well as stronger links with the community.

Be part of it at 3rd of November at Palais Ferstel in the 1st district of Vienna.

How can city authorities take a more personal and customer-friendly approach to the services they offer? City authorities must be active at many different levels — both through face-to-face interactions with the public in the form of participation processes or in community offices, and more indirectly through their digital presence. This involves improving their processes, networking their infrastructure, and going digital for all municipal services.

With regard to the digital conference DARWIN’S CIRCLE at 3rd of November 2022 at Palais Ferstel in the 1st district of Vienna we take great pride in the harmonious mix of attendees and speakers. Access to our events is on an invite-only basis, ans is limited to top-managers. We will discuss the most relevant topics of our time such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the future of mobility, digital transformation, FinTech and new media next to socio-economic topics like the future of work, smart-cities, digital responsibility, sustainability and leadership.

The world’s most innovative companies 

Join the companies that are changing and shaping our future, and exchange insights with Alibaba, Amazon, Google, IBM Watson, Facebook and other thought leaders of our time.

Be part of it! LIVE 3rd of November 2022 

A palace in Vienna in the unique Venetian-Florentine Trecento style. With magnificent rooms, magnificent chandeliers and a magnificent arcaded courtyard. An Italian palazzo – a perfect event location in the middle of Vienna in the 1st district on the Freyung.