EU extends invitation to Ukrainian cities for Intelligent Cities Challenge initiative

The European Commission invites Ukrainian cities with a population of more than 50,000 to join the Intelligent Cities Challenge as observers.

This became known during the presentation of the Ukrainian translation of the "Local Green Courses. Action Plan" organized by the DiXi Group and the Association "Energy-Efficient Cities of Ukraine."

The Intelligent Cities Challenge promotes the use of advanced technologies for smart, "green," and socially responsible regeneration and currently unites more than 200 European cities.

The observer status, which, from now on, Ukrainian cities can also get, will allow them to participate in the Initiative's events in person and online, as well as to network with European cities, learn from experience, and use the same sources of knowledge. They can apply to receive the relevant status of the city until February 23, 2024, inclusive.

"We want to scale the scope of the Intelligent Cities Challenge Initiative and aim to include Ukrainian cities that want to join it. For this, we are ready to provide tools that will help accelerate the green and digital transition. This, in turn, will provide a path to decarbonization. We also offer a new status – an observer city in this Initiative. Thus, it will be possible to get acquainted with the tools for the implementation of Local Green Courses and other European cities that implement them," said Hubert Gambs, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate for Internal Market Affairs, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium business of the European Commission.

In particular, the Initiative is expected to help communities participating in the project to develop municipal energy plans with the support of DiXi Group to learn more about the green transition and pave the way to decarbonization of the economy.

"The main mass of natural and energy resources in our country is consumed in cities, which needs to be solved somehow. There is also a demographic factor that puts pressure on us in Ukraine. Of course, in addition to the capital, other cities will fight for people and for qualified labor. For this, you need to create comfortable conditions for living and doing business, including for future generations. This is a question of sustainable development, which becomes important not only at the national level but also at the level of a specific city, because it attracts to this community people, allows the community to develop," DiXi Group Research Director Roman Nitsovych emphasized during the event.

More than 180 European cities are already working on implementing local "green courses," in the second stage, the European Commission plans to support another 80.

Cities that can apply for observer status of the "Smart Cities Challenge" initiative must meet the following criteria:

• Population from 50,000 inhabitants;
• The local self-government body or the city council must apply;
• Motivated to participate in the transition process and learn more about Local Green Courses.

To apply, one must:

• Fill out the form;
• Provide a letter of intent from the mayor or his deputy (scanned copy);
• Provide the names of two representatives and attach their resumes. It is expected that these people should devote 2-3 days a month to the initiative;
• Send the application by February 23 to grow-intelligent-cities@ec.europa.eu, with a copy to helpdesk_icc@technopolis-group.com.

All documents must be completed in English.

More details are already available on the Intelligent Cities Challenge Initiative website: https://bit.ly/3SuGoVa.

For reference:

Also, to help Ukrainian communities with green recovery, a Ukrainian translation of the advisor "Local Green Courses. Action Plan" was presented, the original version of which was created within the framework of the Initiative.

The Local Green Deal is a place-based action plan aimed at accelerating and expanding the green transition of cities and aims to promote the European Green Deal (EGD).

The guide contains both theoretical principles of building local green courses, as well as successful examples of cities that are already implementing them. It offers a systematic approach to the green transition. You can familiarize yourself with the Ukrainian version of the action plan by following the link.