The mayor of Logroño, Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, was named president of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) at the entity's General Assembly.

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, who took office for a period of three years, replaces the mayor of Hospitalet de Llobregat, Nuria Marín i Martínez, who was appointed president of the Network in 2016.

“After three years as first vice president, Logroño enthusiastically assumes the presidency of an association like the RECI, which enjoys great prestige and solvency. A network that encompasses cities and municipalities that work side by side for the development and improvement of living conditions in our towns and cities. It is, therefore, a great challenge that, as mayor of Logroño, I assume with enthusiasm and energy at a time of change for our city. Without a doubt, for Logroño this presidency will mean a before and after in its future as a smart city,” said Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, mayor of Logroño. 

The 83 cities that make up the RECI participated in this assembly event, united to promote economic, social and business progress through innovation and knowledge, relying on information and communication technologies (ICT).

The representatives of the participating councils also elected the rest of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities, which will be made up of the mayor of Santander, Gema Igual Ortiz (first vice presidency); Pedro del Cura Sánchez, mayor of Rivas-Vaciamadrid (second vice presidency); deputy mayor, Digital Transition and Agenda 2030 of Barcelona, Laia Bonet Rull (third vice presidency). The members are the mayors of A Coruña, Algeciras, Arganda del Rey, Benidorm, Cáceres, Gijón, Granada, Huelva, Hospitalet, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Rozas, Lugo, Madrid, Majadahonda, Motril, Orihuela, Palma de Mallorca, Roquetas de Mar, Salamanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Segovia, Torrente, Valencia, Valladolid and Vitoria.  

83 cities united by social, cultural and urban development

The Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) was created in 2011 and currently has 83 cities, including the main Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao and many other provincial capitals.

The association aims to generate a dynamic between cities in order to have a network of smart cities that promote the automatic and efficient management of urban infrastructure and services, as well as the reduction of public spending and the improvement of quality of services, thus managing to attract economic activity and generating progress, in addition to influencing aspects such as energy savings, sustainable mobility, electronic administration and care for people.

The cooperation of the public and private sectors, social collaboration without exclusions and the development of work on the network are fundamental elements that allow everyone to develop an innovative space that promotes talent, opportunities and quality of life in the environment. urban.

Smart cities are those that have an innovation and networking system to provide cities with a model for improving economic and political efficiency, allowing social, cultural and urban development. To support this growth, a commitment is made to creative industries and high technology that allows urban growth based on the promotion of capabilities and networks articulated all through participatory strategic plans that allow improving the innovation system. local.