At BBVA they have counted on the technical secretary of the RECI, Daniel Vega, to prepare an article entitled In the skyscrapers of innovation: present and future of 'smart cities'.

In an increasingly urban world, with more than 4.4 billion people living in cities according to the World Bank, technological innovation stands as a key response to address the challenges of governance, mobility and sustainability. Daniel Vega, technical secretary of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI), highlights that 'smart cities' represent a commitment to technology and innovation to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Urban growth is unstoppable, and it is expected that by 2050, 7 out of 10 people will live in urban areas. This population increase poses significant challenges that governments and businesses seek to address through public-private collaboration, guided by the vision of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which seeks more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities. Daniel Vega emphasizes that 'smart cities' have the key to achieving these goals.

The article highlights concrete examples of smart cities, such as Seoul and Singapore, where technology is playing a key role in improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of conceiving technology as a means to achieve specific objectives, rather than an end in itself.

The notion of laboratory cities is also mentioned, where temporary solutions are tested to evaluate their impact before their final implementation. Barcelona and Madrid are notable examples of cities that have adopted this approach.

Finally, the article emphasizes the need to put sustainability at the center of innovation in smart cities, given its importance in reducing carbon emissions and efficient use of resources. Projects such as Green Urban Data and MUAC demonstrate how technology can contribute to urban sustainability and generate entrepreneurship opportunities in this field.

We encourage you to read the full article here for more details on this crucial topic for the future of cities.