Denmark holds the potential to be internationally leading in smart city solutions, concludes a new report by Arup and CEDI. The report examines the current and future role of the Danish public sector in developing smart cities.
“We want to make Denmark the world’s leading test environment for smart city solutions. A place where international companies can develop and test their innovative solutions in a real life environment. Building on Denmark’s strong track record in developing sustainable solutions as well as our unique tradition for collaboration across the public sector, industry and research institutions,” says Kristian Jensen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark.
Digital technology for urban improvement and national prosperity
Over the last decade, the smart cities concept has emerged to represent the opportunities and challenges enabled by digital technology in an urban context.
For national governments, the smart city represents an opportunity to improve its towns and cities and to access a large global market, estimated to be in the order of $1300 billion and growing by 17 % each year.
In Denmark, smart city projects carried out in different cities are already showing benefits. For example, in the Capital Region of Denmark, employment in companies that operate in the smart cities market has risen by 60 % between 2003 and 2013, an increase which amounts to 19,500 jobs.
The report highlights how pursuing smart cities strategically at a national level would enable Denmark to take a lead in the market, attract new flows of foreign investment and create employment opportunities. It would also improve Danish towns, cities, and regions, making them even more efficient, environmentally friendly, and liveable.
“The impact of coordinated action on smart cities would be similar to the country’s response on climate change or wind energy. Denmark has a great opportunity to repeat this approach—and in a way that shows the rest of the world how to use technology to create great places without compromising on the myriad of things that make cities liveable,” says Lean Doody, Smart Cities Lead, Arup.
About the report
This forward thinking report is part of a collaborative assessment to Invest in Denmark under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Danish Business Authority, The Capital Region of Denmark, Aarhus University, City of Copenhagen and Gate 21. Furthermore, the Central Denmark Region, Local Government Denmark (LGDK) and the municipalities of Aarhus and Vejle were part of the steering committee.
Growing Smart Cities in Denmark – Digital Technology for Urban Improvement and National Prosperity was carried out by a joint Arup and CEDI team, with input from the above mentioned steering committee.
Original Source: Invest in Denmark
