Bengaluru Partners with DataCity to Develop Innovative Solutions to Urban Sustainability

Climate change is no small issue and has been a hot topic on a global scale. Cities are the cause as well as the biggest victims of this all-encompassing issue, so why can’t they also be the biggest hope to bring about a change?

It is with this belief that DataCity was created by leading French innovation hub NUMA in 2015, to help cities test and implement solutions quickly, with the potential to be replicated to other cities for large-scale and fast impact.

An open innovation programme for smart cities based on 2 core beliefs: Data is key to identify challenges, design solutions and ensure scalability and that change can only happen through a multi-actor co-design approach, the programme brings together corporations, public authorities and startups, from challenge definition to co-developing innovative solutions. Drawing on the expertise and datasets provided by partners and with advice from DataCity experts, start-ups test and co-develop concrete solutions to build more sustainable, inclusive and livable cities.

The programme has been successfully implemented in Paris and Casablanca. It is now expanding internationally through a partnership between NUMA and C40 cities – a network of 91 of the world’s greatest cities committed to tackling climate change. The international development of DataCity includes 3 new cities joining the programme : Singapore with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Government Technology Agency (GovTech) through a partnership with Impact Hub Singapore, Bengaluru with the Government of Karnataka (Ministry of Information and Technology) and Barcelona with the support of Barcelona City Council.

Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT/BT and Tourism, Government of Karnataka says of Bengaluru’s inititation into the DataCity programme, “A smart city ideally should look to be citizen friendly and help the city grow in a sustainable manner. The meaning of smart cities is not fulfilled unless there is a greener or more eco-friendly way of doing things.”

Mark Watts, C40, Executive Director was also looking forward to Bengaluru’s participation in the programme. “Cities in every part of the world are seeking innovative, data-driven solution to the threat of climate change, because they recognize the urgency of the challenges we face. Bengaluru will provide and invaluable contribution to the DataCity project,” he says.

The DataCity Programme is supported at a global level by technical partners who provide expertise and technology, including Carto, OpenDataSoft and Dataiku.