Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast BABLE Smart Cities

In this episode, we dive into the world of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with Thomas de Bassompierre, MaaS Project Manager at Floya for Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB), Belgium, and Damian Bown, CEO of Trafi.
With them, we explored how Brussels is integrating various transportation modes into a unified service platform, discussed the challenges faced in implementation, and looked at the future of urban mobility.
 
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In this fourth and last episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with one of our previous guests Raffaele Gareri, Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures & former CDO of Rome, and with Islam Bouzguenda, Lecturer & Researcher in Smart Sustainable Cities' Governance & Planning at the University of Twente, Netherlands.
With them, we explored the critical skills and educational frameworks necessary for future urban innovation leaders. The discussion emphasised the integration of practical experiences with theoretical knowledge in academic settings to better prepare students for real-world challenges in urban environments.
 
Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organisation. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.
 
Overview of the episode:












[00:02:55] Teaser Question: "Describe your daily work life in three emojis?"
[00:04:52] Our guests' backgrounds
[00:08:28] Discussion on Education in Urban Innovation
[00:12:37] Bridging Academic Preparation with Real-World Demands
[00:15:41] Integration of Practical Experience
[00:19:15] Emerging Trends in Urban Innovation
[00:22:11] Challenges in Educating Future Leaders
[00:28:46] Practical Example of Collaboration
[00:39:31] Inspire Us: Our guests share a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired them recently
[00:42:32] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"
 
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this fourth episode of our SMCNetZero series, we discussed decarbonisation in Small and Medium-sized Cities with Luca Leomanni, CTO and Co-Founder of Social Tech Projects, focusing on infrastructure maintenance and the role of AI in urban planning.
The discussion explores innovative solutions for sustainable mobility, particularly cycling infrastructure, and the importance of community engagement in policy implementation to achieve a more proactive approach to city management.
 
To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:00:43] Teaser Question: If you could have any superpower to assist in your work with Social Tech Projects, what would it be and why?
[00:03:44] What is your background and what led you to Social Tech Projects?
[00:04:55] What exactly is Social Tech Projects? What is the mission, and could you also mention the AI road system?
[00:09:42] How are you working with, for example, small and medium-sized cities, and what challenges do you think these cities are facing, especially related to decarbonization?
[00:13:29] Are you mostly working in mobility or are there other types of products that you're also doing?
[00:14:12] How has working with the European Space Agency shaped what you're doing with small to medium-sized cities? Were there particular sites or other advancements that emerged from that collaboration?
[00:24:29] Inspire Us: Our guest shares an inspiring story about the city of Oulu, Finland.
[00:26:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?
 
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this third episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with Honorata Grzesikowska, Founder and CEO of Urbanitarian & spatial and equity designer, and Mela Atanassova, a Facilitator in Innovation Design.
With them, we delve into the topics of collective learning, urban innovation, and the significant influence of city design on societal behaviours. Our guests highlighted the importance of embracing collective knowledge, challenging the glorification of individual achievements, and exploring innovative approaches to urban planning and design that prioritise communal well-being and environmental sustainability.
 
 Additional material :

Sensemaking Methodology - what it is and how you do it
Case studies:

"Portfolio Approach" - Resolving Uncertainty Through Learning

‘Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones’ — A Portfolio Approach to Governance in Malawi



Sensemaking Toolkit

 
Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:02:03] Teaser Question: If you could redesign any city, which one would you pick and why?
[00:04:18] What is your background, and how did you get to where you are today?
[00:06:23] Why do you think we struggle with learning from what's already out there, and what makes collective learning so challenging?
[00:08:10] How can we practically apply the concept of collective learning in our work and decision-making processes?
[00:13:15] How do we address the challenge of not learning collectively, especially in urban development and innovation?
[00:16:16] What new professions or approaches are emerging in the field of urban design and planning?
[00:18:00] How important is asking the right questions in the process of urban development and planning?
[00:19:30] Can you discuss the "Not Invented Here Syndrome" and its implications?
[00:22:30] How does urban design influence societal behavior and identity?
[00:24:11] What is collective sense-making, and how can it be effectively integrated into organizational processes?
[00:28:43] Any final thoughts or important aspects you believe our listeners should know about urban planning and design?
[00:33:55] Urban Dilemmas: Our guests steer the story, crafting cities one fictional challenge at a time.
[00:36:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?
 
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Smart in the Cities'in ilk bölüm Türkçe bölümünde MBB'den Veri ve Teknoloji Merkezi Direktörü Samet Keskin ve mimar ve Kıdemli Şehir Politikası Uzmanı olan İrem Kurtuluş ile bir araya geldik.
Sohbetimizde Marmara Belediyeler Birliği (MMB) ve BABLE arasındaki yerel yönetimleri güçlendirmeyi amaçlayan, dinamik işbirliğini keşfederken MARUF23’ün bizde bıraktığı izleri konuştuk.
MMB Türkiye'nin Marmara bölgesindeki 190 belediyeyi temsil eden bir bölgesel organizasyon olarak hizmet veriyor.
 
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Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.
 
And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

In this second episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we welcomed Jose Antonio Ondiviela, who after 29 years of experience leading Microsoft's Smart Cities initiatives, is now spearheading his own research department at the Universidad Francisco de Victoria in Madrid, Spain.
The discussion focused on talent attraction and development within cities: the global competition for talent as a cornerstone for attracting investment, the significance of upskilling and creating a vibrant city brand to appeal emotionally and rationally to potential residents, and the essential role of public-private partnerships in fostering environments conducive to talent development.
 
Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:02:22] Teaser Question: If cities were on a dating app trying to match with investors, what kind of upskilling would they put in their profile to become the ultimate catch?
[00:07:17] How does the fight for talent manifest itself in cities striving to be smart? Are there specific sectors or industries more aggressive in this fight?
[00:12:28] What jobs are most in demand in this fight for talent, especially considering the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
[00:12:52] ​Examples of cities that have successfully attracted top talent for Smart City initiatives. What strategies did they employ?
[00:16:32] ​How can public-private partnerships foster an environment conducive to talent development in smart cities?
[00:19:24] ​In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, who is leading, and how do public-private partnerships impact a city's attractiveness?
[00:23:14] How do mid-sized cities contribute to the global competition for talent?
[00:25:41] ​How can the concept of time and efficiency in urban mobility change the landscape of city attractiveness?
[00:26:08] ​How does Jose respond to concerns that the push towards smart cities might worsen regional disparities through brain drain?
[00:30:18] ​Are there any common misconceptions about developing talent within cities that Jose would like to debunk?
[00:33:44] Shoutout: our guest mentions a person, a city or any other organisation they think deserve more recognition in the field.
[00:35:17] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?
 
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!