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In Europe’s biggest ever app challenge the EU is offering €400 000 in prizes to best new applications that help build smarter cities and smarter businesses.

Cities are the major source of European economic activity and innovation. But cities are also a major source of greenhouse gases and pollution. Concerted action is needed to make urban environments cleaner and healthier to live in and to make them use less energy. The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Smart Cities and Communities and its "Strategic Implementation Plan" are leading the way in making the transformation of cities into "Smart Cities" a reality. Real impact could be made through investments in 'zero/plus' energy districts, increased use of alternative energies for cleaner transport, public transport and efficient logistics to reduce negative impacts of congestion, or green, widely available ICTs and multiple-use infrastructures.

At a conference hosted by the European Commission, city leaders, CEOs and civil society leaders discussed the actions outlined in the "Smart Cities Strategic Implementation Plan" and how to put them into practice. The Commission announced that it will launch an 'Invitation for Smart City and Community Commitments' in spring 2014 to mobilise work on the action plan's priorities. The plan is part of Europe's fifth "Innovation Partnership".

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Neelie Kroes is writing in her blog post on how EU support is helping innovation help the lives of millions.</p>

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<font size="2">The iURBAN project aims to create an intelligent "brain" that helps households, businesses and public buildings make their energy shopping lists. </font></p>

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Les normes garantissent des changements positifs , tel était le thème de&nbsp;la conférence qui a réuni plus d'une centaine de personnes lundi dernier au Luxembourg.&nbsp;La Commission européenne (DG CONNECT, Smart Cities &amp; Sustainability)&nbsp;y était représentée par Patricia Arsene.<br />
Toutes les présentations, ainsi que les photos,&nbsp;sont disponibles sur le site de l'ILNAS: <a href="http://www.ilnas.public.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2013/10/journee-mondiale-normalisation-luxembourg/index.html">www.ilnas.public.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2013/10/journee-mondiale-normalisation-luxembourg/index.html</a></p>

For more than 75% of EU citizens their city is their home – it is where they mostly live, work, and play. Cities are the major source of European economic activity and of innovation. But the global economy is developing and changing fast and European cities need to rise to new challenges and develop and improve. Our cities are also a major source of greenhouse gases and local pollution and we need concerted action to put this right. We can and we should make cities better places to live and to work in. Our cities can become cleaner and healthier and use less energy. They can be Smart Cities.<br />
The European Commission is expected to invest around €200m to create Smart Cities in the next two years.

The aim is to outline the long-term vision for a modern and open public sector and the way public services may be delivered in an open government setting.<br />
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