Smart Communities Event Explores AI, Digital Transition, and Social Change in Timisoara
The open event Smart Communities: AI, Digital Transition, and Social Change took place on September 24, 2024, in Timisoara, Romania, as part of the Open Living Lab Days annual gathering. Co-hosted by the EU-funded projects Living-in.EU and CommuniCity, the event brought together over 25 participants, including representatives from public authorities, academia, the private sector, living labs, and local citizens.
The event opened with a showcase of the two co-hosting projects, highlighting how different stakeholders can benefit from their initiatives and outcomes. Participants were also introduced to the open call manuals developed in CommuniCity and the piloting procedures designed to help stakeholders implement their own projects. The session further delved into technical frameworks, including the integration of minimum interoperability mechanisms (MIMs) to support a cohesive digital transition.
An interactive session followed, encouraging participants to identify key challenges that various stakeholders face on the path to digital transformation, with a particular focus on the needs of sensitive community members. Attendees also had the opportunity to contribute their perspectives to shape the priorities of ENoLL’s newly launched Digital Urban Systems and Solutions for Transition Urban Innovation (DUSST UI) Working Group.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on ethical considerations and citizen engagement in the digital transition. Panelists shared their experiences, sparking a dynamic conversation among attendees that reflected the importance of inclusivity and ethical responsibility in building smart communities.
The event underscored the collaborative potential across sectors and emphasised the role of innovation in creating smart, inclusive, and future-ready urban environments.