Industry invests 153 million euros in the National Smart Cities Plan

The new National Smart Cities Plan approved by Industry seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of local entities in the provision of public services through the use of ICT and advance the governance of the smart city and tourist destination system.

The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism launches the new National Smart Cities Plan co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (Feder) with an initial investment of 153 million euros. Contributions from other administrations and the private sector will be added to this budget..

The objective of the new National Smart Cities Plan is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of local entities in the provision of public services through the use of ICT and to advance the governance of the smart city and tourist destination system.. This will result in a better quality of life for citizens and will create environments that will generate economic growth and employment..

This project is supported by institutions and associations that are involved in the development of smart cities, among which the Spanish Network of Smart Cities stands out (SAY), which already has more than 60 municipalities and is considered a reference experience, and the employers' associations Ametic and Conetic.

Lines of action

The National Smart Cities Plan is structured into five axes of action. The first aims to facilitate municipalities in their transformation process into smart cities., through the provision of resources. The second will execute projects that prove the efficiency of ICT in reducing costs, improvements in citizen satisfaction and the creation of new business models.

The third line of action is aimed at the development and growth of the ICT industry., with actions that promote new technological solutions that contribute to the advancement of smart cities. The fourth axis focuses on the communication and dissemination of the plan, to ensure their understanding through participatory processes, and the dissemination of standards, open standards and solutions, interoperable and reusable. And finally, a fifth axis is dedicated to keeping track of the entire plan.

The role of Red.es

The first action of the National Smart Cities Plan is the call for Smart Cities, which has been promoted by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, through the public business entity Red.es.

From this initiative they benefit 13 projects that are going to be developed in more than twenty municipalities and that represent an investment of 13,1 million euros. Red.es contributes up to 80% through Feder funds, which contributes to reducing the differences between the levels of development of European regions. The rest is borne by the municipalities.

This plan is coordinated through the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society through the creation of the Smart Cities Advisory Council. It will be made up of the Secretary of State itself, Red.es, Said, Idea, EOI, local entities and industry representatives.