Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast

In this episode, recorded live at Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, we are joined by Eddie Copeland, Director, and Genta Hajri, Digital Innovation Delivery Lead at the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI). London consists of 33 separate administrative areas, which can often lead to fragmented public services. Eddie and Genta explain how LOTI acts as a collaborative layer, helping boroughs use data, technology, and innovation to solve shared challenges together. The conversation covers impactful initiatives such as 'Get Online London', the city's digital inclusion service, and how improved data sharing is ensuring vulnerable children are auto-enrolled for free school meals. We also explore the practical application of AI in social care to support workflows while maintaining human accountability, and the team's unique use of immersive theatre to build empathy and better partnerships between the public and private sectors. 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 Chapters (00:00:00) - From the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona to London(00:03:22) - Our guests' backgrounds: meet Eddie & Genta(00:06:17) - What LOTI does (and how it makes collaboration actually happen)(00:10:13) - Digital inclusion, made real: the Get Online London playbook(00:13:49) - Better data, better outcomes: tackling rough sleeping & free school meals(00:17:45) - AI beyond the hype: practical wins, real risks, and public trust(00:26:23) - What’s next for LOTI: constraints, advice to suppliers, and lessons learned(00:34:36) - Podcast Segment: Flip the Script(00:38:41) - Recurring Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

In this episode, recorded live at Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, we sit down with Darío Moreno, Mayor of the Municipality of Sagunto, Spain. He shares the story of how his city secured a historic €3 billion investment for a Volkswagen battery gigafactory, positioning Sagunto as a key player in Europe's reindustrialisation. Our guest explains the "leap of faith" required to develop 5 million square meters of industrial land in record time and how this project is transforming the local economy. He also discusses the unique challenge of governing a city with two distinct souls, the 3,000 year old historic centre and the industrial port, while managing housing pressures and mobility. We also dive into his background as a United Nations lawyer, his call for stronger multilateralism, and why he compares Sagunto's bright future to a blooming orchid. 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

Dans cet épisode, Guillaume Ruet, maire de Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur et conseiller départemental de la Côte-d’Or, partage sa vision d’une ville à taille humaine qui refuse d’être une simple cité-dortoir en périphérie de Dijon. La conversation aborde ses quatre grandes priorités : sécurité et tranquillité du quotidien, transition écologique ambitieuse (écoles rénovées, patrimoine décarboné, milliers d’arbres plantés), soutien aux familles et aux aînés avec la démarche « ville amie des aînés », et lutte contre le décrochage civique l’incivisme par une « démocratie implicative » où chacun contribue. Il revient aussi sur l’aide aux commerces locaux en temps de crise, le rôle du sport comme politique de santé et de cohésion, et sa définition très humaine de la Smart City : anticiper les besoins de demain, impliquer les habitants et refuser le « ce n’est pas possible ». 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

In this episode, Isaac Silveira, Municipal Director of the Department of Communication, Technology and Image at the Municipality of Cascais, Portugal, paints for us the portrait of Cascais as a “human” Smart City, where technology is a tool to strengthen relationships, build trust and improve daily life for residents, workers, students and visitors. Our guest explains how the Cascais Operations Centre and Cascais BI enable real-time, data-driven decisions, while the open GeoCascais platform empowers citizens with transparent spatial information. He also discusses tourism management, sustainability on the Atlantic coast, breaking silos inside the municipality, and his vision of being “smart with a soul” – combining digital intelligence, social inclusion and environmental resilience for future generations. 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

In this episode recorded live at the RethinkCities Summit 2025, Allan Pilgaard-Jensen, Managing Director of ProjectZero for the City of Sønderborg, Denmark, and Drew Turner, Director of Global Decarbonisation Solutions at Danfoss, share how Sønderborg is working towards carbon neutrality by 2029 through a long-standing public-private partnership. The conversation explores why successful energy transitions are “80% people and 20% technology,” highlighting the importance of governance “hotspots,” stakeholder ownership and clear business cases for every project. They discuss Sønderborg’s “lighthouse” initiatives that link hospitals, data centres and industries through district energy and heat recovery systems, showing how concept designs and shared master plans avoid silos and build momentum. Allan and Drew also reflect on replicating this model in larger cities, the economics of the final 10% of decarbonisation, including carbon capture, and why collaboration and realistic payback are crucial to scaling climate action. Throughout, they stress that Smart Cities thrive when plans turn into projects with shared benefits for people and business alike. 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

In this episode recorded live at the ReThink Cities Summit 2025, Markus Paulsson, Energy Strategist at the City of Lund, Sweden, walks us through how Lund couples visible delivery with system change. District heating supplies around 90% of demand and went fossil-free two years early, helping halve emissions from 1990 to 2020. We unpack EnergyNet, a bottom-up, digitally controlled, self-steering architecture that links building to building and pushes capability to the edge. We also explore CoAction Lund, an ecosystem model bringing property owners, employers, infrastructure operators and solution providers into shared action beyond the city’s formal mandate.   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

In this episode recorded live at the ReThink Cities Summit 2025, we hear from Deputy Mayor Adam Pustelnik about the next moves of the city of Łódź, Poland: uncovering a historic river segment in the city centre to catalyse place-making, with works already underway, and visible momentum on reindustrialisation as factories and industrial parks rise on large sites. At the same time, the team confronts urban sprawl: an area where benefits are long term while the near-term impacts are often political and socially sensitive. The discussion also tackles the green transformation head-on, arguing that the greatest obstacles are political and that leaders must reach beyond their familiar bubbles to build broader support.   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

In this episode recorded live at the RethinkCities Summit 2025, Sunniva Fossen Haugen, Climate Advisor at the Municipality of Trondheim, Norway, shares their journey from offshore oil and gas into climate policy and city logistics. The discussion tackles why commercial fleets lag behind passenger EVs (touching on incentives, payload limits, charging logistics and grid constraints) and how consolidation hubs guided by the ABC localisation principle can cut urban mileage. Sunniva outlines Trondheim’s six focus areas for zero-emission logistics, explains new procurement requirements (zero-emission/biogas vehicles in municipal contracts), and stresses the need for shared data platforms and co-operation with industry. A municipal pilot combining local food purchasing with low-emission deliveries shows how to align multiple sustainability goals. Throughout, they argue for fairness, predictability, and holistic Avoid-Shift-Improve planning to embed freight into mainstream mobility strategy.    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

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In this episode, Sherelle Fairweather, Digital Strategy Lead at Manchester City Council, UK, and Minu Tegethoff, Senior Expert Digital Services & Technologies at Drees & Sommer, unpack how Manchester is moving from digital strategy to delivery. They outline the city’s four pillars (people & inclusion, “what’s in the ground” connectivity, tech for good, and sustainability & resilience) then explain how a recent digital maturity assessment shifted focus from glossy plans to building a deployable network. You’ll hear why aligning definitions across departments matters, why governance, ownership and budgets are the real unblockers, and how a small advisory “front door” can speed fit-for-purpose projects. They also dig into data stewardship and discovery as the backbone for impact, the often-overlooked risk of operations and maintenance, and partnership models that help cities learn beyond pilots.   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

In this episode of our mayoral series, Zartoshte Bakhtiari, Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Marne, France, and Vice President of the Greater Paris Grand East administration, explores citizen-centred municipal leadership, directing investment to improve daily life and long-term resilience. Themes include ROI-minded energy renovations, tree-planting and greening to reduce bills and mitigate flooding, alongside creating new revenues through a riverside nature-tourism hub that restores urban nature. He details the “Pass for Young Citizen”, which rewards 12–20-year-olds for civic missions and volunteering, and discusses balancing a strong national vision with local flexibility. Running through it all: protect core services without overburdening residents and define “smart” as enabling people to flourish and contribute.   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

In this episode, Aaron Brockett, Mayor of the City of Boulder, Colorado, USA, explores how the city is tackling the pressures of being a highly desirable, outdoors-oriented university city. Topics include practical housing affordability tools alongside nature-based climate resilience and wildfire mitigation that prioritise healthy forests and restored ecosystems. The discussion looks at inclusive community engagement through multilingual block parties and dedicated liaisons, protections for residents in manufactured-housing communities, and progress on unsheltered homelessness via permanent supportive housing. Mobility comes into focus with bikes and paths, bus rapid transit, and a long-sought regional rail link, while a people-centred view of “smart” highlights technology that quietly serves real needs.   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

In this episode, Belal Aftab, Mayor of the City of Saratoga, California, USA, explores how data-driven leadership can shape more resilient and connected communities. The conversation covers traffic safety and neighbourhood priorities, breaking down data silos for better decision-making, and preparing a hillside city for wildfires, earthquakes, and other climate-related risks. Our guest reflects on revitalising a volunteer-spirited downtown, tackling housing affordability in an ultra-expensive market, and why genuine community engagement and stronger communication tools are essential for balanced change.   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

In this episode, Anton Nikitin, Chief Sustainability Officer at the City of Vilnius, Lithuania, shares how a “greenest city in the making” mindset guides practical climate action. The conversation traces Anton’s path from cycling officer to city-wide sustainability lead, and dives into people-centred policy: citizen assemblies, street redesigns, and reframing mobility around real choices. We explore district heating shifts to renewables, creative energy efficiency (from flue-gas heat recovery to reusing data-centre heat), and the hard work of building social licence for change. A nton reflects on lessons learned, especially around stakeholder engagement, and why investing now avoids higher future costs, all in service of a city where people simply feel good living their daily lives.   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 Chapters (00:01:08) - Teaser question: “describe Vilnius’s sustainability approach in just three words?”(00:03:16) - Guest background(00:04:45) - What sustainability means(00:06:02) - European Green Capital: recognition, process, and citizen understanding(00:10:15) - Avoiding exclusion(00:13:58) - Engagement toolkit(00:16:40) - Emissions focus and energy examples(00:23:01) - Efficiency wins: flue-gas heat recovery; capturing data-centre waste heat(00:25:04) - Misconceptions: “sustainability is expensive”(00:32:24) - Bottlenecks: financing vs. behaviour change; EV uptake, charging, and building renovation; political cycles(00:41:20) - Segment: "Trial and Error"(00:51:36) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?"

In this episode, Jakub Mazur, Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw, Poland, maps how the city is moving from pilots to performance: using nanosatellite imagery to enrich property data and support flood readiness, pairing AI with sensors to predict water-pipe leaks, and shifting from hundreds of disconnected systems toward an e-office standard that cities can share. He reflects on data gaps around newcomers and why better public–private collaboration matters, the legal and procurement hurdles that slow local co-creation, and lessons from managing recurring crises such as floods. Above all, he argues for a human-centred Smart City that honours heritage, builds resilience, and turns evidence into everyday improvements.   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 Chapters (00:01:23) - Teaser Question : “Imagine your city was a song. What genre would it be and why?”(00:03:45) - Guest background(00:05:51) - City snapshot(00:07:49) - From pilots to impact(00:08:55) - Nanosatellites (“minions”)(00:11:27) - Water resilience(00:12:50) - Mobility data(00:14:38) - E-office vision(00:21:11) - Data alignment(00:26:34) - Crisis management(00:28:20) - Flood resilience(00:33:20) - Looking ahead(00:35:30) - What’s missing(00:41:33) - Inspire Us segment(00:46:14) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, Linda Alksne, IT Project Manager at Liepāja City Council, Latvia, shares a practitioner’s view of citizen-centred digital services—from a mobile app and e-service portal co-designed with residents to pilots that surface surprising. The conversation tracks lessons from an Interact Europe open-data project, early steps toward a digital-twin starting with energy consumption visualisation in municipal buildings, and inclusive approaches that keep non-digital users engaged through trainings and traditional channels. It also touches on behaviour-change work inside the administration and the realities of funding, licensing costs, and limited staff capacity in a small city.    Episode Overview: [00:01:20] Teaser: If Liepaja were an animal [00:01:59] Guest background [00:03:43] City snapshot [00:04:55] Making citizen–government links more direct, digital, and responsive  [00:06:20] User-centred features [00:08:49] Feedback mechanisms and early satisfaction [00:10:27] Pilots and data insight [00:13:18] Interact Europe open-data journey [00:15:50] Digital-twins and inclusion [00:20:12] Paperless Municipality [00:22:15] Challenges Liepaja faces [00:28:40] Podcast Segment: Shoutout [00:29:36] 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

In this episode, Art Pearce, Deputy Director of Planning, Projects and Programs at the Bureau of Transportation for the City of Portland, shares how a city’s internal culture can either hinder or propel urban transformation. Drawing from nearly three decades of public service, he discusses Portland’s deep-rooted legacy in sustainable transport and land use, and the strategic shift to viewing civic evolution through a change management lens. Art delves into co-creation, bureaucracy’s emotional “pizza dough,” and how psychological readiness shapes infrastructure success. The conversation spans curb management, equity, and rekindling confidence in public systems through intentional, people-centred design. Episode Overview: [00:01:49] Teaser: “Portland would be proudly a confusing pizza…” [00:03:04] Guest background: from housing advocacy to transport planning. [00:04:52] Housing and transport: interdependencies and equity. [00:07:10] Portland’s values-driven, process-heavy urban approach. [00:10:44] Defining change management for cities. [00:13:44] Change vs. transition: structural vs. psychological shift. [00:16:34] Lessons from Vision Zero and NYC’s public space evolution. [00:19:36] Co-creation examples: tactical urbanism and logistics decarbonisation. [00:23:07] Bureaucracy as pizza dough: internal cultural alignment. [00:26:26] Avoiding consensus paralysis while sustaining inclusion. [00:30:06] Curb management: a dynamic space for innovation. [00:32:45] Innovation checklist: why cities resist solutions without clear problems. [00:37:37] Challenges post-2019: mental health, homelessness, funding gaps. [00:41:07] Missing tool: sustainable funding models beyond gas taxes. [00:42:54] Empowering public sector staff for agency and impact. [00:46:46] 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

In this episode, Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator for the City of Olympia, shares her path from environmental economics to landscape architecture and into public service. The conversation unpacks how cross-disciplinary insights inform Olympia’s proactive approach to climate adaptation—from downtown flood barriers to heat pump programmes for low-income households. Natalie explains the balancing act between long-term strategic planning and immediate public health needs, and how reframing resilience work as community investment strengthens local engagement. She also reflects on the power of neighbourhood connections, adaptive infrastructure, and the role of perception in climate preparedness. Episode Overview: [00:00:58] Teaser: “If Olympia had a climate resilience theme song…” [00:02:28] Guest background: from maths and biology to design-led climate work. [00:05:07] Olympia’s unique geography, identity, and community profile. [00:08:00] Best vs. worst case climate futures for Olympia. [00:10:40] Findings from Olympia’s climate risk and vulnerability assessment. [00:14:11] Sea level rise risks and downtown mitigation strategies. [00:16:51] Balancing urgency and long-term planning for sea level rise. [00:20:49] Heat pump group purchasing programme and community uptake. [00:23:13] Lessons in scaling local initiatives. [00:24:40] Justifying climate investment amid political scepticism. [00:28:10] Bottlenecks: funding and need for structural integration. [00:30:42] Importance of individual and community-level adaptation. [00:32:09] Fun Segment – “Hot Take of the Day”. [00:35:22] 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

In this episode, David Michalička, Mayor of Říčany in the Czech Republic, shares how his town has embraced participatory budgeting as a transformative tool for civic engagement. Drawing from a background in civil engineering and renewable energy, David outlines his unexpected path into politics and the decade-long evolution of participatory approaches in Říčany. He highlights the impact of empowering both youth and seniors to shape their communities, the importance of patience and visibility in citizen-driven projects, and the town’s commitment to spreading this model through municipal training. From forest trails to railway lines, this conversation explores how simple, inclusive mechanisms can build smarter, more connected towns. Episode Overview: [00:01:44] Teaser: Říčany as a “bird flying high” – small, fast, and ambitious. [00:02:46] David’s background in civil engineering, energy, and railways. [00:04:03] Journey into public service: “no one else to do it” – grassroots leadership. [00:06:17] Unique positioning: near Prague but immersed in nature. [00:07:31] Local strengths: connectivity, livability, and community pride. [00:09:25] What is participatory budgeting? Encouraging year-round civic action. [00:11:00] Visible outcomes drive engagement over time. [00:12:33] Launching PB for youth: ChangeIt project in schools. [00:14:40] Innovation Awards finalist and future senior-focused PB plans. [00:16:22] Public perception and early scepticism. [00:17:42] Advising other municipalities: find a political champion. [00:19:47] Project examples: charity shop, nature seating, playgrounds. [00:23:38] Future tools: improving voting systems for accessibility. [00:24:48] Final message: “Don’t wait—just start.” [00:29:08] Shout Outs: Cascais, Portugal and Lindau, Germany. [00:30:18] Ending Question: “Smart city means doing things simple and that work.” 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  

Gravado ao vivo em Las Rozas durante o evento ICF Top7 Intelligent Communities e produzido no âmbito do projeto CIVINET Iberia, este episódio apresenta Sofia Pires, Coordenadora da Estratégia Nacional para a Mobilidade Ativa do Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT) de Portugal. Sofia traça o seu percurso, passando desde a geografia e o desenvolvimento rural até liderar o impulso nacional para cidades centradas na caminhada e no uso da bicicleta. Explica que mobilidade ativa significa humanizar as ruas—segurança, iluminação, inclusão e saúde pública—em vez de simplesmente acrescentar ciclovias, e mostra como a mudança cultural, a participação pública e um enquadramento nacional podem acelerar o transporte descarbonizado. Partilha táticas para reduzir a dependência do automóvel, lições da estratégia pioneira para peões em Portugal e conhecimentos de uma rede colaborativa com mais de 200 municípios. A sua mensagem é clara: cidades inteligentes de sucesso movem pessoas, não veículos.   Visão Geral do Episódio: [00:00:08] Abertura – ligando saúde pública, ação climática, inclusão e justiça espacial através da mobilidade ativa. [00:00:55] Apresentação da convidada: Sofia Pires, Estratégia Nacional para a Mobilidade Ativa, IMT Portugal. [00:01:06] Quebra-gelo: retrato da mobilidade de Lisboa em três palavras – desafiador, mudança, integrada. [00:03:47] Trajetória profissional: da geografia e planeamento municipal a 15 anos no IMT e liderança em mobilidade ativa. [00:08:03] O que é realmente mobilidade ativa – abordagem holística, centrada nas pessoas, para além das ciclovias. [00:11:23] Escalar a mudança: enfrentar mentalidades automóvel-cêntricas e a crise climática. [00:14:11] Trotinetes elétricas como aliadas do primeiro/último quilómetro quando bem reguladas. [00:16:30] Participação pública: como o contributo cidadão moldou a estratégia pedonal de Portugal. [00:20:36] Por que é importante uma estratégia nacional — alinhamento de atores, financiamento e urgência. [00:22:13] Conselho aos decisores: “Ouça as pessoas”. [00:24:52] Destaque – Rede Colaborativa para a Mobilidade Ativa (234 entidades e a crescer). [00:29:07] Pergunta final – “Para ti, o que é uma cidade inteligente?”   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