As a global megatrend, digitalization is changing almost all areas of society: the way we communicate and learn, the way we move and travel, our value creation and our consumption. This is associated with enormous potential for the development of more sustainable societies – be it through the avoidance of emission-intensive mobility, resource-saving and more efficient production processes or growing digital participation. At the same time, the debate is also increasingly focusing on those aspects of digital transformation that are at odds with global sustainability goals.
The enormous energy consumption of ever larger data centers, the discrimination of already discriminated groups reproduced by algorithms or the concentration of power of globally active tech companies are just a few examples of this. Several aconium GmbH projects and initiatives are currently focusing on this area of tension between digitalization and sustainability. They show perspectives on how cities and regions can use the opportunities of digitalization in such a way that they support ecologically, socially and economically sustainable local development instead of thwarting it.
More digital = more sustainable?
The international conference “Sustainable & resilient urban-rural partnerships” took place at the end of November 2020 as part of the German EU Council Presidency and under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Anja Karliczek. aconium co-hosted a session under the key question “More digital = more sustainable?” Representatives of cities and universities from Germany, Denmark and the UK discussed what cities and municipalities can do to put digitalization at the service of sustainability. The presentations showed that important contributions to the global sustainability goals can also be made at local and regional level, for example in the use of real-time data to measure the municipal carbon footprint, through the targeted promotion of sustainable and digitally supported mobility solutions or the support of small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital development. During the discussion, it became clear that municipalities and local communities must become active co-creators of their future. This requires strong partnerships with other sectors and regions and an increased focus on social innovation in order to empower people and create meeting spaces. When it comes to rural regions, it also became clear that existing narratives from the smart city debate cannot simply be transferred 1:1, but that individual, location-specific solutions must be found.
On the way to “intelligent” spatial development
Our project “Integrated Solutions for Smart Regions” (iSmart) also focuses on what successful integrated strategies for the future-proof and sustainable development of “smart regions” can look like. Over the past few months, we have analyzed and compiled the results and experiences of 12 Interreg B projects with German participation in this field. We wanted to know: What vision do these projects have of a sustainable and “smart region”? And what does it take to achieve this vision? The initial interim results clearly show that “smart” regions are making targeted use of the opportunities presented by the digital transformation to harmonize ecological, social, economic, cultural and spatial concerns. The importance of active local communities and a public sector that is capable of action and willing to shape the future is particularly important. Based on these interim results, the aim now is to develop a joint position by May 2021 on which priorities in the area of “intelligent” regional development appear sensible and necessary in the 2021-2027 Interreg funding period. In addition to new project ideas, comments on the Interreg B program drafts will also be developed and recommendations on funding priorities will be addressed to the German program stakeholders. iSmart is funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community as part of the Federal Transnational Cooperation Program as a docking project of our Interreg North Sea Region project CORA (COnnecting Remote Areas with digital infrastructure and services).
Reducing the carbon footprint with digital technologies
In two very tangible application areas, our Interreg projects Stronghouse and LUCIA also show how digital technologies can contribute to greenhouse gas reduction. In the North Sea Region project Stronghouse, aconium GmbH is pursuing the goal of investigating and demonstrating smart home technologies and their influence on the energy efficiency of residential buildings. In the Baltic Sea Region project LUCIA, which is supported by aconium GmbH, the project partners are helping municipalities to make even better use of the enormous potential of energy-efficient and “intelligent” urban lighting solutions. In future projects, we would also like to support cities and regions in shaping their digital future in such a way that the achievement of global sustainability goals is supported locally.