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Amsterdam Smart City is an innovation platform that brings together proactive citizens, innovative companies, knowledge institutions and public authorities to shape the city of the future. Amsterdam Smart City consists of a public private partnership and an international community. By sharing knowledge and by collaborating we come up with innovative solutions for metropolitan issues of a social, economic and ecological nature. This way we ensure that the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area remains liveable, now and in the years to come.
02025 is a movement that aims to make Amsterdam the frontrunner in the energy transition, with the main goal to have zero carbon emissions in the municipality of Amsterdam by 2025.
Through the online platform and offline energy breakfasts, a collaborative and inclusive energy transition is stimulated. The movement is rooted in seven core elements: firstly, there is a shared goal- no more carbon emissions by 2025. 2. A fast and just transition is possible- this movement can help us figure out how to do it. 3. Through policital action the necessary conditions for change are created. 4. Participating in the energy transition needs to be interesting for all residents of Amsterdam, regardless of background, knowledge, available means, or employment. 5. Experiences, knowledge, and solutions are openly shared among varied actors. 6. By highlighting innovative individuals, projects, or organizations, they are challenging ourselves and others to push forward. 7. Lastly, the transition needs to be accompanied by celebratory events- success needs to be celebrated! Together they aim to make the energy transition a fun, collaborative project!
Argu is a platform that aims to facilitate discussion and shared decision-making among residents throughout the Netherlands. The platform is used primarily by local governments and (semi-)public institutions, to receive input on proposed projects or measure interests and needs of residents.
More than just a platform, Argu offers a service- interested customers can propose and discuss the potential use of the platform, after which argu staff will formulate a participation strategy. Although the platform is run as a business, its main objective are to increase the transparency of politics and stimulate systemic change toward politics rooted in the people, through crafty technological tools and functions.
In addition to new goal setting and , the platform aims to stimulate a design-based democracy by facilitating easier replication of projects. Thus, through self-identification and organized workshops, relevant information can be distilled from successful projects- such as the financial model, used resources, main organizational strategies, and the return of investment. These components can then be flagged or indicated on the digital platform as potential places or assets for the initiation of a new project. The following visual provides an example of how a successful energy project can be evaluated and contribute to the creation of new initiatives.
The example looks at a recent (2019) project to place solar panels on a primary school (De Dapper) in Amsterdam East. 1). The platform provides a self-reported overview of the project, such as: the involved actors; the key working mechanisms; the financial model that underlies the project; and several of the platform’s goal-tags (see figure XYZ, 1). 2). Users will have the ability to indicate similar potential assets in different locations. For example, in the example of the Solar Panels on De Dapper project, several other primary schools with large roof surfaces have been indicated- these points now provide anchor-points for the creation of new solar energy initiatives.
