What would it cost to replicate these solutions in our city?+
The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so exact cost figures cannot be quoted. However, the approach was specifically designed for replicability — tested first in 3 lighthouse cities, then adapted for 2 follower cities (Lecce and Asenovgrad). The consortium included 22 industry partners who contributed commercial pricing models for retrofit, mobility, and energy infrastructure.
Has this been tested at real city scale or just in labs?+
This is fully deployed at city scale, not a lab project. The 21 demo deliverables confirm real-world operation: 38 biogas buses running, building retrofits completed across 3 cities, EV charging infrastructure in use, district heating networks deployed, solar cell storage operational, and City Information Open Platforms live. The 2 follower cities further confirm scalability.
Who owns the IP and can we license the technology?+
The consortium of 44 partners across 6 countries developed these solutions collectively. IP is distributed among partners including coordinator Tecnalia Research & Innovation (Spain). For licensing specific components — such as the City Information Open Platform, retrofit methods, or mobility systems — you would need to engage with the relevant consortium partner. SciTransfer can help identify and connect you with the right partner.
Which specific technologies are ready to deploy today?+
Based on the deliverable list, the following are confirmed operational: district heating and cooling systems, PV installations, solar cell storage, EV fleets with charging infrastructure, biogas bus fleets, electric bus lines, bike sharing systems, smart street lighting, last-mile electric logistics, and ICT city platforms. All 21 demo deliverables describe systems 'in operation' or 'deployed and in use.'
How long did deployment take from planning to operation?+
The project ran from February 2016 to July 2022, covering planning, implementation, and operation phases across 3 lighthouse and 2 follower cities. Based on available project data, the phased approach means individual components (e.g., bus fleet, building retrofit, district heating) were deployed incrementally rather than all at once.
Does this comply with current EU energy and climate regulations?+
The project was funded under the Smart Cities and Communities topic (SCC-01-2015) and directly addresses EU climate targets through zero-carbon city concepts. The integrated urban plans developed align with EU energy efficiency directives and renewable energy targets. As an Innovation Action completed in 2022, the solutions reflect current regulatory requirements.
What technical support is available for new adopters?+
SmartEnCity established a Smart Cities Network specifically to support replication at European scale. The 2 follower cities (Lecce and Asenovgrad) already went through the adaptation process, so documented replication guidelines exist. The consortium's 5 research organizations and 3 universities provide the technical backbone for knowledge transfer.
