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There is no shortage of challenges when it comes to building a robust and secure IoT infrastructure in a city. Also, doing this in the midst of a raging war puts many things on edge.
During the third and last day of the smart city fair in Barcelona, IoT Sweden arranged a panel discussion together with Kiev. Catrin Ditz moderated the event and began by talking to Oleks Maistrenko from the city of Kiev. Before the war broke out, Kiev had built a digital infrastructure and had a citizen app that could be used to buy bus tickets, find parking spaces and the like.
&#8211; We could never have guessed that this app would become part of Kiev&#8217;s digital resilience. Today, the app is used for completely different things, says Oleks Maistrenko.
This involves, for example, receiving notifications about where there are pharmacies with available medicine, where there are free and available shelters, and more. So a completely different area of use than the original idea with the application.
<figure id="attachment_23979" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23979" style="width: 273px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23979 size-medium" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--273x300.jpg" alt="Porträttbild på Oleks Maistrenko, Kiev." width="273" height="300" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--273x300.jpg 273w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--768x843.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2-.jpg 899w" sizes="(max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23979" class="wp-caption-text">Oleks Maistrenko, Kyiv.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Manage contingencies with IoT</h2>
Digital resilience is about systems being able to handle digital threats, disruptions and unforeseen changes. In Kyiv, the use of IoT applications has played a crucial role in building the city&#8217;s digital resilience. A key factor is being able to access real-time data.
&#8211; There are so many variations of sensors that can be connected and used for many different things. We use sensors to measure sound, air and flows of people, for example, says Oleks Maistrenko.
The variety of sensor solutions is also a challenge as there are several different systems to be managed and tested (with unpredictable scenarios in mind). Some sensor solutions to measure ecological parameters are also hampered by missile impacts that cause both sound and air changes.
<h2>Relying on data is critical</h2>
A key word for success with the Kiev project is to create trust in the data that is generated. Oleks Maistrenko believes that it has been absolutely crucial that users trust the information displayed in the app. The residents are not interested in the technology but in getting help with various needs they have.
Another crucial part of the resident app deals with cyber security. Oleks says that the system is exposed to many attacks every day. The city of Kyiv has a security center that works systematically on cyber security issues.
&#8211; Safety has proven to be a critical aspect that could have been prioritized higher from the start, he says.
Kyiv participates in international fairs and cooperates with other cities and universities to exchange experiences around IoT and smart social solutions.
&#8211; It means a lot to us to collaborate with other countries and cities around this issue. At the same time, I hope that no other cities will have to experience what we are experiencing right now, concludes Oleks Maistrenko.
The panel also included Maria Holm from the city of Stockholm, Britta Duve Hansen from the city of Helsingborg and Morten Holst from the company Innocode.
<figure id="attachment_23954" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23954" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23954 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1024x624.jpg" alt="Paneldeltagare på IoT Sveriges seminarium." width="640" height="390" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-300x183.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-768x468.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1536x936.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-2048x1248.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23954" class="wp-caption-text">Oleks Maistrenko, Kyiv, Britta Duve Hansen, City of Helsingborg, Catrin Ditz, IoT Sweden, Maria Holm, City of Stockholm and Morten Holst, Innocode.</figcaption></figure>

During the third and last day of the smart city fair in Barcelona, IoT Sweden arranged a panel discussion together with Kiev.

IoT for digital resilience in Kyiv - IoT Sverige

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IoT for digital resilience in Kyiv

IoT Sverige vill öka användningen av sakernas internet i offentlig sektor.

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Under the somewhat provocative workshop title “the funeral of pilot projects” we gathered a very representative and engaged audience mainly from Nordics and the Netherlands. We wanted to discuss and identify obstacles why pilot projects in the public sector seldom scales and turn into successful implementation and rollout across the public users. The background is the need for innovation in order to further streamline the public sector to keep up with the growing demand (elderly population, climate challenges, crowded cities etcetera), without raising taxes and fees. Pilot project driving innovation is a commonly used tool and vehicle for this streamlining.
<figure id="attachment_23903" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23903" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23903 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1024x347.jpg" alt="Workshopdeltagare" width="640" height="217" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1024x347.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-300x102.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-768x260.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1536x521.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-2048x695.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23903" class="wp-caption-text">Well visited workshop arranged by IoT Sweden and AeroVision.</figcaption></figure>
Success and scaling are also important to draw attention from entrepreneurs and investors complementing the public actors and their scarce resources. Entrepreneurs and investors are quick movers and tend to cluster, like omnivores and shoals of herring, close to where the market opportunity is. The overall prospect looks promising though. In Europe, public spending is 40-50 % of GDP, half the economy, so why this under performance? And can we do something about it?
<h2>Technology is not the challenge</h2>
First of all, there was a very clear consensus among the workshop audience that technology is not the challenge. Technology such as IoT, AI, automation and biotech, holds promises to unlock untapped potential, and even though technology in some cases are early stage, already a lot can be done.
Instead, we identified three major obstacles, and the consensus among the discussion groups were almost unanimously.
1. Engagement of the problem owner 
2. Risk appetite in the public sector 
3. Implementation affecting processes and organization (adoption)
In a way these three identified obstacles can be summarized in culture. The private innovation arena, with its people, competencies, processes and capital has evolved from a rather immature venture scene and innovation culture late 90-ies, in the first wave of the IT boom, to foster worldwide recognized scale ups from both the Netherlands and the Nordics. 
The public sector seems not to have kept up with their counterparts from the private venture scene even though efforts have been made. The public sector needs to continue its efforts and to go from innovation system to innovation culture. People/leadership not manuals and steering documents rule. It’s a journey well worth the effort.
<figure id="attachment_23891" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23891" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23891 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1024x766.jpg" alt="Bild på Magnus Fransson och Leon Hendriks." width="640" height="479" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-300x225.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-768x575.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1536x1149.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-2048x1533.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23891" class="wp-caption-text">Magnus Fransson and Leon Hendriks.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Learn from each other to overcome the challenges</h2>
This workshop kickstarted a new initiative to benchmark practices of implantation of innovation: what to learn from each other and how to overcome the challenges. IoT Sweden and AeroVision pick up this task to bring cities and stakeholders together in a European City Benchmark ‘how to create life after a pliot project’. This journey will continue in a European City Benchmark ‘how to create life after a pliot project’.
Join us and connect!
Barcelona, November 5th 2024

A blogpost about why pilot project seldom scale. Thoughts from Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona where IoT Sweden participates.

The funeral of pilot projects - IoT Sverige

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The funeral of pilot projects

For the second year in a row, IoT Sweden is participating in the <a href="https://www.smartcityexpo.com/">Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona</a>. The goal is to network and share knowledge and experiences around IoT solutions in the public sector. IoT Sweden participates with a delegation of representatives from both the public sector, companies and authorities.
IoT Sweden has its own stand in the Nordic Pavilion. Are you there? Come and talk smart IoT solutions for societal benefit with us.
<h2>Workshop about pilot projects &#8211; do we need to reconsider the method?</h2>
IoT Sweden also participates in the <a href="https://smartcitybusinessday.com/">Smart City Business Day</a> on november 4th with a workshop about pilot projects. Execution of pilot projects, receiving both public funding and matching private engagement, for innovative smart city applications has been a well-established method for accelerating necessary development in the public sector in both the Netherlands and Sweden. However expected results such as successful scale up implementations across the public sector, following a successfully executed pilot project, can seldom be seen. Do we need to reconsider the method, pilot projects?
<h3>IoT Sweden&#8217;s program office is on site:</h3>
Catrin Ditz, Program Director 
Kristin Blom, Deputy Program Director 
Anette Persson Stache, Project Manager 
Frida Kempe, Project Coordinator 
Magnus Fransson, Director of Internationalisation 
Maria Bergenheim, Communications Manager

IoT Sweden participates with a delegation at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. Meet us at our booth in the Nordic Pavilion.

IoT Sweden participates in Smart City Expo in Barcelona - IoT Sverige

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IoT Sweden participates in Smart City Expo in Barcelona

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Catrin Ditz currently works at Storsthlm as a Process Manager and digital strategist. In that assignment, she leads the cooperation between the 26 municipalities in the Stockholm County as well as stakeholders such as the County Administrative Board, Region Stockholm, The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and other government authorities.
Internet of Things Sweden is a Strategic Innovation Programme that supports and finances innovative IoT projects in the public sector across the country.
“It feels very nice to welcome Catrin Ditz as Programme Manager for IoT Sweden. Her broad network and knowledge of digitisation and collaboration will strengthen both our Programme Office and IoT Sweden&#8217;s work abroad, said Kristin Blom, acting Programme Manager at IoT Sweden.”
<h2>Experience in the public sector</h2>
Catrin Ditz has a Master&#8217;s degree in engineering from KTH with a specialisation in industrial economics. She has also worked as CIO at Uppsala municipality for four years.
“I have a good understanding of the public sector challenges and opportunities when it comes to digitisation. A lot is about collaboration and finding the right ways to let knowledge flow between different professional categories, areas of expertise and sectors, said Catrin Ditz.”
Catrin Ditz starts as Programme Manager at IoT Sweden 15 August. She will be employed at the Uppsala University Innovation Partnership Office (UU Samverkan), which hosts the Strategic Programme IoT Sweden.
IoT Sweden is financed by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas.
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IoT Sweden welcomes Catrin Ditz as new program manager. She has long experience of working with collaboration and digitization within public administration.