3.4

Accordingly, the EESC, conscious that it is possible to apply a smart strategy to a city, island, subnational entity or industrial district, is proposing that the European institutions and national governments identify a smart city development model, as part of programmes that feature the coexistence and simultaneous integration of six enabling pillars. (In Italy, this model, which grew out of the proposal drawn up by the Amerigo association (for Italian alumni of US international cultural exchange programs) and by Enam (the European network of American alumni associations), is serving as a basis for the definition of a smart city strategy by the Ministry of Economic Development, in the context of the Juncker plan.) — the presence of technologies and tools for energy efficiency and integration of renewable resources, such as smart electrical infrastructure (smart grids) supporting and facilitating energy savings plans; integrating ad hoc solutions and devices; facilitating the use of a mix of supply sources, in both public and private sectors; integrating with connectivity infrastructure and encouraging the dissemination of freely accessible IP signals, — dissemination of technology and connectivity platforms that enable the creation of new digital service systems by means of ICT and telecommunications infrastructure that can: provide for widespread connectivity, partly via integration with smart grids; pursue the spread of the internet of Everything connected to sensors, devices and services; harness public and private open data and the urban digital agenda; while securing the highest possible standards of security for applications and of privacy for public, business and government information, — development of new digital service ecosystems, to improve the quality of life of individuals and of business production processes, by means of smart integrated services and applications supported by connectivity platforms and smart grids. These digital service ecosystems operating across several sectors (e.g. mobility, e-health, digital tourism, industry 4.0) could spawn or bolster a European industry to serve smart cities, particularly when the major technology players promote the rolling out of solutions developed and produced by smaller companies, such as start-ups, — projects to improve infrastructure and promote urban redesign, such as the rethinking of the vocation of certain areas of cities, renovating and converting public buildings and infrastructure as part of a productive, environmental and social mindset, with a view to increasing not only the financial value of the properties but also their value as perceived by their users, not least by disseminating efficient connected technologies and promoting indirect public procurement mechanisms, — plans to provide training and enable individuals, businesses and the public sector to upgrade their digital skills so that the innovations introduced can be fully used by the widest possible range of end users, — economic and financial viability plans for investments based on clear identification: of the returns deriving from services, from the upgrading of infrastructure and from steps taken to improve efficiency; of the method of dividing the benefits between network operators, investors, developers of smart solutions and devices and users; and of public and private financing instruments that can facilitate the implementation of these new models.