Digitalization, the key to create resilient and sustainable cities and territories

The experience over the last few months has shown the need to accelerate digitalization in order to face  important challenges in Spain, such as the modernization of the productive and social model, the evolution towards a knowledge society, the digital divide, the depopulation of rural areas and the fight against climate change.

The extraordinary progress experienced by Smart Cities solutions, with the incorporation of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence or Big Data, will allow us to be much better prepared, in the short and medium term, to face new crises, whether they are health, environmental, social or even economic related. The digital transformation, therefore, has become the indispensable ally to overcome the current health and economic crisis and create more resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities and territories

It is now urgent to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the European Union's reconstruction funds and public-private collaboration to make a leap in quality and innovation in digital services, integrating the most innovative technology and providing intelligence to key sectors of the economy to face very relevant challenges.

These initiatives will make it possible to promote an intelligent and inclusive growth model that facilitates the improvement of public services through efficient and integrated management, the development of sustainable projects in areas such as renewable energies and the circular economy, as well as the protection of the economy and the most disadvantaged groups.

All of this, taking into account the role of the citizen as the axis and center of this model of transformation, which is already improving the quality of life of millions of people, who move and work better, relate more easily to their administration, live in a healthier environment and respect the planet and have more opportunities for economic and social development.

Another important point is the search for an intelligent and inclusive growth model through solutions that allow the improvement of services and the protection of the most disadvantaged groups through offer and employment recommendation engines, access to financing or specific aids and/or subsidies.

Technology for reactivation

This concept of smart transformation is, moreover, transcending the cities and projecting itself in the territories as a very important lever to advance in territorial and social cohesion, economic development and equality, by generating opportunities in areas that are subject to a strong demographic and economic decline. These are the cases of platforms and solutions for intelligent agriculture, sustainable tourism, the circular economy, biodiversity and conservation of natural spaces and intelligent mobility.

However, it is not just a matter of implementing technology. The implementation of smart cities and territories projects requires a thorough prior analysis to clearly identify the levers in the social, economic, administrative, or environmental to make available the most appropriate technology for the strategy of the city or territory.

However, it is not just a matter of implementing technology. The implementation of smart cities and territories projects requires a thorough prior analysis to clearly identify the levers in the social, economic, administrative, or environmental to make available the most appropriate technology for the strategy of the city or territory. Along with this, it is key to implement project models involving local suppliers and operators, as well as knowledge centers, to boost the economy.

We are talking, for example, about collaborative platforms of digital tourism content. to boost this key sector in many economies. These would represent an improvement in the competitiveness and efficiency of the destinations, and enhance the generation of offers and personalized notifications.

In this sense, Minsait's digital solutions are aimed at the early detection of risks, the coordinated operation of public services, the dynamic management of health resources, the promotion of public-private collaboration through digital tools and the reactivation of the economy and employment.

The common denominator to all of them is resilience: digital capacities and mechanisms that, together with cultural and organizational change, will allow the social and economic fabric to overcome the current situation and better prepare for future crises.