Riga Rises 24 Places in the International Smart City Index

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Riga has made a significant leap in the International Smart City Index, rising 24 places to secure the 59th position out of 142 cities. The Smart City Index, developed by the World Competitiveness Centre, evaluates cities based on both economic and technological advancements and the “humane dimensions” of smart cities, such as quality of life, environmental factors, and inclusiveness. For the last two years, the ranking has been produced in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO). 

The index is based on data and the views of 120 citizens from each of the 142 cities surveyed worldwide. It assesses how residents perceive the availability of infrastructure and technology in their cities, categorized into two pillars: structures, which focuses on the existing infrastructure, and technology, which evaluates technological services and provisions. These pillars are further analyzed across five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. The cities are grouped according to their Human Development Index (HDI) score, provided by the Global Data Lab. 

In response to Riga’s improved ranking, Inese Andersone, Chair of the City Development Committee of Riga City Council, commented: “Our work on smart cities is bearing fruit, and we are making significant progress in integrating innovative technologies into local governance. This success is rooted in smart municipal management, and with an increasing number of knowledgeable, experienced, and talented individuals joining our team, Riga’s development will only continue to accelerate.” 

The top three cities in the 2024 IMD Smart City Index are Zurich, Oslo, and Canberra. 

See Rīga’s profile in more detail here.

Coding the Curbs: Transforming Urban Space Management with Smart Parking Zones

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On September 19, during the Smart City Conference 2024, Coding the Curbs launched their parking pilot program – smart zones for visitors. In partnership with Riga Technical University (RTU) and Rīga City Council, the company has introduced five Smart Zones for visitor parking on the RTU campus, aiming to create a more efficient, adaptable, and organized parking system. The pilot program will run until the end of December and will be evaluated at that time to determine its effectiveness and potential for future continuation. 

The primary  goal of this pilot is to make visitor parking more efficient and well-managed with the innovative Smart Zones—digitally-enabled, bookable parking spaces that respond to the dynamic needs of city environments. Visitors can reserve these spots in advance via a seamless digital platform, which simplifies the parking process and ensures that spaces are utilized optimally. Each zone is clearly marked with dedicated signs and street markings, offering a smooth and straightforward experience for users. 

For now, the option to make Smart Zone bookings for visitors is limited to a selected group of RTU staff during the pilot phase. This phased approach allows the project team to gather important data on the system’s functionality and impact, ensuring a thoughtful and evidence-based evaluation before considering a wider rollout to the general public. 

This project is supported by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. EIT Urban Mobility acts to accelerate positive change on mobility to make urban spaces more liveable. Learn more: eiturbanmobility.eu

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Third Annual Smart Cities Conference 2024 Wraps Up with Success

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On September 19, the third annual Smart Cities Conference 2024 brought together leading innovators, industry experts, and policymakers both in-person and virtually. Held at the Riga Technical University’s (RTU) Science and Innovation Center, the third annual conference focused on advancing mobility technologies and the future of urban mobility. Attendees explored cutting-edge innovations in drone traffic and autonomous transport.  

The day began with an opening session featuring remarks from conference partners – Viesturs Celmiņš, Managing Director at Open Innovation Movement “VEFRESH,” Līga Gaile, Dean of the RTU Faculty of Construction and Mechanical Sciences, and Inese Andersone, Chair of the City Development Committee of Riga City Council. This was followed by a keynote speech from Kaspars Briškens, the Minister of Transport, who outlined the mobility sector development in Latvia. 

A global perspective was brought to the forefront with presentations from Anders Bengtsson, Head of the EIT Urban Mobility Innovation Hub North, and Assaf Oren, Head of EcoMotion Partnerships. Bengtsson shared a vision for the future of mobility, while Oren discussed the creation of sustainable mobility ecosystems, offering insights from the EcoMotion Community. The morning continued with a presentation on the “Scale of Mobility Planning in the Riga Metropolitan Area,” led by Rūdolfs Cimdiņš, Head of the Spatial Planning Division of the Riga Planning Region. 

After the presentations, the conference delved into the rising potential of urban air traffic, focusing on drone technology. Staņislavs Šeiko, Strategic Planning Specialist for Rīga City Council introduced the topic with a presentation on “Automated BGK Flights for the Safety of Citizens.” This set the stage for an engaging panel discussion on the development and challenges of drone traffic, moderated by Viesturs Celmiņš. 

Panelists included: 

  • Staņislavs Šeiko (Rīga Municipal Police) 
  • Kristaps Niedols (Rīga City Development Department) 
  • Ilmārs Ozols (Civil Aviation Agency) 
  • Artūrs Kokars (Ministry of Transport) 

The panel explored the practical applications and regulatory challenges of integrating drones into urban transport systems. 

After a coffee break, the focus shifted to autonomous mobility, beginning with the presentation from Kai Kristoffersen, Autonomous Vehicle Project Manager at Vy Group, sharing how autonomous buses can make mobility smarter, offering a glimpse into how autonomous buses are transforming public transportation in Norway. 

A second panel discussion moderated by Kristaps Kučers (RTU Science and Innovation Center), focused on the development, potential, and performance of autonomous transport. Panelists included: 

  • Kristaps Elvis Volks (LMT) 
  • Jānis Kalniņš (Ministry of Transport) 
  • Džineta Innusa (Rīgas Satiksme) 
  • Uldis Lībietis (Tet). 

The panel highlighted the innovations shaping the future of urban transport and logistics, including the legal and infrastructural hurdles that need to be overcome. 

The conference also provided attendees with valuable insights into funding opportunities. Anders Bengtsson presented the EIT Urban Mobility Innovation Calls,  detailing European-level funding opportunities for mobility-related projects. This was followed by Egita Aizsilniece-Ibema, Head of Latvia’s Innovation and Technology Representation in Brussels, who outlined the Cascade Grant Tenders for Technology Developers.  

The event concluded with technology demonstrations, allowing attendees to see Bruntor cargo scooter, Coding the Curbs smart parking system, DELIVERS.AI autonomous delivery robot, and SUBmerge Baltic autonomous underwater drone. Attendees were also invited behind the scenes for a guided tour of RTU’s laboratories.  

The event was organized by Riga Technical university in cooperation with the Rīga City Council and innovation movement Vefresh. The conference was supported by the EIT Urban Mobility, the technology company “Tet” and the mobile technology company “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons” (LMT). 

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Rīga Facilitates Sustainable Mobility Solutions with GreenDash Project: Electric Cargo Scooters Tested for Communal Services

The EIT Urban Mobility project “GreenDash” has officially kicked off in Rīga, aiming to introduce eco-friendly solutions for city services. Municipal company Rīgas Meži (Rīga Forests) and Spatial Planning and Mobility Department’s Maintenance Board in cooperation with the City Development department have begun testing a custom-designed Bruntor electric scooters specifically intended to support communal services across the city.

The GreenDash project is focused on enhancing the efficiency of communal services, while reducing the environmental impact of city operations. A key component of this project includes testing the scooters’ efficiency and adaptability in various terrains common to Rīga’s landscape, including city streets, cobblestone paths, and grassy areas within parks and green spaces.

Before receiving the electric scooters for testing, the workers who will use them in their daily operations participated in a training session. This session was designed to familiarize employees with the features of the scooters, including safety measures and how to maximize their performance in different conditions.

The project represents a step toward greener, more efficient urban management in Rīga, as electric scooters provide a flexible and sustainable transportation option for communal tasks such as park maintenance, landscaping, and other territorial improvement activities.GreenDash is a project funded by EIT Urban Mobility.

Project partners are innovation movement VEFRESH (lead partner), Rhino R (Bruntor EV cargo scooter developer) and three demonstration partners: Rīga City Council, Latvian Post and PostNord (Denmark).