New initiative aims to solve urban challenges using data and design

Research organisation OrganiCity’s open call programme looks to match designers with other businesses and members of the public to help cities function better.

Research organisation OrganiCity has launched an open call for designers and other businesses to find digital solutions for urban challenges such as pollution and using robotics effectively.

The organisation looks at how multidisciplinary teams including designers, small and large companies, universities and members of the public can use data and technology to improve how cities function.

€1 million

Now in its third year, the European Commission-funded open call is worth €1 million (£886,000) and applicants are able to apply for up to €60,000 (£53,000) each.

Applicants are asked to address issues relevant to urban areas, ranging from electric cars and solar energy to robotics and mobility.

Previous initiatives backed by OrganiCity include Wear AQ, a piece of wearable technology that helps school children learn about air quality and pollution.

“Safe and easy-to-use”

OrganiCity project coordinator Martin Brynskov, says: “There are lots of platforms out there, but there’s no standard approach to handling the diverse data produced by devices in our cities. OrganiCity is testing a model that homogenises this near real-time data, and makes it available to everyone in a safe and easy-to-use manner.”

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2017. Winners will be announced in the autumn and the projects will run from November 2017 to March 2018.

Wear AQ
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