Collecting Ideas for the "Smart" City
The HotSprings wireless communication project at RWTH Aachen has initiated the Smart@AC Challenge competition to generate ideas for the future development of the city of Aachen.
According to United Nations studies, by 2050 about 75% of the world population will be living in cities. This creates challenges which are almost impossible to solve with the help of standard approaches. In order to enhance the quality of life, economic compatibility, and ecological sustainability, it becomes increasingly important to utilize digital technologies and develop interconnected “smart cities.”
Against this backdrop, the RWTH institute cluster IMA/ZLW & IfU has started the HotSprings project in collaboration with the US-American company Interdigital Communications, Inc. As project leader max Haberstroh explains, “In the age of information, data is the driving force. We are looking for ways to make data available and usable for all citizens.”
Kick-Off Event on September 25
In their endeavors, HotSprings seeks to involve creative individuals from Aachen and the region. In the Smart@AC Challenge, anyone interested is invited to participate in the development of smaller apps. The competition will be officially launched on Friday, September 25, in the Erholungs-Gesellschaft Aachen, Reihstraße 13, 52062 Aachen. Apart from an exchange of ideas on topics such as energy, mobility, and health, the kick-off meeting will be used to build teams for the competition.
Participants are invited to develop their apps until February 12, 2016, either on their own or as part of a team. The three winning projects will be awarded with prizes worth between 2,000 and 5,000 Euros. According to Haberstroh, “apart from practical experience, networking with other creative participants is key to success. If one of the participants wants to start a company based on their idea, we are glad to put them in touch with industrial partners or support them otherwise.”
For further information, please visit the HotSprings website. Participants are encouraged to register by September 20, 2015, by writing an e-mail to info@hotsprings.io or filling out the contact form available at the HotSprings website.