June 28, 2024 — The Smart Communities Network held an online onboarding meeting with the European Commission to outline future collaboration on digital transformation initiatives across the EU. The network, which connects local associations from 18 of the 27 EU Member States, aims to extend its reach to all 27 members soon. The meeting introduced network members, project partners, experts, and European Commission representatives to the initiative, which is part of a broader effort to help cities and communities.

Key Highlights:

• Local Digital Twins (LDTs): The project promotes the use of LDTs to support cities and communities in their digital transformation. 
• Collaboration Framework: Discussions focused on the legal framework that will formalise the cooperation between the Smart Communities Network and the European Commission, outlining the roles and benefits for network members.
• Country-Specific Sessions: Hybrid dissemination and online training sessions will be held across all 27 EU Member States to raise awareness and support digital transformation efforts at the community level.
• Experience Sharing: The Dutch association VNG shared insights from its early training and dissemination sessions, highlighting the need for strong engagement strategies and tailored approaches based on local digital maturity.
• Tools and Resources: The meeting introduced key tools like Lordimas, a digital maturity self-assessment tool, and the CitiVERSE EDIC initiative, which aims to promote cross-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Next Steps: The next network meeting will take place at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona in November 2024, marking the first in-person gathering of the network members.

The meeting set the stage for an ongoing partnership between the Smart Communities Network and the European Commission, with the goal of fostering digital innovation and smart city development across Europe.

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