Sustainable energy Positive & zero cARbon CommunitieS

SPARCS addresses the following 9 objectives:

1. To enable, inform and support the efficient urban transformation of cities into carbon free societies, including especially smart networks, low carbon transport solutions, a sustainable energy transition, and improved air quality. Progress until M12: The city diagnosis process is under development SPARCS Cities are collecting Use Cases and developing their bold City Visions for 2050.
2. To deploy wide scale demonstration of innovative technologies for integrated, mixed-use, positive energy building blocks in the lighthouse cities, Espoo and Leipzig, and selected feasibility tests in 5 fellow cities. During 1st year: Detailed demonstration plans have been co-created with partners and relevant stakeholders. 100+ demonstration actions are on-going.
3. To roll out an extensive monitoring and evaluation programme with associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), for the holistic assessment of SPARCs interventions. During 1st year: A holistic framework for monitoring and impact assessment and preliminary KPIs are defined.
4. To implement community engagement actions and promote a citizen-centric approach for enabling inclusive, integrated, and sustainable urban development, planning and management practices and governance models. During 1st year: The Quality Assessment Template developed and collected social engagement tools and procedures. Inputs provided into best citizen-engagement, dissemination and communication practices and demonstration across cities and on EU/regional levels.
5. To replicate demonstrated smart and integrated lighthouse city solutions in fellow cities and lay the foundations for European wide adoption and upscaling. During 1st year: Developing information packages on energy and mobility solutions that enable replication in different contexts. Analysing and benchmarking all SPARCS cities for replication potential.
6. To generate a bold city-vision 2050 in line with the new EU carbon neutrality climate and energy strategy. During 1st year: SPARCS Cities are developing the city visions.
7. To pro-actively cooperate with other Smart Cities and Communities projects funded under Horizon 2020, the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC) and other relevant projects, networks and initiatives, and create joint recommendations in order to maximize impact, replication, and scale-up of smart city solutions. During 1st year: Regular and proactive collaboration on-going.
8. To support the development of competitive new services, business models and financing instruments for sustainable, forerunner energy positive smart districts, and the creation of business ecosystems. During 1st year: Supporting cities and their stakeholders through business models, new services and funding schemes at PED scale.
9. To actively and efficiently promote the SPARCs project and its outcomes on local and European levels, raise awareness of the European smart city concept, and support wide-spread knowledge sharing across solutions. During 1st year: Active promotion through the website, events, social media, newsletters and promotion products.