ISCN Global Mixer: Sustainable Urban Development based on data, gender balance and new business models - Experiences from Urban Labs in India

In this episode of the ISCN Global Mixer Dr. Haris Piplas and Minu Tegethoff from Drees & Sommer provided in-depth insights from the project “Sustainable Urban Development – Smart Cities  (SUDSC) II” implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The project involved urban labs conducted in six Indian cities. These labs have focused on pioneering data-driven urban development and implementing gender-balanced governance and business models.

After an overview of the project, its methodology and the six urban labs with different focus areas such as waste management, water management and circular economy, the presentation dived into two of the urban labs, highlighting how data can be leveraged to create more inclusive and equitable urban environments, and how business models for implementation projects can be developed. 

Dr Haris Piplas presented the use case of the lab in the city of Guwahati, where climate hazards such as floods and heavy rainfalls pose an increasing challenge on urban development. In a design thinking process, different stakeholders from the public and private sector, academia and civil society were brought together to work on recommendations for a transdisciplinary and multi-sectorial approach to green space development in Guwahati. 

Minu Tegetthof illustrated the example of the urban lab in Manikonda, a growing neighborhood in the outskirts of Hyderabad. Due to the expansion of the IT sector in the city, it currently faces a significant rise in real estate construction, and at the same time climate related challenges such as water scarcity. The project included a stakeholder process working on solutions for urban waste management. Additionally, recommendations for inclusive green space planning with a focus on waste management have been developed.

To ensure the knowledge transfer from the urban labs, a guidebook with recommendations on digital business models and inclusive planning will be published soon. 

The event was part of the ISCN Global Mixer, a series of events organized by the International Smart Cities Network. The presentations cover a wide range of topics related to international smart city approaches and provide exciting insights into urban digitalization worldwide - in just 30 minutes.