The Slovak Economy Ministry is motivated to support innovative ideas in the field of so-called smart cities and to determine the potential in this regard of Slovak businesses in the domestic market. This according to Economy Minister Peter Žiga (Smer-SD), who was speaking on Tuesday at the beginning of a Visegrad Four (V4) conference entitled 'Slovakia on the Path to Smart Cities'. According to Žiga, the ministry has prepared a system for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises who want to implement innovative solutions in cities. He added that in the first phase of the initiative they have already begun supporting ten such projects. They have also prepared a document entitled 'Support for Innovative Solutions in Slovak Cities', which outlines the topic of smart cities and is intended to serve as a reference point for supporting innovations within Slovak cities and regions.
Economy minister Žiga pointed out that more than two thirds of the EU public live in cities. He added that cities are the "sources of many challenges that the EU and Slovakia currently face," and that they therefore serve as "hatcheries for innovations and new technologies." He spoke of problems such as the growing volume of waste, the overall traffic situation which is becoming unsustainable, and the high level of emissions caused by the traditional methods employed in the heating of buildings. Problems such as these require sophisticated solutions, and many, including Žiga, believe that such solutions can be found within the concept of the smart city. The concept itself is based on a necessary cooperation between cities, technology companies, and the general public. Žiga has signed a memorandum on mutual understanding between the Slovak Economy Ministry and the Europe-wide organisation InnoEnergy.
