The aim of the virtual event was to bring the geo-IT industry, science and administration based in the geobusiness region bonn into contact with the Digital City of Bonn process. At the heart of the three-hour workshop was the question: "How can the geobusiness region bonn further develop the Digital City of Bonn process?" The aim is to initiate an active involvement of the geo-IT scene, which is very well positioned in Bonn and Rhein-Sieg, in the Digital City of Bonn process in the spirit of the common good. "We have clearly achieved this first goal," says Dr. Ulrich Ziegenhagen, Deputy Head of Bonn Economic Development, long-standing cluster manager and co-initiator of the kick-off event. Over 20 participants from Bonn's geo-IT industry, science and administration took an active part in the three-hour meeting and contributed ideas and conceptual proposals to the discussion.
Pillars of the Digital City of Bonn
Dr. Ulrich Ziegenhagen and Prof. Dr. Stephan Wimmers introduced the evening with their welcoming speeches. Peter Pröpper from Makerspace e.V. in Bonn explained the practice-oriented approach of the event rooms, where the kick-off should have taken place with less Covid-19 exposure. The Makerspace is an open workshop as well as a place for innovation and incubation for digital ideas in Bonn. Friedrich Fuß, Chief Digital Officer of the City of Bonn, described the status of the smart city process in the city, which is derived from the strategic goals of climate-neutral Bonn, liveable Bonn and socially just Bonn and the digital transformation.
Initial collection of ideas for projects and applications
The subsequent round of introductions revealed a number of skills that could be incorporated into the digitalization of the city. The participants then discussed project ideas and use cases in the thematic groups developed during the kick-off: environment, transport, neighborhood management and careers. In a concluding plenary discussion, the participants presented the initial collection of ideas.
To be continued
The continuation of the opening event is scheduled for February 16, 2022. The aim is to distil projects from the collection of ideas that can subsequently be implemented together. "We would like to expressly thank all participants for this first successful kick-off. We had hoped for an active community in the run-up to the event. However, we had not expected this diversity, these ideas and so much commitment," said Prof. Dr. Stephan Wimmers from the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce. "We are inviting the geo-community to contribute their skills and capacities to the Digital City of Bonn process. A liveable city with a well thought-out smart city concept can only be created together with the players in the city community," says Friedrich Fuß, Chief Digital Officer of the City of Bonn."
Network participants in the geobusiness region bonn will receive an invitation to the follow-up event on 16.2.2022 by email together with the minutes of the kick-off and the project ideas recorded in the first step at the beginning of 2022.
Further information: ulrich.ziegenhagenbonnde or project manager Digital City jana.hevendehlbonnde