Our cities and regions are facing huge challenges: The ongoing economic transformation, the necessity to cut greenhouse gas emissions or ensuring mobility in remote areas are some examples. However, we are convinced that by working together and by using smart solutions we can shape a bright future.

How this “smart future” will look like at our international simul+ forum "SMART CITIES, SMART REGIONS". The Latin word „simul“ means „together“ and the forum is part of a journey where the participants work together to achieve common goals aiming at digitalised climate-friendly urban-rural development.

Autonomous driving is thus considered a great opportunity for rural public transport, as driverless operation can save enormous costs.In order to fully integrate minibuses that have been converted for automated driving into the local public transport system, a number of requirements must be fulfilled. The technologies required for this on the part of the vehicle and infrastructure are being developed in the Saxon innovation project ABSOLUT.

2022 the City of Leipzig enters the second round with the organisation of the innovation competition with the title „Smart City Challenge Leipzig“ powered by Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig. Founders, startups, students and established ventures are called to find innovative digital solutions for predetermined questions and challenges in the areas of civil society and municipal administration.

The joint project LHyVE (Leipzig Hydrogen Value chain for Europe) aims to establish an intelligent and regionally networked green hydrogen system as a lighthouse for efficient sector coupling and to integrate it into the emerging European hydrogen infrastructure. With LHyVE, the entire value chain from production, storage, transport and distribution to final consumption is to be realized in the Leipzig region. SpinLab partner Leipziger Gruppe, ONTRAS and EDL Anlagenbau with many more players such as VNG (also SpinLab partner), Siemens Energy, BMW Group Werk Leipzig, Fraunhofer are involved in this project.

Photo credits: LHyVE

An economy without emissions of greenhouse gases within the next 30 years - that is Europe's declared goal in order to stop climate change. This requires a major change from today onwards. Renewable energies are to replace fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. In the course of the sustainable transformation of energy supply, hydrogen will play a key role.