Today, we had the privilege of conversing with Florian Andrews, who is serving, just like Qualified B.V., as an Ambassador of the Economy of Trust. Our discussion centered on how the triangle of our organizations envisions the transformation of Ukrainian cities and municipalities using cutting-edge technologies and a circular approach.
Florian is tirelessly working to establish a supportive cluster for the sustainable reconstruction program in the Eastern region, which has been heavily impacted by devastation in cities like Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and hopefully soon, Mariupol.
Our conversation led to a shared understanding: the primary objective is to facilitate a sustainable and circular economic recovery within the region, with a specific emphasis on bolstering local supply chains. The current economic landscape in the region presents numerous challenges. Bridging the gap between the existing status quo and our ambitious vision for thriving communities requires substantial effort and dedication. This realization has spurred us to offer our knowledge, expertise, and assistance in implementing intelligent tools and technologies that can pave the way for the development of smart, circular cities.
The cities in the Eastern region vary in terms of devastation and future development plans. While Kharkiv, with its notable architectural influence from Sir Norman Foster, and Mykolaiv are forging ahead with a clear vision for the future, others are still in the process of formulating their plans. However, all these cities share the common challenge of reconciling their partially executed ‘legacy’ plans from the pre-war era. It’s possible that they may require assistance in engaging various stakeholder groups to ensure that decisions align with the diverse purposes and needs of their communities.
We firmly believe that technology can play a pivotal role in formulating and validating project plans aimed at sustainable urban development. By creating a ‘virtual society’ comprising mayors, communities, investors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and research institutions, we can make decision-making more inclusive, transparent, investor-friendly, and robust. The synergy resulting from a collective pursuit of a common goal enhances the speed and effectiveness of the decision-making process.
Picture this: wandering through the virtual streets and neighborhoods of a future city, where the community actively participates as real-time architects, casting votes for the most promising projects. This approach provides a concrete understanding of the region’s specific needs and empowers potential investors to make more informed decisions, subsequently influencing investment flows.
Additionally, we view startups and scale-ups as vital pillars of support in advancing innovative ideas that can be seamlessly integrated into architectural designs and showcased during project presentations.
In essence, the sky’s the limit, and with technology and a well-defined approach, Ukraine can rapidly advance toward the realization of smart and sustainable cities.