INNOAIR stakeholder dialogue launched

Addressing a complex issue like air quality in a large metropolitan area and making it a testbed to develop, test and showcase an innovative solution line on-demand public transport is challenging. The key to success is working with and not for the residents.

INNOAIR launched its multi-stakeholder dialogue on November 12, 2020, bringing different parties together. Nearly 100 stakeholders from universities and research institutes, community organizations, city administration, NGOs, national agencies, businesses and investors, took part in an online dialogue event and engaged in a conversation about the future. The discussants, among whom Sofia Deputy Mayor Kristian Krastev, Boryana Dimitrova with Alpha Research, associated professor Emilia Hristova with the National Institute on Meteorology and Hydrology, Milya Dimitrova with SofiaPlan and Petar Seizov, Denkstatt, raised important questions to be explored during Q&A. Diverse perspectives were voiced pointing to various interdependencies: the more precise and timely feedback the city provides on the effect of its policies, the stronger the citizen commitment; the less measures for support of the energy poor, the more air pollution from old cars and household burning; the less air pollution, the bigger biodiversity; the newer the urban district, the more pollution from construction and underdeveloped infrastructure, to name a few.

The INNOAIR teamchose multi-stakeholder dialogues as a method for managing change because it reminds us not to get lost in the weeds at work but see the big picture, not to ignore difficulties, remove assumptions and identify actionable firs steps.

Here are a few takeaways from stakeholders:

“The fact that now air quality is discussed more than before does not mean that the problems are growing or less is done. On the contrary.”

“The strongest factor fostering citizen support for the air quality policies is when the municipality consistently implements clear long-term measures with measurable result.”

“Sofia should demonstrate direct link between measures and effect achieved.”

Speakers’ presentations are available at HERE.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you take interest - https://www.facebook.com/innoairsofia!

INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.

Invitation for an online dialogue on "POLICY COHERENCE FOR AIR QUALITY AND OTHER RELATED AREAS "

Air pollution in Sofia has long been a problem and despite recent positive developments, the city is still struggling to overcome this complex challenge. Air quality measures are interrelated and finding out how they affect each other will help optimize them faster.

In this regard, Sofia Municipality and its partners Sofia Development Association, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski ", Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria and Modeshift Europe EAD are organizing a public dialogue to discuss the interdependencies in the field of air quality. The aim of the dialogue is to improve coherence between policies.

The event will take place online on November 12, 2020 from 16:00 to 18:00 and requires prior REGISTRATION. Participants will have the opportunity to hear the expert opinion of representatives of the NGO sector and research institutes on topics related to air quality, have a look at the attitudes of citizens and present their opinions and ideas. The event will end with a moderated discussion which every participant can join. You can get the full agenda of the event HERE.

The event is part of the INNOAIR project - "Innovative Demand Responsive Green Public Transportation for Cleaner Air in Urban Environment”, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Initiative "Urban Innovative Actions".

Innovative Public Transport in Sofia

Thanks to this project, the city will test for the first time in Europe an innovative practice for "green public transport on demand"

Sofia is the first Bulgarian city to win an Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) project. The program is an initiative of the European Union that provides urban areas across Europe with resources to test new and unproven solutions to urban challenges. The INNOAIR project of Sofia Municipality and a wide coalition of partners was approved for funding after a serious competition with 220 projects from other European cities and regions.

Through this project, Sofia will test for the first time in Europe an innovative practice for "green public transport on demand". Instead of traveling on predetermined routes, the new electric buses will create a route map based on the demand of citizens submitted through a mobile application. The app will use artificial intelligence to refine data analysis in order to create the most efficient route for each trip by gathering as many passengers as possible. The project provides for big data analysis, the use of artificial intelligence and cloud technologies.
The innovation will be tested in one of the districts in Sofia. The project will be implemented over 3 years and is expected to start this fall.

The project budget is around 4.6 million euros, with 20% co-financing provided by each of the partners. The leading partner of the consortium is Sofia Municipality, and its members are: Sofia Development Association, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, Sofia Urban Mobility Centre, National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, “Modeshift” and National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.

INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. 

INNOAIR: Innovative demand responsive green public transportation for cleaner air in urban environment

Air pollution in Sofia goes way back and despite recent positive developments, the city is still struggling and exceeding the minimum thresholds. This is a complex problem. While some factors – like the geographical location in a plateau surrounded by high mountains causing winter thermal inversions – are beyond human control, other causes are linked to human activity. The city is growing fast in terms of population and new residential and office districts. The number of vehicles registered in Sofia raises daily. There are 550-600 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. Bulgarians drive some of the oldest cars in the EU: in 2017, one fourth of all vehicles were older than 20 years and additional 60% – between 10 and 20 years. Traffic in Sofia has the highest impact in terms of pollution of ambient air.

Through INNOAIR Sofia is taking ambitious steps to electrify and expand public transport options. Between July 2020 and June 2023 the city will launch “On-demand green public transport”, which will shift the way public transport works. Instead of driving on pre-defined routes, the new e-buses will create route map based on citizen demand submitted via mobile application. The app will leverage machine learning and advanced data analytics to create the most efficient path for each ride, collecting as much passengers as possible. This innovative public transport service will be implemented together with a wide array of initiatives: low emission zones, green corridors, congestion charge, promotion of active mobility. This coordinated effort of Sofia shall reduce pollution and protect the air we share, while also modernizing and innovating our public transport.

The project partnership, led by Sofia Municipality, includes 2 universities: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”; 2 non-for profit organisations: Sofia Development Association, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria; 2 companies: Sofia Urban Mobility Centre, Modeshift Europe EAAD; and 1 national public authority: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Thus, strong collaboration of city administration, scientists, business and citizens is ensured.

INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.