Though we’re not flying in cars and hoverboards (just yet), in and out of luxurious feng-shui skyscrapers with integrated gardens flowing through metal and cement (actually that does exist).
Though AI doesn’t control nor govern every automatable task… (now wait a second); Tech still has changed the landscape of our aeon-old Europe. And a lot of it is for the better!
Let’s take a (rather deep) dive into how Tech has made European lives easier, more connected and energy efficient.
Smart cities
Smart Cities led to more efficient and sustainable urban living, reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the quality of life.
As a prelude, though, 75% of EU citizens live in Urban Areas. Globally, urban areas consume over 65% of the world's energy, which accounts for over 70% of CO2 emissions. It’s therefore critical to tackle the issue of urban’s energy consumption, by making cities “smarter” about how energy is used.
There are many facets to what makes a city “smart”. Exactly 9 facets, if we follow the IESE “Cities in Motion” 2022 report. We want to restrict the scope a little and focus on how tech enables cities to become “smart”, especially on an environmental plane.
The Covenant of Mayors is E.U.'s biggest collaborative initiative to make cities more energy efficient using tech.
Four examples of smart cities in the European Union that have benefited from partnerships with tech companies:
- Barcelona, Spain - In partnership with Cisco, Barcelona has implemented a smart lighting system that uses sensors to monitor and adjust the intensity of street lighting based on real-time data, reducing energy consumption and lowering costs.
- Santander, Spain - Santander has partnered with Telefonica to develop a smart city project called "SmartSantander." This initiative uses IoT technologies to collect data on various aspects of city life, such as traffic, air quality, and noise levels and uses the data to improve city services, such as traffic management and waste collection, leading to increased efficiency and sustainability.
- Helsinki, Finland – Tech powers Helsinki City Transport (HKL). Trams and Metro not only run with electricity produced by wind and water, but HKL also invested in a driver advisory system (DAS). It provides a direct link between the train and the traffic management system (TMS). This means schedules, routes and speed restriction updates are directly communicated to the train in real-time. This efficiency saves millions annually in energy and human resources.
- Paris, France – It’s difficult to pinpoint just one project in Paris, as the whole city has pledged to become the greenest city by 2030. However, a mix of car lanes turned bike lanes, parks funding, vertical gardens, urban gardens and forests, Champs-Elysees makeover and neighbourhood restorations (15min city), are paving a greener way to an eco-friendly Paris. Tech-wise, the city itself heavily relies on IoT to inform its urban planning decisions towards energy efficiency.
Overall, these partnerships between tech companies and smart cities in the European Union have resulted in improved urban planning, increased operational efficiency, enhanced sustainability, and better citizen services, contributing to the development of smarter and more liveable cities.
AI In Health Tech
The use of AI in healthcare has revolutionized the way patients are diagnosed and treated, improving the overall quality of care in the EU.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry in several ways. While some may fear that AI will replace human healthcare providers with robots, the reality is more nuanced. AI enables machines to learn from large amounts of data by analysing patterns, which has immense potential to transform healthcare. Here are four areas where AI is already making a difference.
According to MedTech Europe, AI could have the following impact in Europe alone:
- 400,000 lives can potentially be saved annually through AI.
- €200 billion could be saved annually, including the opportunity costs of HCP time.
- AI applications have the potential to free up 1,8 billion hours every year. (That’s the equivalent of having 500.000 additional full time health care professionals.)
This is accomplished mostly through:
- Wearable technology: AI-enabled fitness devices, such as wearable fitness trackers, allow individuals to monitor their health and receive recommendations based on their daily activities. This encourages proactive health management and can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
- Personalized medicine: AI enables companies to analyse vast amounts of patient data to identify patterns and trends. This informs research and development for new drugs, leading to better patient outcomes. Precision medicine, which tailors treatment to individualized needs, is already a part of many pharmaceutical companies' corporate agendas.
- Early detection and diagnosis: AI is improving medical imaging technology, making it easier to detect diseases like cancer in their early stages. For example, AI can review and translate mammograms with 99% accuracy, reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies and mitigating the stress of misdiagnosis.
- Data management: The electronic exchange of patient health data has increased, leading to a growing demand for AI-enabled security systems to protect patient data from breaches.
Overall, AI has the potential to greatly enhance healthcare by streamlining processes, improving patient outcomes, and protecting patient data.
While AI will undoubtedly transform the healthcare industry, it is unlikely to replace human healthcare providers entirely. Instead, it will augment their capabilities and enable them to provide more personalized and efficient care.
In Europe, there are significant advantages in terms of the abundance of health data collected within national health systems, as well as established clusters of innovation and pan-European collaboration.
However, there are still challenges to be addressed, including issues related to data governance, access, and security, which are delaying further adoption of AI in healthcare.
The European Commission has started to work on 6 facets to make AI in healthcare more secure, trustworthy, and efficient.
Blockchain Technology:
The adoption of blockchain technology has increased transparency and security in financial transactions, boosting consumer trust and confidence in the EU economy.
For example, the European Central Bank (ECB) has launched the use of blockchain for instant payment systems, such as the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) system, which enables real-time, 24/7 interbank transfers in the EU, enhancing transparency and efficiency in cross-border payments since 2018.
Another great example of blockchain use has been in the supply chain department. It allows streamlined processes. Enterprise blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize supply chains through three key use cases: traceability, transparency, and tradeability.
IoT In Industrial and Manufacturing Processes
The integration of IoT devices in industrial and manufacturing processes increased productivity and reduced waste, leading to cost savings for businesses and a more sustainable economy.
- Predictive Maintenance: IoT devices, such as sensors and connected machines, can continuously monitor equipment performance in real time, providing data that can be used for predictive maintenance. By analysing this data, businesses can identify potential equipment failures before they occur, allowing for timely maintenance and minimizing downtime.
Cars have also slowly started to be equipped with such devices, which can prevent accidents or parts breakage from happening.
- Supply Chain Optimization: IoT devices can be used to track and monitor the movement of goods throughout the supply chain, providing real-time visibility and insights into inventory levels, transportation routes, and delivery times. This allows businesses to optimize their supply chain operations, reduce delays, and minimize waste in the form of excess inventory or inefficient logistics.
- In general, IoT sensors, and captors allow for machinery and equipment to save a lot of energy by analysing real-time data on pressure, heat, power etc… Adaptability is the name, efficiency is the game.
3D Printing
How did the use of 3D printing technology has revolutionized product design and manufacturing, enabling rapid prototyping and customization while minimizing waste and reducing costs? Here’s a couple of examples:
- Waste Reduction: DyeMansion, a German company, specializes in post-processing solutions for 3D printed parts, providing automated systems for smoothing, colouring, and finishing. Their technology helps reduce material waste and improves the aesthetics and functionality of 3D printed products, making them more viable for end-use applications.
- Rapid Prototyping: Materialise, a Belgian company, has been at the forefront of using 3D printing for rapid prototyping. They offer a wide range of 3D printing services, including software for design optimization and simulation, and have helped companies across various industries accelerate their product development cycles.
- BMW has started prototyping and producing parts using 3D printers, streamlining its manufacturing process, and cutting right through production costs.
Renewable energy technologies
The development of renewable energy technologies has reduced dependence on fossil fuels, promoting environmental sustainability and energy independence for the EU. Europeans have been championing Renewable energy tech for quite some
Check out our latest Tech Trend Update for details.
Micro-Mobility
Honestly, this could have made the cut in Smart Cities too, but there are many wonderful companies to talk about so it gets its own category:
One prominent example is Lime. Lime's dockless system allows users to easily locate, unlock, and use their electric scooters or bikes through a mobile app, making it a convenient choice for short trips or last-mile connectivity. It's been in use in dozens of major European cities for almost a decade now.
Another successful micro-mobility company in Europe is Voi, a Swedish start-up that offers electric scooters for urban transportation. Voi has established its presence in numerous European cities, providing a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation for short trips. Voi's scooters are equipped with GPS tracking, swappable batteries, and advanced safety features, making them a popular choice among users for urban mobility.
Furthermore, micro-mobility has also witnessed success in the form of bike-sharing companies like Donkey Republic and Jump Bikes, which have deployed their bike-sharing systems in various cities across Europe. These companies offer dockless bike-sharing services, allowing users to rent bicycles on-demand and return them to designated parking areas or stations, providing a flexible and sustainable mode of transportation for urban dwellers.
Conclusion
Europe is heading steadily towards greater, more seamless integration of Tech to serve efficiency and energy-saving. Tech has truly been shaping a more adaptive and resourceful Europe over the last two decades, and will continue to do so. Baring its complete and utter annihilation to the forces of evil...of course.
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