BRNO

Brno, with 378,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in the Czech Republic and is situated at the centre of the South Moravian Region. It has a strategic geographic position within Central Europe with excellent transport accessibility. Brno is a modern, dynamic and fast-growing centre of industry, research and innovation. In addition to being a city of universities, Brno also claims a high quality of life as a cultural, sporting and historical centre, complimented by a beautiful natural environment.

The Smart City Brno Concept was approved by Brno City Council in October 2015. The motto is that Brno is “a city which cleverly, sensibly and effectively uses modern technology and approaches, leading to an improvement in quality of life, supporting effective governance, preserving natural resources, and enhancing energy sustainability”. RUGGEDISED will be a way to make this happen, by enabling the study and replication of smart solutions from the lighthouse cities.

REPLICATION AREA

There is more than 500 ha of unused properties in Brno. Over 200 ha are industrial brownfields, most of which are located near the city centre. These areas have the potential to create new revitalised districts. Brno is currently developing a revitalisation and innovation plan for the brownfields and is setting out the best strategy to complete the smart city districts. In the RUGGEDISED project we are focusing specifically on these two locations:

- “Špitálka” – is an industrial area 1 km away from the main train station in the historical centre of Brno. A building complex of factories has operated since 1930 and generates electric power by using natural gas. Špitálka is a part of a large industrial area formed by brownfields that surround the center of Brno.

- Trade Fairs Brno Company - offers more than 130,000 sq m of net exhibition area, ranking it among the world’s largest exhibition centres. This exhibition centre first opened in 1928 commemorating the first decennium of Czechoslovakian independence. Since the 27th of December Brno is the only shareholder of the Trade Fairs Brno Company. The area has the potential to create an environment where new technological innovations meet academia and the private sector.