Fixing the internet & harnessing collective intelligence: a smarter future for cities

Marleen Stikker, Jonas Schorr

2020 English Technology & Data

True smart cities think of intelligence not just in terms of technology. Technology’s potential for cities to improve the lives of citizens is tremendous. But how does one build smart infrastructure on top of that which is already there? How does one innovate responsibly? And what are the limits to the power of technology?

We hear from two international pioneers in the realm of digital cities and responsible governance, Marleen Stikker and Geoff Mulgan, to find out. This conversation is guided by Jonas Schorr, co-founder of Berlin-based urban technology ecosystem builder Urban Impact.

“Intelligence” is one of the four key themes from our ‘RISE Cities’ series in collaboration with BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt looking at how to create resilient, intelligent, sustainable and equitable (RISE) cities.

Marleen Stikker

Founder

Marleen Stikker is founder of Waag, a social enterprise that consists of a research institute for creative technologies and social innovation and Waag Products, that launched companies like Fairphone, the first fair smartphone in the world.

Marleen is also founder of ‘De Digitale Stad’ (The Digital City) in 1993, the first virtual community introducing free public access to the Internet in Amsterdam. She is a member of the European H2020 Commission High-level Expert Group for SRIA on innovating Cities/DGResearch and the Dutch AcTI academy for technology & innovation.

Marleen Stikker strongly adheres to the Maker’s Bill of Rights motto: “If You Can’t Open It, You Don’t Own It”. She believes that society needs open technologies that meet societal challenges.

Jonas Schorr

Partner

Jonas Schorr is Co-founder and Partner at Urban Impact, a Berlin-based consulting boutique and investment firm focused on bridging the gap between the world of cities, startups and financing. Despite all efforts, implementing change in cities still happens too slowly. Jonas believes that truly transformative change in cities can only happen if fast-scaling innovators and established players work hand in hand to enable what he calls “conscious disruption”. Jonas has over a decade of experience working on some of the world’s leading city innovation projects. He studied business and global communications in DE, the UK, SG and China. He is an elected member of Berlin’s Chamber of Commerce (IHK Berlin) and was elected in 2024 also speaker of Berlin’s Smart City Network.

Fixing the internet & harnessing collective intelligence: a smarter future for cities
Marleen Stikker, Jonas Schorr

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