In this interview, the Mayor of Naples shares his vision for a connected and inclusive future, highlighting smart mobility, sustainable tourism, and FIWARE\u2019s role in transforming the city<\/p>\n
Naples is a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture, but like many urban centers, it faces modern challenges\u2014overcrowded streets, a heavy reliance on private cars, and the need to embrace digital inclusivity. These hurdles make the city\u2019s transformation into a smart city both crucial and complex. Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples, leads this effort and has placed innovation and community involvement at the heart of his strategy. Manfredi, an engineer by training and former Minister of Universities and Research in Italy, brings a wealth of experience to his role as mayor. His vision is to ensure that technological advancements benefit not only tech-savvy citizens but also marginalized groups, including the elderly and migrants.<\/p>\n
In the context of the FIWARE Global Summit hosted in Naples, we had the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Manfredi. He shared insights into his bottom-up approach to smart city development, the city\u2019s focus on sustainable tourism, and the ambitious mobility projects to reduce traffic congestion. Throughout the conversation, Manfredi emphasized the importance of inclusive innovation, ensuring that no one is left behind as Naples transitions into a smarter, more connected urban hub.<\/p>\n
GM.- Our approach is centered around the active participation of the community. We believe integrating new technology into the city must involve all citizens, not just the tech-savvy. It’s crucial to include marginalized groups such as the elderly and migrants, who might not have access to or understand digital tools. By involving the local community, we ensure that the impact of our solutions is felt across all sectors of society, making the transformation inclusive and beneficial to everyone.<\/p>\n
GM.- Tourism is indeed a cornerstone of our economy, with millions of tourists visiting each year. We are working on two key projects in this area. First, we\u2019re leveraging big data to manage and streamline the flow of visitors, ensuring their experience is smooth and sustainable. Second, we\u2019re developing digital services to improve access to the city\u2019s attractions, making it easier for tourists to navigate Naples and enjoy their stay with minimal friction.<\/p>\n
GM.- We are developing an integrated mobility system that combines public transport with private options, including smaller-scale mobility solutions like bicycles and electric scooters. Our goal is to introduce the concept of ‘mobility as a service,’ where all transportation options are accessible through a single platform. This will allow residents and visitors to move more efficiently through the city by seamlessly transitioning between different modes of transport.<\/p>\n
GM.- Our primary challenge is reducing reliance on private cars, both within Naples and in the wider metropolitan area. We aim to encourage the use of public transportation, such as buses and the metro, alongside alternative mobility options like bicycles. The challenge is to make these services easily accessible and efficient enough that people choose them over private cars, improving traffic flow and reducing emissions across the city.<\/p>\n
GM.- Yes, there\u2019s a growing openness within our community to embrace new technologies for public services. However, ensuring that this technology is accessible to all 3 million inhabitants in our metropolitan area is a major hurdle. Our goal is to create open and inclusive digital platforms so that people from all social backgrounds can benefit from these innovations. It’s about making sure no one is left behind as we modernize.<\/p>\n
GM.- FIWARE plays an essential role through our ‘Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti,’ or House of Emerging Technologies. This initiative focuses on using cutting-edge technology, including FIWARE\u2019s open-source solutions, to create new services for residents and visitors alike. These services are designed to improve daily life and ensure Naples is at the forefront of technological innovation.<\/p>\n
GM.- Looking ahead, our goal for the next five years is to create a city where both residents and tourists can fully access and benefit from digital services. This includes everything from mobility solutions to public services, all available through seamless digital platforms. We\u2019re already seeing progress, but there\u2019s much more to come as we work toward a smarter, more connected Naples.<\/p>\n
As Naples continues its journey towards becoming a smart city, Mayor Manfredi\u2019s commitment to inclusive innovation and sustainable urban development offers a glimpse into a future where technology and community work hand in hand to create a better quality of life for all.<\/p>\n
by Esther Fuldauer, The Smart City Journal<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this interview, the Mayor of Naples shares his vision for a connected and inclusive future, highlighting smart mobility, sustainable tourism, and FIWARE\u2019s role in transforming the city Naples is a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture, but like many urban centers, it faces modern challenges\u2014overcrowded streets, a heavy reliance on private\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":18843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_scj_primary_category_id":120,"_scj_featured":true,"_scj_featured_from":"","_scj_featured_until":"","_scj_featured_order":236,"_scj_visibility_class":"current","_scj_layout_family":"standard","_scj_article_style":"","_scj_display_overrides":[],"_scj_intro_image_id":18843,"_scj_intro_alt":"\"Smart City Innovation Must Include Everyone\" \u2013 Mayor Gaetano Manfredi","_scj_intro_caption":"","_scj_intro_class":"","_scj_intro_float":"","_scj_full_image_id":18843,"_scj_full_alt":"\"Smart City Innovation Must Include Everyone\" \u2013 Mayor Gaetano Manfredi","_scj_full_caption":"","_scj_full_class":"","_scj_full_float":"","_scj_media_type":"","_scj_media_provider":"","_scj_media_external_id":"","_scj_media_url":"","_scj_media_poster_id":0,"_scj_media_width":0,"_scj_media_height":0,"_scj_media_aspect_ratio":"","_scj_media_description":"","_scj_gallery_items":[],"_scj_related_post_ids":[],"_scj_additional_authors":[],"scj_layout_family":"standard","scj_media_provider":"","scj_media_url":"","scj_full_caption":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-smart-leaders-en"],"yoast_head":"\n