The present and future of portuguese cities on a path to sustainability was discussed by companies and municipalities in a workshop promoted by GRACE – Grupo de Reflexão e Apoio à Cidadania Empresarial, on the 11th March in Gondomar.

The event, hosted by Fernando Leite, Delegate Administrator at Lipor and Paula Guimarães, President of GRACE, was an initiative integrated in the Sustainable Living in Cities campaing by CSR Europe which aims to define a new model of urban partnerships between various stakeholders, leveraging the existing ones and to implement this new model in ten cities of ten European countries.

Included in the event’s agenda were the launch of the sectorial report “Challenges and opportunities for CSR in the transport sector”, the presentation of the CSR Europe Campaing, an European case study and a round table around the theme “How to establish successful partnerships?” composed of teams of two representatives from municipalities and companies who shared their experiences.

Altice Labs was one of the companies to take part in this round table. Filipe Cabral Pinto, from Altice Labs’ Technological Innovation Area, shared with Lisboa E-Nova, the presentation of BESOS– Building Energy Decision Support Systems for Smart Cities, an initiative that aims to value the existing equipments and infrastructures with a support system that promotes energy efficiency and sustainability.

The closing session was held by the Assistant Secretary of State and Environment, José Mendes, who pointed out three of the key factors in the development and competitiveness of sustainable cities: companies, municipalities and knowledge centers. He also announced that the government has well defined measures planned for 2016, in three strategic areas: urban rehabilitation, electric mobility and Living Labs (showrooms of smart cities technology).