Infrastructure and Civic Tech: Integrated Monitoring, Transaction, and Safety Platforms for Community Assets

About

We invite European partners specialized in civic technology, decentralized systems, and local-first oriented IoT to co-create a unified operational layer for smart communities (under 50k inhabitants). This initiative moves beyond data collection to active management, targeting three core areas: 1) the resilience of public infrastructure (schools, clinics, and utilities); 2) the vitality of local economies through the progressive and locally sustainable digitization of rural markets; and 3) the security and safety of public spaces through intelligent environmental monitoring. We propose an integrated platform where data from a dense physical sensor network—including smart lampposts and transport nodes—informs maintenance, logistics, and public safety, while blockchain-enabled tools facilitate trust and transparency in local commerce.

OUR APPROACH AND VALUE ADDED:

We operate on the principle of “Civic Stack” – building modular, interoperable digital utilities for communities. Our consortium has direct implementation experience with municipal governments and agricultural cooperatives, providing the crucial entry point for deploying hardware and onboarding users. For infrastructure and safety, we focus on low-cost, multi-purpose, ruggedized sensor kits. This includes smart lampposts serving as the network's physical backbone, equipped with environmental sensors (air quality, noise, light, flood detection) and security features. We integrate local transport network data (bus/train access, traffic flow) to optimize logistics. For markets, we adapt the concept of local bulletin boards into a verified, local first blockchain-backed system. Our value is in seamless, frugal integration: a sensor detecting a water pump failure can automatically generate a maintenance request and a micro-contract; a smart lamppost network doubles as a LoRa/ESP32-based civic intercom and emergency alert system.

EXPECTED RESULT AND NEED FOR COOPERATION:

The ultimate result is a tangible increase in community operational resilience, economic retention, and public safety. Local governments gain a dashboard for predictive infrastructure maintenance, utility equity, and environmental hazard monitoring. Producers gain access to certified supply chains and efficient local marketplaces. Citizens benefit from safer, more responsive public spaces. To build this, we seek European partners who contribute with:

• Expertise in the design and production of ultra-low-power, long-range (LoRa) sensor hardware and multi-functional nodes (e.g., smart lamppost integration) for harsh environments, with capabilities for water quality, load stress, and energy metering.

• Demonstrable experience in developing lightweight, user-friendly blockchain or DLT frameworks for supply chain provenance, smart contracts for smallholders, and transparent public procurement ledgers.

• Knowledge in integrating heterogeneous IoT data streams (environmental, transport, utility) with civic platforms and visualizing them for community use.

• Proven capacity for co-submission to Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital) for the core tech, Cluster 6 for agricultural market applications, and Cluster 5 for energy/water efficiency, as well as initiatives like the European Blockchain Partnership.

PROFILE OF THE EUROPEAN PARTNER SOUGHT:

We seek partnerships with European SMEs that are leaders in civic tech/GovTech, hardware startups focused on sustainable IoT, and software firms with proven blockchain applications for the public good. Ideal partners have a “frugal innovation” and “backward compatible” mindset and experience, piloting solutions in similar community contexts, with a desire to co-create exportable models.