Gustavo Cuadrado: “Las ciudades son el elemento transformador ante los retos más urgentes a nivel global”

foto Pierre Grubius

Estimados amigos y amigas:

Os quiero comunicar mi decisión de terminar mi ciclo como gerente de la fundación Smart región a final de este año.  He esperado hasta hoy para decirlo, ya que debía comunicarlo de manera correcta, en tiempo y forma al patronato de la Fundación.

Acabo un ciclo lleno de retos y de metas que han sido mi principal motivación durante  estos últimos 4 años. Con muchos aciertos y sin menoscabar ,tal vez alguna decisión que ahora tomaría de otra manera, como siempre ocurre en todas las organizaciones…. Pero sin lugar a dudas, en la balanza dejo esta responsabilidad con la humilde sensación, del trabajo bien hecho.  Que la Generalitat haya reconocido nuestro trabajo y que incluso el proyecto de liderazgo en la innovación que hemos aplicado en la fundación haya sido reconocido por el  MIT  lo siento como un reconocimiento colectivo a todo el equipo de la fundación.

Desde la Fundación, hemos trabajado con la profunda convicción,  que desde las ciudades y las regiones se pueden cambiar muchas cosas, en un mundo donde inequivocamente  se necesitan respuestas rápidas y donde estamos en un punto de no retorno, y como no podría ser de otra manera, todo ello de la mano y liderado por nuestra ciudadanía.

Estoy seguro, que como en todo este tipo de proyectos pueden surgir diferencias de opiniones y críticas las cuales  han sido siempre bien recibidas por mi parte ,cuando se han hecho desde un punto de vista constructivo y no para menoscabar el esfuerzo de un equipo que ha trabajado con la máxima dedicación, tesón y profesionalidad.

La fundación ha participado en decenas de proyectos y creado decenas de comisiones, así como, participa en muchos organismos nacionales e internacionales. Hace unos años se decía que las Smart cities eran un cuento y que los ODS de la ONU una quimera. Entiendo que siempre hay un tiempo de ajuste, el propio movimiento de las Smart cities se ha tenido que ir reajustando para poder dar una respuesta adecuada a los retos ciudadanos y globales. Ahora ya, estar en el movimiento de las ciudades inteligentes, lejos de ser una marca , es una necesidad para toda ciudad que aspira a tener una voz propia y políticas eficaces y empíricas para  su ciudadanía.

De hecho, ya no hay ningún proyecto europeo que no se base en estos preceptos, y la fundación abre muchas puertas en ese sentido. Tanto es así, que a fecha de hoy recibimos muchas propuestas de otras ciudades y regiones para participar en proyectos europeos.

Y es que las ciudades, las regiones, son las únicas que pueden dar respuestas rápidas y eficientes a las necesidades de la ciudadanía y las TIC  son una gran oportunidad en todos los sentidos, aunque hay que ser consciente de que también tiene sus riesgos.

Otros de los éxitos de los que me siento especialmente orgulloso, es el de haber podido unir a las Ciudades de Reus y Tarragona, en un proyecto común como es el de la fundación, y que muchos de sus técnicos ya estén trabajando conjuntamente, compartiendo ideas y conocimientos para que sea el germen de una  realidad metropolitana efectiva lejos de discursos políticos poco efectivos.

Una región que nace desde abajo, desde el trabajo de los técnicos y la sociedad civil para los que la fundación ya es un hecho tangible que ha empezado a navegar. Muchas empresas y ayuntamientos han manifestado su voluntad de participar en la fundación y estoy seguro que en los próximos meses el nuevo proyecto les dará cabida como no puede ser de otra manera. En mi opinión negar esta máxima es ser “terraplanista”. Y es que por desgracia el terraplanismo ha llegado al poder desde hace ya muchos años.

Quiero agradecer especialmente al patronato de la fundación su confianza ( URV, Repsol, Sorea, y Ayuntamientos de Reus y Tarragona) y a los regidores del anterior Gobierno ( Pau Pérez, Begoña Floría, Ivana Martinez, Francesc Roca y al especialmente al ex alcalde Ballesteros por su confianza durante todos estos años) y muy especialmente al nuevo equipo de gobierno el haber puesto tan fácil esta transición sin entrar en batallas políticas, cosa que les agradezco profundamente.

Deseo mucha suerte al nuevo patronato, la nueva presidencia y dirección y que el enfoque que se quiera dar a la fundación genere muchos éxitos para nuestro territorio y colateralmente a la ciudadanía. En mí siempre encontrarán un aliado fiel.

Para mí se abren nuevos retos laborales . Por otra parte  mi intención es seguir vinculado tanto al proyecto de la Smart cities como de los ODS de forma directa o indirecta.

No es por lo tanto un adiós, es un hasta siempre … y es que este es un tiempo en el que ser valientes y pensar a lo grande es no solo necesario, si no imprescindible.

Sabeis que me podéis encortrar el Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavo-cuadrado-moya-04490631/

Un abrazo y gracias

Gustavo Cuadrado

Agradecimientos:

Quiero expresar mi agradecimiento a todas aquellas personas, empresas, organismos, entidades , grupos de investigación que habéis colaborado e impulsado tanto los ejes estratégicos de esta fundación, como muchos de los proyectos que hemos acabado. Muy especialmente a Santiago Castellà, Javier Villamayor, Marc Arza, Anna Perez , Lluis Hernandez, Jordi collado , Sergi lozano, Joan Menchón, Ángel Arenas, Pep Budí, Leo Blázquez, Oscar Hellín, Esther Rubio, Valle mellado y un largo etc… de personas que se han creído y han apoyado e impulsado este proyecto , acercándose a nuestra organización con ilusión, propuestas y muchas ganas de hacer las cosas de una forma innovadora . Gracias de todo corazón.

 

foto del post de Pierre Grubius.

enlaces:

Gustavo cuadrado moya

Tarragona Smart Mediterranean Region

Curriculum Gustavo Cuadrado

 

 

Gustavo Cuadrado: “Cities are the transforming elements when faced with global-scale urgent challenges”

 

Dear friends:

I would like to inform you about my decision to end my cycle as Manager of the Smart Region Foundation at the end of this year. I have waited until today to say so as I had to inform the Board in due time, correctly and in the right way.

I am finishing a cycle that has been full of challenges and goals that have given me 2000% motivation throughout the last 4 years. Many of them successful and some mistakes, just like every organisation…. But, on balance, I leave this responsibility with the pride of having done a good job. The fact that the Generalitat has acknowledged our work and that even the MIT has recognised the innovation leadership project that we have implemented in the Foundation, fills me with pride and I feel that it is a collective acknowledgement for the entire Foundation team.

I would like to thank all of the people, companies, organisms, entities and research groups that have collaborated and driven both the strategic lines of this Foundation and many of the projects that we have carried out.  Especially to Santiago Castellà, Javier Villamayor, Marc Arza, Anna Perez , Lluis Hernandez, Jordi Collado , Sergi Lozano, Joan Menchón Angel Arenas, Pep Budí, Leo Blazquez, Oscar Helllin, Esther Rubio, Valle Mellado and a long etc… of people who have believed, who have supported and who have driven this project , approaching our organisation with enthusiasm, proposals and with lots of drive to do things in an innovative way.

In short, all of us have worked with the firm belief that many things can be changed in the cities and regions, in a world where fast answers are already needed, where we are at the point of no return and all of that along with and led by our citizens.

The Foundation has taken part in dozens of projects, it has created dozens of commissions, it participates in many international organisms. A few years ago, it was said that that Smart cities were a fairy tale and that the UN’s SDG’s a pipe-dream. I understand that there is always an adjustment period, the Smart cities movement itself has had to readjust in order to suitably respond to the citizens’ and global challenges.

In fact, there are no longer any European projects that are not based of these precepts, and the Foundation opens many doors in this regard. So much so that today we receive many proposals from other cities and regions asking us to participate in European projects.

In addition, the cities and the regions are the only ones that can give fast and efficient responses to citizens’ needs and the ICT’s are a great opportunity in every way, although we should be aware that they also have their risks.

Another success that I feel especially proud of is having been able to join the cities of Reus and Tarragona in a common project like the Foundation, and many of the technicians are now working together, sharing ideas and know-how so that it is the seed for an effective metropolitan reality removed from ineffective political speeches.

A region is born from below, from the work of the technicians and civil society, for whom the Foundation is already a tangible fact that has already set sail. Many companies and city halls have expressed their willingness to participate in the Foundation and I am sure that, in the coming months, the new project will accommodate them, as it should.

In my opinion, rejecting this maxim is being a “flat-earther”. Unfortunately, flat-earth thinking reached the realms of power many years ago, and the problem is that they don’t even realise that they are…. I could speak at length but I don’t think it is the time or the place.

I would especially like to thank the Board of the Foundation for their trust in me ( URV, Repsol, Sorea, and Reus and Tarragona City Halls) and the councillors of the last government ( Pau Perez, Begoña Floría, Ivana Martinez, Francesc Roca and former Mayor Ballesteros) and very especially to the new government team for making this transition so easy, without political battles, something that I deeply appreciate.

I wish the new Board and the new presidency a lot of luck and that their focus given to the Foundation generates many successes for our territory.

New career challenges lie ahead of me. However, my intention is to remain involved both in the Smart cities project and in the SDG’s, directly or indirectly.

This is not so much a goodbye but rather a see you later … and it is a time when being brave and thinking big is not just a necessity, it is essential.

You know you can always contact me on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavo-cuadrado-moya-04490631/

 

Best regards and thanks

foto del post de Pierre Grubius.

enlaces:

Gustavo cuadrado moya

Tarragona Smart Mediterranean Region

Curriculum Gustavo Cuadrado

 

 

 

 

 

Tarragona as the first Spanish city with universally free busses

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The mobility revolution in Tarragona leading to a more sustainable city is, nowadays, one of the points announced for the beginning of 2019 as a city project Gustavo Cuadrado

To this end, Tarragona aims to become the first Spanish city to offer a universally free bus service through EMT (municipal bus company) after already being the pioneer in offering a free service to children, young people and the elderly.

The measure is forecast over a four-year period applying a 25% discount annually during the next mandate to the various bus passes and, therefore, the first reduction will be applied at the start of the new year.

This is a clear call towards social and urban transformation that will, on one hand, foster and increase the use of public transport and, on the other, will link all the centres and districts within the city. This will also entail turning the Battestini car park into the main EMT station in the city centre and this will enhance transfers and intermodality.

Towards a more sustainable and less contaminating city

Keeping the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) 100% public means that a gradual renewal of the bus fleet is also forecast, bringing in more efficient and less contaminating vehicles.

It should be taken into account that, with capacity for between 20 and 80 passengers, a bus transports more people in one space, occupies 20 times less than private vehicles and, therefore, energy consumption and emissions per passenger are also much less.

Finally, the creation of an easy access and flexible TT card for the municipal services is also a clear bet on innovation and technology for the benefit of the citizens, following the central concepts and parameters of the Tarragona Smart Mediterranean Region Foundation and its positioning towards initiatives aimed at improving quality of life, sustainability and the efficient management of services, innovating with materials, resources and models through know-how, technology and innovation.

In essence, a better Tarragona, a more advanced city, a smart city.

Gustavo Cuadrado Moya

Tarragona Smart Mediterranean City , Executive Director

You can now more about me here:

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smart city tarragona

Tarragona and Reus, embryo of a smart region

Gustavo Cuadrado Moya

Tarragona and Reus, embryo of a smart region

Tarragona and Reus, through the Tarragona Smart Mediterranean City Foundation, continue advancing in their task to improve citizens’ quality of life and to promote a sustainable environment, both economically and environmentally, through new technologies and innovation. This leads to ever more efficient resource and service management, in addition to fostering ever more active citizen integration and participation when faced with an ever more demanding society.

When these goals work, which is the case here, horizons broaden. In this context, and with a territorial vision, is how the Smart Mediterranean Region emerges. The concept of region aims to create synergies and support among the many municipalities with the goal of agreeing on a set of policies and programmes aimed at transforming Tarragona on a regional scale and extrapolate it to other cities, regions and territories in the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean-ness    

Faced with a polyhedral and global world, the vision of an emerging Mediterranean region allows us to focus our efforts on making the Mediterranean smart cities a powerful engine for the region’s growth and transformation.

For this milestone, it is all-important to foster the efficient and sustainable use of water and, likewise, energy efficiency through the responsible use of energy resources and their consumption. At the same time, a cohesive territory that has more efficient and less contaminating means of transport, leading to more sustainable mobility. Also, to encourage healthy habits towards health and good eating through the Mediterranean diet. And, finally, to take advantage of the artistic and cultural wealth in the region as a tourist and heritage pole of attraction.

It is in this way that the Foundation serves and acts as the territory’s main nexus, establishing binding links among its companies, the knowledge sector, public administrations, entrepreneurs and citizens.

International expansion of the territory

Finally, with this Mediterranean-ness, the chance to promote the Tarragona brand cannot be missed. An intelligent territory with a European and international scope, conveying the commitment to and leadership of a digital transformation strategy, positioning good practices abroad, opening up new potential markets. At the same time, being proactive by participating in international networks, sharing experiences and providing scalability for innovative local projects.

All in all, the Foundation works to promote ours as an intelligent, Mediterranean region within a cohesive and sustainable territory that takes advantage of new technologies, knowledge and local innovation to improve, day after day, the quality of life of active, participative citizens. Premises belonging to the XXI century that make Tarragona a smart region.

Gustavo Cuadrado (Executive Director) Tarragona Smart Region Foundation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavo-cuadrado-moya-04490631/