Confident Agency (www.confident.agency), an agency specialized in marketing communication, won the award for the Communication of Innovation category at the 8th edition of the prestigious Smart City Industry Awards (SCIA 8), organized by the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC).
ARSC awarded the most revolutionary initiatives in urban development, sustainability, and digital transformation. SCIA 8 awarded 39 prizes in 8 categories across various sectors, from mobility and urban transport to development and infrastructure, including data security and privacy.
In total, 60 projects entered the competition, with a total value of around €2 billion, representing 1% of Romania's GDP, a record for the Smart City Industry Awards.
"This award honours us and reconfirms Confident's strategic consistency in building consistent expertise of understanding and communicating for technology companies and. Confident Agency already has a complex portfolio of positioning relevant technology brands in consumer electronics, ecommerce & retail solutions, agritech, cyber security, fintech, enterprise or infrastructure solutions. ARSC is the most influential representative of public-private synergies for the creation and implementation of projects that transform Romania into a smart nation, and this partnership makes us ambitious to support them with all our resources in their goal", says Mara Gojgar, founder of Confident Agency.
"Confident Agency is a dynamic communications partner with a deep understanding of the complex field that smart village, smart city, and ultimately smart nation projects describe. The SCIA 8 event featured an impressive number of categories, each highlighting innovative solutions that contribute to the progress of the urban environment. From mobility and urban transport to sustainability and digital transformation, the awards demonstrate the desire to create more efficient, inclusive and sustainable cities. But much more is being done in Romania," said Eduard Dumitrașcu, President of ARSC.
The jury for the Smart City Industry Awards 2024 (SCIA 8) comprised notable figures from various sectors, each bringing extensive expertise and insight to the evaluation process. Led by Mayor Ciprian Ciucu, President of the Jury, the panel included distinguished individuals such as Dragoș-Cristian Vlad, President of the Authority for the Digitalization of Romania; Traian Urban, Director of Innovation Hub East at EIT Urban Mobility; Valeriu Zgonea, President of the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM); Prof. Guido Perboli from the Polytechnic University of Turin; Liviu Băileșteanu, Director of Policies and Strategies at MDLPA, Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration; Cătălin Frangulea, Director General of the Metropolitan Association for Sustainable Development of Public Transport Brasov; Nicoleta Cîrjan, Head of Foreign Relations, Tourism, and Events Office at Brașov City Hall; and Chris Cooke, Founder and CEO of SmartCitiesWorld.
The full list of winners:
1. Mobility and urban transport - Transport Public Bucuresti Ilfov (TPBI), Up to date with technology, closer to travelers!
2. Innovation and sustainability in administration - Adrian Tutuianu, Secretary General of the Government
3. Digitization and digital transformation (Digitization of Public Services) - Calarasi City Hall, Decisions making, strategic planning and simplified measures for citizens at the public administration level of the Municipality of Calarasi
4. Technology and innovation - ICI Bucharest, project for the integration of NFT technology in public services, ICI Decentralised Services.
5. Sustainability and environment - Glovo & eMobility Rentals, Pilot project for eco-friendly deliveries in Bucharest
6. Sustainability and environment - BMF Romania, Award for "Excellence in Sustainability and Environment"
7. Social inclusion and accessibility – The Mayor of Sector 5 Cristian Popescu Piedone – for the nZEB housing project for young people in Sector 5 of Bucharest
8. Education and culture in smart cities - National Robotics Team Autovortex Romania
9. Civic innovation and digital transformation - Phoenix Media
10. Mobility and Urban Transport - UrbanScope & Constanta City Hall, Improving mobility in Constanța, in Mamaia Boulevard area
11. Partnership of the Year - Ministry of Transport & Railway Reform Authority
12. Sustainability and Environment - Tecuci Town Hall, Revitalization and regeneration of the urban area of the Carol I park, Tecuci municipality
13. Mobility and Urban Transport - Galati City Hall & Zvarco Romania, Modern transport in the city of Galati
14. Digitization and Digital Transformation - Software Imagination & Vision (SIMAVI), for the electronic public employee ANTONIA and IMM Mentor projects
15. Technology and Innovation - Buzau City Hall - Intelligent traffic and public transport management system
16. Technology and Innovation - PAID for the integration of compulsory insurance against natural disasters on ghiseul.ro
17. Involvement and innovation for youth - Prefect of the Capital, Rares Hopinca for the project to prevent and combat drug use by young people
18. Best Smart City Project - Sector 6 City Hall, Mayor Ciprian Ciucu
19. Mayor of the Year in 2024 - Astrid Fodor, Mayor of Sibiu. Ciprian Ciucu, the winner of this award in 2023 handed over the presidency of the jury for the SCIA 2025 edition to Astrid Fodor, and in the Innovative Urban Development and Infrastructure category with the project Designing the banks of the Cibin river for bicycle track and spaces for relaxation.
20. Best Smart City Company - Mira Technology
21. CEO of the Year - Florin Pisica, CEO Top Metrology
22. Mobility and Urban Transport - micro payments via SMS project
23. Innovation in energy efficiency and sustainability - ELCEN
24. Mobility and Urban Transport - Anadolu Automobil Rom, project Renewal of public transport in the City of Chitila through the purchase of 23 electric buses and related charging stations
25. ARSC Special Award - Metrorex, project Connecting the metro network to Henri Coandă International Airport. Highway 6. 1 Mai – Otopeni
26. Technology and Innovation - Vantage Towers
27. Mobility and urban transport - Iasi City Hall, Green and smart public transport - Dacia Depot Modernization
28. Innovative urban development and infrastructure - Craiova International Airport
29. Digitization and digital transformation - Fast Park & Orange Romania for Romexpo Parking & Ticketing
30. Technology and innovation - Regista for the Regista Solution
31. Mobility and urban transport - Focsani City Hall & TeleLink
32. Mobility and urban transport - Alba Iulia City Hall, Integrated mobility system
33. Digitization and Digital Transformation - Suceava City Hall, Center for Innovation and Civic Imagination
34. Sustainability and environment - Piatra Neamt City Hall, Urban regeneration project - Zoo
35. Communication of Innovation - Confident Agency
36. Mobility and urban transport - Drobeta Turnu Severin City Hall & Scope Systems, Smart bus stops
37. Education and culture in smart cities - Botosani City Hall - Project "Eminescu, one culture, one root"
38. Education and culture in smart cities - Bistrita City Hall- ProjectsFrugal cities through energy efficiency and low-tech communities
39. Innovative urban development and infrastructure - Campina City Hall, The expansion, modernization and endowment of the pedestrian space in the central area of Câmpina municipality
The Smart City Industry Awards Gala, the 8th edition was organised under the Patronage of the Ministry of Energy and in partnership with EIT Urban Mobility, a body of the European Union
Main Partner: Urban Scope
Platinum partners: Magus by Mira Technologies, Glovo, eMobility Rentals
Event supported by: BAT Romania, Network One Distribution, Bosch, Swarco, Telelink, Scope Systems, Neexpansion, Anadolu Automobil Rom, Vantage Towers, SMS Ticketing, Scala Assistance, Top Metrology, Bitcom IoT, Parko Mobility, Elbi Energy Projects, SIMAVI, Sysnet, Asse by Asseco, Omega Star Sistems, Integrisoft, Dewatering Silent & Piling, Vodafone Business, Self Pay
Institutional Partners: ICI Bucharest, Elcen, Romanian Post, RoGBC, Graphtec Design
Media Partners: Phoenix Media, Profit News, Bursa.ro, Business Review, Agerpres, Radio Romania Current Affairs, Aleph News, IQAds, Nine O'Clock, People and Companies, Matek, Ghidul Primăriilor, CaleaEuropeana.ro
Ambassadors of the Experience: La Fântâna, Kafune
