A short drive from Athens, the Greek Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni lies on the eastern coast of Attica. Composed of three notable towns, Vari, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, the municipality forms a part of the greater Athens area.
To support its transition into a smart city, the Municipality has supported the organisation of the Hackathon of Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE). Bringing teams from across Greece and beyond, the competition encouraged and supported participants to come up with innovative mobile applications.
More recently, the city has also begun a new initiative that oversaw solar panel installation on top of beach umbrellas. The ‘GrEEnBeach’ solar charging system will monitor the energy usage of beachgoers and how much energy is being saved. Part of a collaboration with the Greek Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) of the National Technical University of Athens, this pilot project is considered as an important steppingstone in the European Green Deal.
For the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, greater collaboration and broader initiatives will play an increasingly important role for the area’s digital transition.