ZAGREB, November 23, 2020 - The Kutina industrial-logistic zone is the first smart business zone in Croatia and it offers future investors a series of benefits like digital technology, exemption from utility contributions and for waste management for a period of five years, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) said on Monday.

Presenting the project on Monday HGK said that the zone extends over 74 hectares and provides a series of benefits for future investors.

Apart from ensuring utility services, power and transport infrastructure the zone is geographically situated well and future investors will be exempt from paying utility fees for a period of five years, HGK said in a press release.

The zone will be the site of a new unique pilot programme - SMART&KIND - which is for digitising business infrastructure, including the Internet of Things among other things, a unique software to monitor business management of infrastructure and city assets which should lead to energy savings, the digitisation of essential information for investors and connecting them with citizens, it was said at the presentation.

City authorities will equip entrepreneurs at the business zone with smart modules to gauge electricity, water and gas consumption. The modules present an overview of zoning in the city and an analysis of available labour force.

Kutina Mayor Zlatko Babic said that this is a strategic project for the town and apart from attracting investors it will improve the city administration's management, open new jobs and generally upgrade living standards.

State-Secretary in the Central Office for the Development of a Digital Society, Bernard Grsic said that digital transformation is not just technology, it is changing business models and creating new values. This is a horizontal topic that impacts all spheres of society.

HGK also presented its online services which concludes the project of digitising the chamber and its activities and services.

The system encompasses eight online services (e-financing, e-public authorities, e-membership, e-legislation, e-fairs and promotions, e-launch a business, e-commerce information, and e-training). The system accelerates communication between the chamber and its members, it was said at a press conference.

November 06, 2020 - After smart parking, meters and air quality monitoring systems, A1 Croatia continues to apply IoT solutions, this time in waste management, and given the national coverage of the A1 NB IoT network, they are ready for the exponential growth of IoT ecosystems in Croatia, said Ivan Gabrić, General Manager for Business Users A1 Croatia, at an online press conference.

As reported by Večernji list, some European and world cities have already conducted pilot projects which confirmed the many advantages of the application of IoT technology in efficient waste management, ie smart waste containers, say from A1 and explain: English Newcastle has saved 50% in operating costs by applying occupancy sensors and a platform for optimal waste collection on 1,200 bins. They estimated that it was 49 percent less CO2 pollution and also had 51 percent fewer complaints from citizens. The port area of ​​Dublin in Ireland, by introducing a smart tank system, has reduced the waste collection rate by as much as 85%, resulting in savings of 75% in operating costs, or € 200,000 per year. Also, the Irish city of Galway has reduced the number of collections by 80%, while at the same time, 40% fewer tanks by replacing classic tanks with smart ones in frequent places in just one month.

A1 Croatia, in cooperation with its partner, the company Interseroh, brings to the domestic market three models of containers for smart waste management on IoT technology. 

The first model is intended for outdoor use and allows you to press waste by increasing the capacity of the tank up to 10 times. In addition to being powered by solar energy, it is energy self-sustaining. It is equipped with a charge sensor and equipment for communicating with the cloud platform in real-time. Its equivalent is the second model intended for interior spaces. It is also equipped with a press, status sensors and a system for connecting and sending information. Disposal of waste in the tank is contactless, ie it opens to the motion sensor.

The third model is also intended for indoor use. The name of the smart container was acquired thanks to the application of artificial intelligence that detects the type of waste with sensors and cameras and automatically separates it into the appropriate container. In addition, the principle of machine learning in each recognition of the type of waste learns, complements the knowledge base and shares with other containers in the system. It is equipped with four internal containers that can be adapted for different types of waste according to user needs as well as a press to increase capacity.

"Thanks to the IoT cloud platform, it is possible to remotely check the tank filling status at any time so that discharge can be planned efficiently. The map shows the location of the tank, the status of occupancy and it is possible to create optimal tour routes, which significantly reduces operating costs. In addition, analytics and information are available, and given that the solution is in the cloud, no special user IT infrastructure is required", explained Siniša Staničić, Director of ICT Sales and Solutions at A1 Croatia.

Containers can be connected via WiFi, GSM or NB IoT network. The highest standards of hygiene are achieved by non-contact opening, antibacterial coating and are hermetically sealed preventing the spread of unpleasant odors or liquids. They comply with all applicable directives and regulations of the European Union with the CE mark and certificate. It is possible to extend the functionality by adding different sensors such as measuring air quality, noise level or WiFi spot.

When it comes to price, they depend on the type of tank and "accessories". The complete solution also contains software, a platform in the cloud and a complete service. The price depends on whether the complete solution is the entire aaS (as a Service) through a monthly fee.

External tank with solar panels, which is a set of 2 tanks, with a press and one without a press, each of 120 liters with basic functionality belongs to the class of up to 10,000 euros. The inner tank with a built-in press with a 120-liter motion sensor is around 28,000 kuna. The internal tank with artificial intelligence AI is at the level of 10,000 euros.

The first smart bins should appear in Rijeka since A1 Croatia is cooperating with the city of Rijeka on this smart city solution project.

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