Page - 176 - in Radical Solutions and Open Science - An Open Approach to Boost Higher Education

184 R.Y.Hamzah University’s ambition is togobeyond targets, and throughsustainablepartnerships, develop innovative solutions that have an impact on the environment, society, and theeconomy. Thekeydeliverablesof current collaborationsare: • CapacityBuilding, throughestablishingUniversity ofBahrain renewable energy labs, andpreparing techniciansand researchers. • Research activities in the areas of energy and renewable energy, and water desalinationand treatment. • Training and workshops to disseminate the knowledge to society and those interested in thefieldof renewableenergy fromtheprivateandpublic sectors. 11.5 SmartFuture Oneof themaincomponentsof thesmartcitiesare thehighereducationinstitutions, and their role inhumancapital development and research anddevelopment to con- tribute to the advancement of ever smarter cities. The rise in smart cities or digital cities has been powered by certain trends, with around 68 per cent of theworld’s populationexpectedtobeurbanresidentsby2050(UNDESA,2018).Thechallenge tobuildmoresmart citieshasbecomeurgent.With theadventofdigital technology andbigdata,changesareexponential,be it inpublic transportation,citizenservices, or thewaybusinessesare run. Physical infrastructure from transportation systems to buildings, factories, and entire supplychainswill sequentiallybeconnectedvia the Internet.The Internet of Thingsmeans small computing devices are interweaved in the fabric of our envi- ronment. Services canbedelivered throughnewplatforms such as connected cars, smarthomes,andconnectedpublicspaces,whichultimatelyleads toabetterquality of life. Smart cities will also require smart utilities. Sustainable energy consumption and ‘green’ energyproductionathome isbecominganewlifestyle.Today’shyper- connected consumer expects a reduced environmental footprint while still enjoy- ing seamless services and ease of use, improving their quality of life through fully digitizedprocesses thatgive themcompletecontrolover everyaspectof their lives. AccordingtotheInternationalDataCorporation(IDC),30billion‘things’willbe connectedby2020 (IDC,2013).Everything fromcarsandappliances, to lights and temperature controls, will be connected in an interoperable network thatwill give consumersunprecedentedcontrol andchoiceover their useof their energy through the internet of things. The scale andpace of change is unrelenting.However, it’s a challenge thatacademiamustplayakeypart inandalsomoveatspeedtokeeppace with rapid transformativechange ledby technology. The University, through research, human capital developed, organizing Smart Cities Symposiums, and industry collaboration, is leading the drive for academia