This type o initiative is very relevant, allowing public entities, such as the Aveiro City Council, to boost activities with various stakeholders to find new beneficial solutions for citizens. Thus, through the implementation of a set of partnerships, new solutions are developed for cities and networks, integrating best practices and creating value jointly with Municipalities and other partners.

The Urban Challenges program proved to be of high value for the innovation of smart grids. The intelligent energy grid contributes to greater efficiency and sustainability, by optimizing energy systems, reducing CO2 emissions and reducing the use of fossil resources. This network incorporates numerous sensors, which allows you to instantly control the status of the entire network, balance loads and prevent damage before they happen. Smart electricity grids are fundamental for the city of the future and are characterized by being more digital and flexible and, more importantly, by creating the conditions for the more active participation of citizens and consumers in energy transformation.

Klugit overcame the Smart Grid challenge, launched on the axis of flexibility in demand and the increasingly active role of energy network customers. The types of interactions with the smart grid have been proven and the benefits can result. In addition to the possibility of connecting the water cylinders in situations of excessive energy production, the ability to adapt to heating cycles with peak / empty hours was demonstrated, thus balancing the load diagram. It can function as an energy store, integrate ‘IoT’ communicating systems, leveraging potentials through the use of information and connectivity that the InovGrid infrastructure (smart meter) allows. The project increased its level of maturity and demonstrated the integration of communication with smart meters, namely, by the implementation of 10 pieces of equipment, 5 in municipal facilities and 5 in homes.The developed technology interconnects with smart meters and remains in demonstration of its potential for this interconnection, namely, in the availability of power in existing distribution network circuits.

The program's objectives to cross STEAM areas and promoting cooperation and dialogue between participants with numerous valences and interests, alone would be enough to be an initiative that would have my full support. I begin by highlighting the quality of programme’s organisation and its artistic mentorships - Cadie Desbiens-Desmeules and Michael Dean – who knew how to create an excellent environment in the interaction with the others, presenting their projects inside without secrets, and sharing useful tools perfectly aligned with the premise of the residence. The tutoring team, incorporated by designers and engineers, responsible for monitoring the work carried out, the installations and equipment of the Creative Science Park with its technical staff, provided all the conditions to give the resident all the responsibility to leave the experience with more baggage than the one you entered. I also noticed that the selection of residents was very varied in terms of interests, profiles and objectives, which allowed us to start intense and consequent conversations about the activities developed there and outside.

The first interactions in the program, based on the previous description, were experienced with great enthusiasm. There was a good environment between the group and a great exchange of ideas. I think that my experience was particularly happy  in finding interests and objectives very much in line with the (generic) realization with other colleagues right at the beginning of the residency. This 'accident' allowed us very quickly - and with some learning passed on by the mentors - to start exploring and identifying the artistic and technological project we wanted to develop, already following prototyping developments in parallel with the conceptual support, all of this shared and accompanied with / by mentors / tutors. After the 'COVID' interruption, we resumed work with a new plan that was too condensed, although understandable given the constraints and doubts. Due to the fact that my colleagues and I are already relatively safe in our conceptual base, we were able with very little time to test an entire technical apparatus with micro-controllers, sensors, subwoofers, and others, and even feel a sample of the experience we wanted achieve with the project.

This programme allowed me to expand my knowledge and see new artistic projects, deepen technical skills in prototyping and learn new tools, such as, TouchDesigner software. In fact, I ended up using it in two works that I developed with my Suspicious Collective during the pandemic opening window in summer 2020: Compasso Incerto at Lisboa Soa, and Prana at Criatech.