SB’25 San Diego, Saver Discount Deadline July 13!

Copenhagen ‘Big Data’ Marketplace Set to Spur Sustainability Innovation

Global IT firm Hitachi Consulting has been selected to construct a first-of-its-kind Big Data platform for Denmark’s capital Copenhagen to help achieve its sustainability goals.To develop the platform, the firm will work with the City of Copenhagen, Capital Region, the Danish cluster organization, CLEAN and a consortium of partners.The Copenhagen Big Data project will enable advanced analytics to support city functions such as green infrastructure planning, traffic management and energy usage. It will integrate data from multiple sources, including demographics, crime statistics, sensor-based sources — such as energy consumption meters, air quality sensors and traffic sensors, among others — and information submitted by citizens and businesses.

Global IT firm Hitachi Consulting has been selected to construct a first-of-its-kind Big Data platform for Denmark’s capital Copenhagen to help achieve its sustainability goals.

To develop the platform, the firm will work with the City of Copenhagen, Capital Region, the Danish cluster organization, CLEAN and a consortium of partners.

The Copenhagen Big Data project will enable advanced analytics to support city functions such as green infrastructure planning, traffic management and energy usage. It will integrate data from multiple sources, including demographics, crime statistics, sensor-based sources — such as energy consumption meters, air quality sensors and traffic sensors, among others — and information submitted by citizens and businesses.

The integrated platform will establish a city data marketplace for the sale and purchase of data between businesses — and is one of the first times public data and private data volunteered by businesses and citizens will be combined.

The data marketplace also is expected to offer businesses insight into interactions and relationships between different city functions, supporting core business planning and fostering new business opportunities.

Providing a source of rich data to smartphone and web app developers through the marketplace, the platform is meant to enable development of new applications designed to benefit citizens, businesses, job creation and the City of Copenhagen. The platform also is expected to help the city reach its ambitious climate target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025.

Hitachi established its mainland European Big Data laboratory in Copenhagen late last year, and the Big Data platform is the first step in leveraging Big Data opportunities for the city. Building is scheduled to commence in April, and the platform and pilot applications are expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Late last year, Denmark announced a goal to wean itself off of fossil fuels and power the entire country with renewables by 2050. What sets the Scandinavian country apart from other countries is that it is applying this goal to electrical production as well as transportation. And Denmark is already above 40 percent renewable power on its electric grid — headed toward 50 percent by 2020.

A report released last year found that smart city technology revenue will grow from $8.8 billion annually worldwide in 2014 to $27.5 billion in 2023, as cities around the world adopt smart city technology to meet sustainability goals, boost local economies and improve services.

Upcoming Events

October 13-16, 2025
SB'25 San Diego
US Event
More Information

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Behind the Label: Why Third-Party Certifications Matter in Sustainable Marketing
Webinar
More Information

Thursday, July 24, 2025
The ROI of Sustainability, Part 2: Sources of Financial Value and Effectively Communicating Analyses
Webinar
More Information

Related Stories

Innovation Watch: Turning the Tide on Ocean Health INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Innovation Watch: Turning the Tide on Ocean Health
Can We Cultivate Sustainable Supply Chains for Chocolate? INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Can We Cultivate Sustainable Supply Chains for Chocolate?
This Startup’s Holistic Solution Stops Plastic Pollution at Its Source INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
This Startup’s Holistic Solution Stops Plastic Pollution at Its Source
Innovation Watch: Smart Tech Cutting Agricultural Emissions INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Innovation Watch: Smart Tech Cutting Agricultural Emissions
Fenugreek, Okra Are Promising Solutions to Microplastic Pollution INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Fenugreek, Okra Are Promising Solutions to Microplastic Pollution
The Unexpected Future of Solar, From Onions to Algorithms INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
The Unexpected Future of Solar, From Onions to Algorithms