Never before has city lighting gone through such a transformation as it has now. An endless number of technical possibilities has made it increasingly harder to find the right applications. A complex challenge which makes it clear that the lighting industry alone cannot be held responsible to find the solution. The first part of Smart Lighting event on 13 November 2014 in Eindhoven, the first of its kind in the Netherlands, showed that `it is absolutely essential to link the needs of citizens and the technical possibilities, whereby not the technology but the needs should be leading´. This was the final conclusive remark of conference Chair Theo Verbruggen, NOS Journaal.

Alderman Mary-Ann Schreurs, in charge of Lighting, made it perfectly clear in the Opening Address ´By working together and by zooming into the new possibilities with lighting, can we improve the quality of life, together´.

Some 90 representatives of businesses, universities and R&D centres and governments plus citizens were inspired by the inaugural Smart Lighting Event. The ´Experience Session´ at night during the GLOWnext event attracted 600 interested visitors. ´Not the intensity of light should be leading, but the experience of light´ said one of the visitors.

What is evident is that good lighting makes human beings happier. But how can we apply street lighting in our towns and villages in such a way that it will have this effect? ´The basic infrastructure for light remains the same for everyone, new and improved services are up to you´(Elke den Ouden, Technical University Eindhoven)

Through new technology anyone can take the responsibility for the future of street lighting. It will be a challenge to find the unique qualities of an individual and to use it . ´A deeper experience affects the inner motivation to participate in thinking´(Thomas Lappere, Bloeise, Blogger for Emerce). Light is a great topic as we all share an interest.

Not energy but data are an important fuel for the Smart Lighting Grid of the future. To apply this fuel successfully societal acceptance and support is needed. Understandability and transparency are key drivers. ´We are moving towards a society which is more and more involved, we must therefore involve them´ (Maarten Botterman, Director GNKS Consult ).

‘A shared economy will develop in which possession will be exchanged by sharing´ (Kees Jansen, City philosopher’ > Inspirational speech. ´The future of Light, it´s up to you´ is the perfect subtitle for the Smart Lighting Event. ´We must want to crossover from buying possessions to paying for a service´ (Douwe Jan Joustra, Het Groene Brein)

The conference held on the 13^th of November 2014 took place in a setting of ´Matchmaking´ by bringing people together to act ´together´. Something that ´in a world in which  electronics take over human tasks more and more´ (Biba Visnjicki, Managing Director Coddel > Session 3, is no longer natural. Nevertheless, this is exactly what it is all about at the Smart Lighting Event. ´Use the energy of the people´ (Laurens de Graaf, Tilburg University.

Rik van Stiphout