Karen speaks about the European Smart Cities and Communities Initiative and review the European policy context: the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the Resource Efficiency Flagship Initiative, and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan. This will include an outline of the new European Smart Cities and Communities Initiative that was launched in Brussels on 21 June 2011, and of related EU funding and collaboration opportunities, together with relevant ongoing activity in Scotland, engaging in the Smart Cities and Communities Initiative, and what support is available for project development in Scotland.