During interaction with government officials in India we realize that there is a lot of misunderstanding about the definition of clean-tech and smart-cities.

We discussed this topic with specialists from Flanders during the Flemish Economic Mission to India.

Clean-tech is about technologies that enable us to work, live, enjoy and produce with minimal resources and energy in order to protect the environment.  Can we produce goods with less (or less harmful) raw materials?  Can we produce goods with less or cleaner energy?

Smart-cities are cities that use technologies (digitalisation) to improve the quality of life of its citizen.   Digitalization focuses primary on smart buildings, smart energy, smart mobility and smart communication.  A smart city creates facilities for employment, housing, recreation with optimal use of public spaces.