SHAPE is a collaboration between a public-private research institute (AMS) and an architecture and technology company (UNSense) that offers an innovation program resulting in tangible prototypes to address urban challenges. The program aims to (1) identify available technology opportunities, (2) apply technologies practically to urban issues, and (3) build trust in technologies by limiting involvement of large corporations. It seeks to address the struggles cities face from fast-moving developments, traditional research timelines being too long, and limited understanding of city dynamics. The program will explore pairing emerging technologies with city issues to prototype solutions over several months.

1. Tangible solutions for smart city problems
x
SHAPE the future

2. 2
SHAPE defined

3. a collaboration of a public-private
research institute and an arch-
tech company that offers a unique
innovation program resulting in
tangible prototypes in order to
create metropolitan solutions.

4. 4
Collaboration
Unique expertise
AMS is a Amsterdam based
public-private research institute
with TU Delft, Wageningen UR
and MIT as core academic
partners
UNSense is a tech start-up and
innovation platform that explores
and develops technology in order
to humanise the built environment.
UNSense is a subsidiary of
UNStudio
UNStudio is an international
architectural design network with
three international offices in
Amsterdam, Hong Kong and
Shanghai. The focus is on the
future and on research and
innovation

5. Sense of urgency
70%
All the cities in the world together emit
70% of the world’s total carbon dioxide
1.3 billion
In 2015, there were 1.3bn passenger cars and
commercial vehicles in use. Expectations are
this will be >2 bn by 2025
More than half
The world’s population in 2016 was 7.5bn
of which 54% lived in urban areas. It is
estimated, this will be two third by 2050
31%
Buildings accounted for 31 percent of the
global final energy consumption in 2014
31 mega-cities
At the end of 2017, the world counted
31 mega-cities (>10M citizens) to which
another 10 will be added by 2030
Sources: National Geographic, Statista, World Economic Forum, Global Alliance for Building and Construction, Reuters
Cities need to expand in a more sustainable & resilient manner,
while improving quality of life and prosperity at the same time

6. 6
(i) To identify available technology opportunities
(ii) To apply technology for practical use for urban challenges
(iii) Limited trust in large tech corporates
Stuggle of cities:

7. 7
(i) Traditional longer-term research collaborations (>4 years)
are not well-suited for fast moving smart & sustainable city
developments
(ii) Does not result in tangible, marketable solutions
Burden of academic field:

8. 8
Struggle of corporates
(i) In search of access to and understanding of city
challenges, city dynamics and metabolism flows
(ii) Limited access to state of the art of the scientific solutions

9. 9
Technology x City
Envisaged to explore, design and prototype
emerging technologies (X) to solve major
urban challenges (Y) in every program

10. Blockchain x Urban Mobility
Preliminary combinations

11. Artificial Intelligence x Safe cities
Preliminary combinations

12. Robotics x Health
Preliminary combinations

13. Virtual / augmented reality x Liveable Cities
Preliminary combinations

14. SHAPE the future