ZGRADONAČELNIK Branimir Šteko

Guest Branimir ŠtekoHosted by Tin BašićMay 3, 2026

Branimir Šteko

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

The term "smart city" has become ubiquitous, yet its precise meaning often remains elusive, a challenge Branimir Šteko confronts head-on. As the director of Smart Cities and Microgrids at Končar, Šteko is at the forefront of defining and building the advanced urban systems that promise greater efficiency and resilience. He explains that true smartness isn't just about collecting data; it's about transforming raw information into actionable insights and autonomous operations, enabling cities to respond to citizen needs and environmental pressures with unprecedented agility. This conversation cuts through the jargon to reveal the concrete steps required for urban transformation. Šteko outlines the essential elements of smart infrastructure, from two-way power grids to intelligent water systems, and offers a candid assessment of where countries like Croatia stand against ambitious EU targets. You will walk away with a clearer understanding of what constitutes a truly smart urban environment, and the significant, yet often overlooked, gaps that still need to be bridged.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

A city isn't 'smart' just because it collects data; Branimir Šteko notes that true smartness comes from what that data enables: connectivity, efficient management, and the ability for systems to assist human decision-making. The real shift isn't about more sensors, but about transforming raw information into actionable autonomy.

The electrical grid is no longer a one-way street, consuming energy; Šteko explains that with policies pushing green energy, cities now host many small, individual power sources like solar, wind, and battery storage. This shift means infrastructure itself—from public lighting to water systems—becomes a dynamic participant in energy production and management.

Croatia stands strong in integrating renewable sources into its power grid, a point Branimir Šteko highlights as a national success. Yet, the same country lags significantly in building renovation targets and the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, demonstrating how progress in one area of green transition doesn't automatically translate to others.

The EU's 2030 targets for cities—a 30% reduction in building consumption and a 36% increase in renewables in buildings—are not distant goals, but immediate pressures, as Branimir Šteko emphasizes. These figures underscore that 'tomorrow' for urban energy efficiency is already here, demanding rapid infrastructure overhauls rather than incremental changes.

Beyond efficiency and digitalization, Branimir Šteko points to 'resilience' as a core demand from the EU for smart cities. This means reducing vulnerability to external shocks in energy supply or price, shifting the focus from merely improving systems to hardening them against future uncertainties.

The term 'smart city' still lacks a precise, universally agreed-upon definition, a challenge Branimir Šteko traces back to its origins, evolving from 'smart cards' in the 90s to 'smartphones' in the 2000s. This fluid history means any city embracing 'smart' solutions must define the term for itself, rather than waiting for a static blueprint.

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