Edinburgh Napier University

A major study into the governance of smart city initiatives, involving Edinburgh Napier University, has found most cities in low-income countries don’t have the necessary plans to guide their transformation.

While more and more municipalities are implementing digital technology in urban areas to improve the lives of citizens, the report published today has found many local governments lack an innovation-oriented mindset and the competencies required.

More than two thirds of low-income countries do not have a national policy to guide smart city initiatives, while the long-term sustainability of such projects has been raised as a key concern worldwide.

These are some of the main findings from the Global Review of Smart City Governance Practices, which was produced jointly by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Development Bank of Latina America (CAF),  ENU, and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech).

It is the first-ever report to examine how smart city governance is interpreted and managed across regions of the world. It brings together experience from 250 cities to provide key strategic recommendations for local governments as they plan, implement and sustain smart city initiatives.

Dr Luca Mora, Professor of Urban Innovation and Director of the Urban Innovation Policy Lab at Edinburgh Napier University said: “At the intersection between digital technology and urban development lies an opportunity for more sustainable living conditions in urban communities.

“This report offers clear advice on how to realise this potential in an inclusive and sustainable manner, with evidence-based recommendations that can inform any efforts to transform smart city technologies into a force for more sustainable urban futures.”

Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat added: “I believe local governments have an important role to play in the governance of smart cities and in countering the challenges and risks of rising digitalization in public service delivery and implications such as digital divide, digital inclusion, and social equity.”

Further facts and figures highlighted in the report – which has been launched during an event at the 2022 Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona – include:

• More than two thirds of cities in low-income countries lack national policies to guide smart city initiatives.
• 64% of African cities cite lack of skills as a key factor that constrains their smart city initiatives compared to cities in other continents.
• The long-term sustainability of smart city initiatives has been highlighted as a key concern worldwide, with a higher incidence in Africa and North America.
• Public procurement regulations and tight bureaucratic control remain an obstacle in the engagement of external partners in smart city initiatives, particularly in Latin America and North America.
• It is difficult for municipal governments worldwide to ensure the active participation of residents in smart city initiatives. This raises concerns regarding efforts to make smart cities more people-centric.