Smart Innovation Roadmap: A Methodology for Accelerating the Adoption of Smart Sustainable Cities

By Laila AL Hadhrami - Communities Connect Cities (C3)

From her experience in Smart City projects across government, private sectors, and UN offices, alongside mentoring tech startups, Laila Al Hadhrami's work led to the establishment of her methodology (Smart Innovation Roadmap) which lead to establish her company Communities Connect Cities (C3) – a powerful approach born from the need for stronger communities in the smart city age. This article introduces the Smart Innovation Roadmap, the core business of c3 advisory base, which accelerates the adoption of smart cities projects.

Smart cities are becoming increasingly important as a way to address the challenges of urbanization and sustainability. However, the adoption of smart city technologies can be challenging, due to the need to integrate a wide range of stakeholders and technologies. The Smart Innovation Roadmap is a methodology that can help cities to overcome these challenges and accelerate the adoption of smart city technologies.

The Smart Innovation Roadmap is based on three pillars:

• Smart Community:?This pillar focuses on the engagement of all stakeholders aligned with a people-centered approach. The Smart Community pillar includes five categories: government, private sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, academia, and individuals and communities.
• Smart Governance:?This pillar focuses on building the Smart Sustainable City Vision based on the national strategy of the country and linked to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Smart Governance pillar also includes the creation of a Smart City Index based on the established strategy for sustainable development and improvement.
• Smart Technology:?This pillar has three different stages: smart infrastructure, smart solutions, and data. Smart Infrastructure is the first stage, in which the infrastructure for any new solution is built. The second stage is providing smart solutions, after the city has guaranteed that it has a ready infrastructure. The final stage is the data that is gathered from the smart solutions, which supports the vision of smart cities to use data as a tool to improve the efficiency of integrated systems.

The integration of these three pillars is essential for the successful planning and execution of a smart sustainable city strategy. At c3, this methodology is introduced through “C3 Innovation Lab”. The Smart Innovation Roadmap provides a framework for cities to follow to ensure that they are taking a comprehensive approach to the adoption of smart city technologies.

The Smart Community pillar focuses on the engagement of all stakeholders aligned with a people-centered approach. The Smart Community pillar includes five categories: government, private sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, academia, and individuals and communities.

• Government:?The government plays a key role in the development of smart cities. The government can provide funding, support, and policies that encourage the adoption of smart city technologies.
• Private sector:?The private sector is a major driver of innovation in the smart city space. The private sector can develop and provide smart city technologies, and can also invest in smart city projects.
• SMEs and startups:?SMEs and startups are often at the forefront of innovation in the smart city space. SMEs and startups can develop and provide innovative smart city solutions, and can also provide jobs and economic growth.
• Academia:?Academia can provide research and development in the smart city space. Academia can also train the next generation of smart city professionals.
• Individuals and communities:?Individuals and communities can play a role in the development of smart cities by participating in smart city projects, using smart city technologies, and providing feedback to the government and private sector.

The Smart Community pillar is essential for the successful development of smart cities. The pillar ensures that all stakeholders are engaged in the process, and that the development of smart cities is aligned with the needs of the people.

Here are some examples of how the Smart Community pillar can be implemented in a city:

• The government can create a smart city task force that includes representatives from all of the key stakeholders.
• The government can provide funding for smart city projects, such as the development of a smart transportation system or a smart water system.
• The private sector can develop and provide smart city technologies, such as smart sensors and smart meters.
• SMEs and startups can develop and provide innovative smart city solutions, such as a smart parking app or a smart waste management system.
• Academia can conduct research on smart city technologies and train the next generation of smart city professionals.
• Individuals and communities can participate in smart city projects, such as a smart neighborhood initiative or a smart city hackathon.

To foster a Smart Community, cities can employ various strategies:

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1. Collaborative Platforms: Establishing digital platforms and forums that facilitate communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. These platforms enable the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices, fostering a culture of collective problem-solving and innovation.

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2. Co-Creation and Co-Design: Involving stakeholders in the co-creation and co-design of smart sustainable city solutions. Engaging end-users and communities in the design process ensures that the solutions are tailored to their unique requirements, resulting in greater acceptance and adoption.

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3. Education and Awareness: Promoting education and awareness programs to inform and empower citizens about the benefits and opportunities of smart sustainable cities. This includes initiatives to enhance digital literacy, sustainability education, and public participation in decision-making processes.

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4. Inclusive Decision-Making: Implementing mechanisms for inclusive decision-making, such as participatory budgeting, citizen consultations, and collaborative governance models. These approaches empower citizens to have a voice in shaping the future of their cities and ensure that decisions reflect their priorities and aspirations.

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5. Local Entrepreneurship: Supporting local entrepreneurship and innovation by providing incubation programs, funding opportunities, and mentorship to SMEs and startups. This encourages the development of homegrown solutions and creates a vibrant ecosystem of local businesses contributing to smart sustainable city initiatives.

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• Smart Governance:?This pillar focuses on building the Smart Sustainable City Vision based on the national strategy of the country and linked to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Smart Governance pillar also includes the creation of a Smart City Index based on the established strategy for sustainable development and improvement.
• Smart Technology:?This pillar has three different stages: smart infrastructure, smart solutions, and data. Smart Infrastructure is the first stage, in which the infrastructure for any new solution is built. The second stage is providing smart solutions, after the city has guaranteed that it has a ready infrastructure. The final stage is the data that is gathered from the smart solutions, which supports the vision of smart cities to use data as a tool to improve the efficiency of integrated systems.

Conclusion:

The Smart Innovation Roadmap is a valuable tool for cities that are looking to accelerate the adoption of smart city technologies. The methodology provides a framework and tools for cities to follow to ensure that they are taking a comprehensive approach to the adoption of smart city technologies. The Smart Innovation Roadmap can help cities to improve the efficiency of urban systems, improve the quality of life for citizens, and address the challenges of urbanization and sustainability.

If you are interested to know more about Smart Innovation Roadmap and how we can support you to build and execute your Smart Innovation Roadmap, contact us to work together.

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