Ecosystem Strategy for Smart Cities: Achieving Growth through Uncertainty

City priorities have changed dramatically in 2020 and many of the changes will have long-term consequences. Accepted ideas on how cities are organized, managed, and monitored have been overturned. In addition, there is the huge issue of depleted budgets and reduced tax bases. Citizen health and economic survival have become existential priorities for city leaders. Despite these urgent and unpredictable challenges, city leaders realize the need to rebuild better to ensure resilience to future pandemic events, accelerate the shift to zero carbon cities, and address the gross social inequalities in many cities. These aspirational priorities must be considered even as cities continue to deal with the current existential threats. Huge uncertainty remains over the future path of the pandemic, the state of city economies, the political dimension of recovery, and the impact of climate change.

The intersection of COVID-19, climate change, social justice, and technological disruption defines a new uncertain landscape for city leaders to navigate. Patterns are emerging in terms of how cities will need to manage the continued threat from COVID-19 and address other existential challenges. The role of technology is being considered along these new fault lines, in terms of its ability to address new challenges and on how it must be managed to meet aspirational goals around emissions reductions and social justice.

This report examines how smart city initiatives will evolve to meet challenges in an age of uncertainty. The report looks at early stage interventions by cities around the world and examines their medium- and long-term consequences. It explores the effects on city technology and innovation programs. Recommendations are provided for city strategists, technology providers, service partners, and other stakeholders.