A 360-degree model for prioritizing smart cities initiatives, with the participation of municipality officials, citizens and experts

Abstract

Smart cities can be considered a participatory arena for local governments and stakeholders, to co-create communities that can offer development opportunities and quality of life, no matter social group, age, or gender. It constitutes an environment for implementing innovative actions and hence a chance for contribution of many stakeholders. Several studies analyse the “smart city” as an ecosystem based on the triple helix model. In this model three actors are involved: the municipal administration, research organisations, and private sector enterprises (ventures mostly dealing with ICT—Information and Communication Technologies). Recently, research has suggested a central role of the local community as an innovation base, suggesting a Quadruple Helix Model where community works alongside with business, research and government in the new economy. The aim of this chapter is to collect information and propose suggestions regarding actions/projects in smart cities from all the stakeholders mentioned above, thus creating a “360-degree” model for prioritizing smart city interventions in any interested city. Moreover, it applies the developed prioritisation model in the Greek situation and finally, it reaches useful conclusions concerning citizen preferences and the degree of engagement in smart cities actions and projects.