Urban policy of technological inovati on: Experiences of digita l cities in Brazil

Abstract

Digital city is an urban public policy that sees in information and communication technologies a possibility to promote digital inclusion, foster governance strategies, democratize the participation of the population and boost urban development. It is a public policy that has its origin in the 1990s, which initially takes place in the United States, Finland, Netherlands, Japan. In Brazil, the experiences of digital cities are raised by local administrations that seek to modernize the state bureaucratic apparatus, promote digital inclusion and provide public services through digital technologies laying the foundations for what is now considered smart city. The objective of this article is to present and discuss experiences of digital cities implemented in the cities of Sao Paulo, Sud Menucci, Porto Alegre, Palmas and Piraí. The starting point is a reflection around the concept of digital city according to levels, characteristics and objectives. Subsequently, the analysis focuses on the path of implementation of the digitization policy, identifying specifics, weaknesses and potentialities.