One of the main activities carried out by the Committee of Digital and Knowledge-based Cities of UCLG in 2012 has been the elaboration of the "Smart Cities Study: International study on the situation of ICT, innovation and Knowledge in cities".
A work that has been developed with a lot of excitment and that represents a milestoe in the committee, since it is its first publication developed.
The last few decades have seen rapid development in information and communication technologies (ICTs), innovation and knowledge, which has increased their presence in day-to-day life and made them basic elements for the social and economic progress of territories.
Being aware of this tendency, the Committee has been working in 2012 in the developedment of the "Smart Cities Study: International study on the situation of ICT, innovation and Knowledge in cities" in which 28 cities form all over the world have collaborated.
A Study that makes a follow-up to the commitment acquired by the Local Authorities that took part in the II World Summit of Local Authorities on the Information Society held in 2005 in Bilbao for boosting the information society in their territories.
The world is becoming increasingly digital and no-one can afford to be left out of the changes taking place. This rapid change has given as a result a new model of city, the so called "Smart City".
A city, that seeks to become more livable, functional, competitive and modern through the use of new technologies, the promotion of innovation and the management knowledge.
It talks about a "holistic" vision of Smart City, which brings together 6 key Areas of performance that affect the development of cities: economy, people, governance, mobility, environment y quality of life.
It is important to remark that the Study does not seek to make a ranking of cities.
With this Study, from the Committee we want to provide a reference document for UCLG members that show the degree of progress made by the members in regards to ICT, innovation and knowledge, in each of the previously mentioned Areas.
Through the Study we analyse the information that was made available by the 28 cities, related to these 6 areas and the key factors that they include. This has allowed us to have a global vision of the situation of cities in each of the action fields, but also a vision at a regional level.
The Study also provides many best practices and experiences that will help to boost the knowledge-sharing between cities.
The Study is available both in Spanish and English.