Global Seminar | Why a ‘smart city’ ismore than 5G and AI | Calum Handforth
Channel: (FCL) Future Cities Laboratory
Date: 2022-03-02

Global Seminars
Ideas, discussion and thinking on sustainable cities and settlement systems at theintersection of science, design, place and time

Why a ‘smart city’ ismore than 5G and AI 
‘Smart Cities’ have been discussed for decades, with the concept now synonymous with high-tech – including 5G, Big Data, and AI. Despite the longevity of the concept, there are few – if any – ‘smart cities’. Recognising this, the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development is working to broaden the definition of a ‘smart city’. Through our work with cities around the world, it’s clear that ‘smartness’ is not just about technology. It’s about innovation – including frugal innovation and nature-based solutions (as well as the high-tech); effective collaborations between all of the different stakeholders in a city, and governance to enable these components. Fundamentally, a truly smart city is one that is able to leverage its greatest asset: the skills, aspirations, and engagement of its population. This redefinition is particularly important in the context of many global priorities. Cities are crucial actors in COVID-19 response and recovery, they play a central role in tackling and mitigating climate change, and are essential partners for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This importance demands broadening our understanding of what makes a city ‘smart’.

Presenter
Calum Handforth
Adviser, Smart Cities, Digitalisation, and Digital Health – UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development

Future Cities Laboratory
Singapore-ETH Centre

License: CC-BY-NC-SA
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/