Policy framework for the Sustainable Digital Transformation of Local Societies
The digital transformation of local societies is one of Europe’s priorities. In my presentation, eight proposals are proposed to move towards a sustainable citizen-centered model.
Εight-Axis Policy Proposal for Citizen-Centric Digital Transformation
- Digitization as a development policy axis – Brand based on digital transformation and climate neutrality.
The choice of digital and climate-neutral transformation fosters a new model of urban development, where investments in human and social capital and ICT infrastructure & networks promote economic growth, environmental sustainability and a high quality of life, through participatory governance.
- Participation of citizens in Local governance
Citizens must be involved in the selection of strategic policies, actions, concerns and desires, in the evaluation of prototypes and possibly in the co-design of new solutions through various forms of participation. This ensures the creation of a reliable and healthy relationship with local authorities and a source of democratic legitimacy and transparency. In the context of smart cities, citizens who understand specific problems and challenges can help local authorities to choose priorities and respond consistently to the needs of residents.
- Local societies as an open ecosystem of citizen-centered innovation
Democracy frames and changes the conditions of the model of the transformation of the local environment.
This perspective allows for non-traditional paths to digital transformation success, such as those related to non-technological improvements but the creation of services and the exploitation of creativity. It also enables the transition to the “open society”, where innovation becomes a process that includes all stakeholders as active members to co-create and experiment both in new ways of developing technologies and in creating new services and products.
- Digital rights
Digital rights are human rights , because the way we enjoy our right to privacy, education, political participation, work, accessibility and more is shaped by our access to the Internet and our abilities to use the solutions of new technologies. The transition to digital societies should leave no one behind. Cities can help in this regard by developing awareness and skills programs for their citizens and supporting the education system to make teaching about digital skills a core subject in the national curriculum. At the same time, cities can help by putting more effort into making their own (digital) city services as user-friendly as possible.
- Smart City Urban Platforms and Data Management
Ιt is necessary for local communities to create their own dominant technological infrastructure, based on open technological solutions that will host, analyze and distribute city data based on international standards and best practices on open data sharing. Digital data must be used to public interest and the improvement in decision-making. A critical factor for the above is the transparency of the algorithms and the avoidance of using discriminatory algorithms that ultimately reinforce economic, social and cultural inequalities
- Interoperability, open standards, APIs and common data models
The digital platforms and due to the number of subjects they manage and the different types of data , it is necessary do not constitute individual “silos”, not to rely on proprietary protocols and to commit to specific suppliers. The digital platforms used to manage and solve the local problems should promote open standards, APIs and open data models.
- The platform economy
The platform economy has not only changed business models, it has also changed the way we consume a variety of services in our daily lives in the urban environment.
In addition to the advantages we receive from their use, there are already many reactions to the negative effects in many areas such as the removal of homes from permanent residents etc.
We have seen individual as well as collective reactions from cities, signing declarations etc.
Certainly frameworks for their operation must be legislated that will oblige the platforms to harmonize with local legislations regarding taxation, employment or the provision of anonymous data to local authorities so that they can be used in the management of local issues (eg mobility data)
- Key performance indicators (KPI’s)
An essential element is the evaluation of the actions and the digital transformation of local societies. The development and validation of key KPIs if possible at least at European level and standardized data collection procedures allow transparent monitoring not only of quantitative indicators but of results and impact on local societies and the comparison of “smart” cities at National or European level