Citizen-Driven Innovation

Read this guidebook, which explores smart cities through a lens that promotes citizens as the driving force of urban innovation. It presents different models of smart cities that show how citizen-centric methods can mobilize resources to respond innovatively to challenges in governance. The living lab approach encourages agile development and the rapid prototyping of ideas in a decentralized and user-centric manner. How can mayors and public administrators create partnerships that drive value in their communities through citizen-driven innovation? How can sustainability be integrated into municipal strategies and solutions? How can city leaders join forces to learn and network globally?

Getting Started - Chapter 1

5. Spot the Champions

As you begin to experiment with citizen-driven innovation, you will probably notice that others with a strong leadership role already work in this way, although they may not have done so until now with the city government. These 'champions' share this understanding of the new dimension of ICT, with an ethos of practice based on reciprocal trust that is the foundation of co-design. Some may be actual experts in the different methods and techniques of citizen engagement such as participatory co-design or design thinking, while others may simply be natural leaders who instinctively choose to work in an open and transparent way. They may be artists, business owners, volunteer care givers, software programrs, or civil servants, but they will demonstrate their interest by committing their ideas and expertise to common endeavors, recognizing the value of the expertise of others, and opening up to your efforts to engage.

These people will be the most valuable resource for your new policies as you move forward to build on the first exciting experiences of engagement and co-creation, so make sure you show your commitment and trust to them. They won't necessarily need a formal recognition or position, but they will require a continued commitment from you to listen and act; if you ask them what they need, they will usually tell you: often it may be simply "let us do what we're already doing". Whatever their profiles and specific competences, this group will form the starting core of your city's innovation partnership. 

Checklist for Getting Started

Have you...

  • Reflected on where the most creative people in your city are, where they meet, and what they do?
  • Identified at least one open event of your local digital community to attend this month?
  • Drawn up a short list of specific city issues you can use to test new forms of collaboration?
  • Compared the apps on your smartphone's home screen to those of others?
  • Invited at least two new people from the civic and digital communities to lunch?