Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE

Smart city concepts and digitization strategies

Smart city concepts for administrations and municipal organizations—collaborative, sustainable, effective

Digitalization offers enormous opportunities for local authorities—from more efficient administrative processes and citizen-oriented services to new forms of participation. However, to ensure that digital transformation is not just a one-off event but becomes firmly established in the long term, more than just technological solutions are needed. Our approach: We develop digitalization strategies that are tailored precisely to your organization, your structures, and your target groups—together with you, not over your heads.

Participation is at the heart of our work. We actively involve employees, decision-makers, citizens, and external partners in strategy development. Through a consistent multi-stakeholder approach, we create a solid foundation for acceptance, feasibility, and impact. We identify relevant actors, moderate perspectives, and facilitate genuine exchange—whether in workshops, interviews, participatory formats, or digital dialogues. This results in strategies that are based on real needs and work in practice.

At the same time, we place particular emphasis on sustainable anchoring: our strategies are not one-off concepts but are designed to be integrated into existing structures—organizationally, technically, and culturally. We support you in planning change processes realistically, using resources sensibly, and defining long-term responsibilities. We view digitalization not only as a technical task but as a comprehensive development process for your organization.

Another key component of our service is accompanying communication and public relations work. Digitalization requires explanation, transparency, and trust—both internally and externally. We work with you to develop communication strategies that engage people, highlight successes, and encourage participation. Whether it's an information event, employee communication, social media campaign, or press relations—we ensure that your digitalization strategy is understood and supported.

Our goal is not only to provide you with a strategy but also to enable you to shape your digital transformation in a self-determined and impact-oriented manner. With scientific expertise, methodological clarity, and a high degree of practical relevance, we accompany you on your journey—from the initial idea to implementation.

A digitization strategy is the first step. We are also happy to assist you in developing data strategies or measuring the impact of measures.

Your questions – our answers

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  • The fundamental difference to other concepts is the focus on digitalization, which traditionally means introducing digital tools in a strategically sensible manner.

    In detail, it all depends on your existing concepts. If you already have documents, even in different departments, that deal with digital measures or their structuring, then these should serve as a basis. Even when it comes to the extent to which administrative digitization and smart cities belong together, the work statuses should be merged if possible. This applies to both the content and the technical level.

  • Our approach is structured in modules, which we tailor to the tender in question and assign workloads to. We often include optional work packages in our bids, which can be commissioned either at the beginning of the process or while the project is underway.

    Should new circumstances arise during the process that jeopardize the success of the project, we will be happy to work with you to find a viable solution!

  • Participation is an important part of smart cities and regions. It ensures that digitalization does not fail to meet local needs. Ideally, digitalization also makes it easier to participate in public (administrative) processes.

    To ensure that participation works, we consider various parameters: What is your goal? Which target groups must be involved for successful implementation? Over what period of time and with what perspective should participation take place? By using existing media and tools, processing information transparently, and communicating clearly about which actors can exert how much influence, participation becomes valuable in our strategy process.

  • In practice, it can sometimes seem overwhelming to think about the appropriate impact measurement when developing a strategy. In our experience, impact measurement is an important part of a strategy, as it allows you to demonstrate your progress at the political level or to the public and to gather internal information on how a measure should be managed. Evaluation should therefore be part of the strategy.

  • As part of our research work, we also deal with knowledge transfer. We incorporate our findings into our strategy work.

Curious about tomorrow – Our research questions on smart city concepts

  • What are the mechanisms of action of participatory approaches in the development of municipal smart city concepts?
  • How can the long-term anchoring of digital strategies in municipal structures and processes be ensured?
  • What role do internal and external communication play in the acceptance and effectiveness of municipal smart city concepts?
  • Which cultural models influence the receptiveness to digital strategies in municipal organizations?
  • How can conflicting goals between increasing efficiency and social participation within municipal smart city concepts be identified and addressed?

Our references and solutions

Project

 

As part of the federal program “Model Projects Smart Cities” of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Community (BIM), Fraunhofer IESE is developing an integrated smart city strategy.

Smart Wendeler Land

Project

 

In the "Smart Region Mayen-Koblenz" project, Fraunhofer IESE is developing sustainable and integrative digitization projects in the spirit of a digital ecosystem.

 

Smart Region Mayen-Koblenz