Smart Cities Innovation Lab

 

What is a smart city?

- “[a city] where technologies seamlessly support more efficient work-life-play-learn opportunities for every individual in an inclusive manner, fuel greater economic growth and facilitate the creation of sustainable living environments in cities.” (ESCAP, 2019)

The Smart Cities Innovation Lab aims to leverage the transition to smart cities toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Smart city policy goals are becoming mainstream in Asian cities, but barriers to their implementation still exist. In some cases, the supply of market-ready, scalable smart city business models, products, and services has not kept pace, while in other cases there is a need for capacity strengthening of local stakeholders to govern smart city procurement and management. 

For entrepreneurs offering smart city solutions, barriers can also prevent rollout, for example through unintended barriers in procurement processes that leave them sidelined or uncompetitive compared to conventional solutions.

At the same time, cooperation between municipalities and the private sector remains untapped, as large tech companies strengthen sustainability strategies that support sustainable urbanization.

ESCAP’s Smart Cities Innovation Lab aims to bring together large companies, entrepreneurs, cities, and development agencies to accelerate the development of smart cities in Asia and embed the 2030 Agenda into the heart of the transition.