| Abstract |
Today, the urbanization process is taking place at a rapid pace around the world, generating major economic, social, and environmental challenges. Cities can take advantage of this digital transformation, as technology and data analysis offer solutions to the day-to-day problems of life. 'Smart cities' use technology but they remember that it is only a tool, the participation of citizens, 'smart citizens' being required. To ensure that solutions are sustainable, they must be generated in ways that involve all interested parties and the cooperation between all social partners. Cluj-Napoca aims at keeping the balance between the technological component and the participation of its citizens in the creation of a 'smart city'. The 'smart city' actions and projects initiated by the municipality can be sorted into five major categories, respectively: 'Transportation and Urban Mobility', 'Energy and the Environment', 'Citizen - City Hall Relationship', 'Citizen Safety', and 'Internet Access'. At the same time, the municipality is conducting complex participatory budget exercises to allow citizens and the representatives of organized civil society to participate in the identification, examination, analysis and decision-making regarding the priorities of the city. |