In September 2020, as part of the second phase of the “Modellprojekte Smart Cities programme” of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB), Berlin was selected as one of 32 model projects nationwide for funding. A total of 86 cities, districts and municipalities as well as intermunicipal cooperations from all over Germany submitted applications in response to the BMI’s call for proposals. The motto of this funding phase was “Gemeinwohl und Netzwerkstadt/Stadtnetzwerk” (common good and network city / city network). The title of the Berlin proposal is “Berlin lebenswert smart” (Berlin liveable smart).
Press release of the Senate Chancellery of 8 September 2020 (German only)
The “Berlin lebenswert smart” model project comprises three different elements and/or process phases, a key component of which is the development of a new Smart City Strategy. The Strategic Framework (German only, concept phase, February to May 2021) defined an image of the future that was developed by a cooperation of Berlin actors.
In the next step, this was used to develop the Berlin Smart City strategy, including targets and actions. The first draft of the strategy was completed in July 2022.
Model project “Berlin lebenswert smart” – 5 pilot projects
The application for funding as a model project defines five exemplary projects that will be realised during the implementation phase (January 2022 to the end of 2026).
- Smart City Spaces: Hardenbergplatz in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a typical station forecourt with high usage, is being redesigned smartly and flexibly - i.e. depending on the event, day, weather and season – for all forms of mobility.
- Data Governance and Data-driven Administration: Together with the Einstein Center Digital Future and Siemens AG Data-Governance, the Smart City model project is developing exemplary concepts for pilot areas that integrate municipal and private-sector interests and processes in a way that balances the common good.
- Community Budgeting and Smart Participation: In the context of participatory processes, interests tend to be distorted by low participation. Reallabor StadtManufaktur, BBBlockchain, CityLAB and the mobile CityLAB will help reach more people with activating, digitally supported participation. Treptow-Köpenick is the pioneering district.
- Smart Water – Modelling and Governance: The impact of extreme weather events are obvious, but difficult for decision-makers and the public to comprehend. The project models the effects of spatial heterogeneity and homogeneity on the water cycle and develops a participatory digital wall panel. Berlin will select representative locations for this purpose.
- Data in everyday life and crises – Kiezbox 2.0: Local data on climate, air quality, etc. are generally obtained during regular operation. In the event of a crisis (e.g. power failure), solar or battery-powered hotspots for example can form an emergency Wifi network that informs the local population. The effectiveness of such measures is to be tested first in the district of Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
The Berlin Smart City Definition
“Smart” means the way in which challenges are tackled in creative, participative and appropriate processes. “Smart” means being aware of the fact that technology can generate benefits for society and strengthen the democratic polity. By developing a new Smart City strategy, Berlin is creating the conditions to process digitisation and urban development cohesively, which is achieved through the participation of Berlin’s entire urban society, including business, science, administration and civil society. This collaboration is facilitated by agile and transparent government leadership as well as modern ways of working that consciousl use technology and constructively develop solutions focused on the common good. The development of the Smart City Berlin pursues clear and comprehensible targets and reviews the effectiveness of actions while at the same time identifying lines of conflict and continuously re-negotiating the meaning of the common good.
(Berlin Smart City definition, working version, April 2021)
