By Alice Chambers |
City leaders and technology experts agree that while digital transformation is reshaping urban life, technology alone is not the solution to creating liveable, resilient cities. Martha Thorne, director of strategic and institutional relations at Gallery Institute hosted a panel to explore how success depends on strategic planning, collaboration and putting people at the centre of city initiatives.
“Technology is a means to an end,” said Hazem Galal, cities and local government global leader and global smart mobility co-leader at PwC, emphasising that too many cities invest heavily in digital tools without first defining clear priorities. “You need a strategy in place and a clear understanding of which sectors to focus on. Technology should support that, not drive it.”
Thorne covered the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as strong governance frameworks for managing data across city departments. “Smart governance is just as critical as smart infrastructure,” she said.
Richard Maracek, state secretary for the Government of Slovakia, described the challenge of balancing competing priorities: “We’re looking for a better future, but we have enormous expectations. A liveable city must be green, aesthetic, people-friendly, adaptable, and cost-effective – these are often contradictory goals. Technology can help us find balance, but only if we do things right.”
Carlo Ratti, Italian architect and engineer, reinforced the need for purpose. “Technology is the answer but what is the question?” he asked. “The three most important things are people, people and people. Cities and technologists must work together to make sure that remains true.”
Nikki Greenberg, CEO of Real Estate of the Future, argued that while technology can enable change, incentives are what determine whether projects succeed.
“The biggest buzzkill for any project is budget,” said Greenberg. “If your organisational culture only rewards people for doing things the tried and tested way, you’ll never get solutions that work for the future. We need to reward risk-taking.”
The panel also explored how cities can experiment and evolve more effectively. Maracek encouraged governments to “start with small steps and learn from each other rather than wait for budget allowances,” adding that “a communicated vision is always better than a government vision.”
Ratti agreed, urging cities to move beyond planning to action: “There’s a fine line between vision and implementation. Just make sure you implement something. During the Covid-19 pandemic, every city became its own lab to trial new ideas and we should continue that now.”
When discussing what should remain human versus what can be automated, panellists concluded that connection must stay at the centre of city projects. As Ratti put it, “The most human thing is doing what hasn’t been done yet.”
Read more articles from Smart City Expo World Congress