The object of the contract is the establishment and operation of a nationwide competence network “SmartCities.NRW” with extensive task packages.
The focus of the competence network's activities is knowledge transfer through communication and information transfer between smart city actors. To this end, the aim is to consistently bundle and network solution providers with local and regional players from business, science, administration and civil society. Support in the exchange of experience and competence building forms the basis for the further transferability of smart city applications to the area. This gives municipalities the opportunity to use digitalization to shape their social, ecological and economic goals.
The general aim is to sustainably develop the business location and permanently increase smart city activities in municipalities and regions. This is intended to expand the state of North Rhine-Westphalia into the leading national and European smart city location for companies, science and citizens.
The following overarching objectives should be pursued through information transfer and communication of the competence network:
1. The smart city location of North Rhine-Westphalia is to be significantly strengthened and made known through the establishment and implementation of network structures and public relations work. Taking into account the results from the Digital Model Regions program, the smart city network and knowledge transfer through the competence network is to be significantly expanded to include key players from business, science and other players from the municipal family.
2. With suitable measures, the competence network is intended to increase the transferability and thus the scalability of smart city solutions.
3. By supporting the competence network, municipal partnerships and regions are to be strengthened and enabled to jointly develop and apply strategies, so that implementation is accelerated and digitalization competencies in administration are increased.
Further information can be found in the service description.
The contract “Establishment and operation of the nationwide competence network SmartCities.NRW” provides for the following services in detail:
1. Project management
2. Establish and expand competence network
2.1 Establishment and implementation of the competence network, strategy development
2.2 Subject and target group-specific events and formats
2.3 Networking and representation to the outside world
2.4 Trend analyses and recommendations for action
2.5 Communication of funding opportunities
2.6 Support for legal experimentation clauses
2.7 Monitoring and evaluation
2.8 Accompanying public relations
3. Increase the scalability and resilience of smart city solutions
3.1 Increase portability and compatibility
3.2 Adaptive preparation of recommendations and results
4. Strengthening municipalities
4.1 Supporting municipalities through information and communication
4.2 Increasing digital literacy
The specific contents of the above-mentioned service areas as well as further information can be found in the service description.