The City of Stockholm adopts a new strategy – aims to be the smartest city in the world

The City Council formally adopted a strategy for Stockholm to become the smartest and most connected city in the world. The strategy involves a unique focus on sustainability. The goal is for Stockholm to become economically, ecologically, democratically and socially sustainable through innovative digital services, transparency and connectivity.

The City of Stockholm will carry out extensive investments in digital innovation in the upcoming years. In conjunction with the City Council's decision on a strategy for a smart and connected city, SEK 115 million will be earmarked for digital innovation.

In addition to this special initiative, the city has undertaken extensive projects to develop digital support within schools, and an increased focus has now been placed on social care and social services. A total investment of SEK 545 million goes directly to projects aiming to improve the city's operations with the help of digitization during 2017-2018.

The strategy's main focus is to fully take advantage of the opportunities that arises with development in areas such as the Internet of Things and big data analysis, as well as to take the City's work with open data to the next level.

- There is great potential to further develop the city's work with the Internet of Things and better utilize and process the large amount of data that the city collects. It could for example involve systems for analyzing traffic flows in real time in order to reduce traffic congestion or digital services that enhances the quality of life and increases independence for senior people, says Karin Wanngård (S), Commissioner of Finance and Mayor of Stockholm.

The goal of the City's strategy for a smarter and even more connected city, is to make life easier for Stockholmers through innovative digital services and to create the best entrepreneurial business climate.

Many innovative fast-growing technology companies such as Skype, King, MySQL, Mojang (Minecraft) and Spotify have their origins in the region. This makes Stockholm the perfect place for companies and investors to find the technologies, people and companies they need to develop new products and services.

- Stockholm has a unique opportunity to become the world's smartest city. We have a strong start-up and innovative scene and we are far ahead when it comes to digitization and technology, says Karin Wanngård.

Examples of ongoing digitization projects that makes the city smarter:

• Smart, solar powered waste bins that automatically pack the garbage and notify when they have to be emptied
• Smart traffic solutions, such as in the case of bus traffic being prioritised by traffic lights ahead of other means of transportation. Buses running a minute or more behind schedule takes precedence
• LED lighting with motion sensors for pedestrian and bicycle paths, self-controlled LED streetlights with preset lighting schemes and remote controlled LED streetlights
• The absence reporting by parents and students' gets tied together with the school kitchen’s daily production decisions, as a means to avoid overproduction of food
• Eye scan to identify pupils’ literacy
• Digital services that raise the quality of life and increase independence for senior people, for example a recent pilot is now evaluated where seniors carry safety-bracelets based on AI to increase their ability to live independently at home
• Self-assessment tool to increase teacher’s digital maturity

For more information:

• Stockholm.se/smartcity
• Summary of the strategy for Stockholm as a smart and connected city

Contact information:

For Karin Wanngård: please contact Ömer Oguz, +46761229234