The Smart Cities research cluster bundles the work of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) on digital urban development. The researchers of the BBSR work together with and for science and (municipal) practice on various questions: How can municipalities use digitalisation to achieve the goals of sustainable, integrated and common good oriented urban development? What opportunities and potentials are associated with digitalisation? What challenges and potential risks do municipalities face? For instance, studies show how digitalisation improves planning processes and makes administrative action more transparent, how it drives the mobility transition and supports climate protection, and how it creates new opportunities for participation and enables innovative business models.

The Smart Cities research cluster

• makes methods and instruments from research on digitalisation usable for urban development;
• develops strategies for future-ready designs of digitalisation in municipalities;
• supports the improvement of digital skills of municipal stakeholders, civil society and citizens with regard to
• urban development;
• initiates, supports and analyses model projects and other smart city projects

Further information on the research cluster and its role within the framework of the Smart Cities dialogue platform and the Smart Cities model projects can be found here:

https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/themen/digitalisierung/digitale-stadt/_node.html