Research

The Smart Cities Research Cluster at the BBSR

In the Smart Cities research cluster, the BBSR is working on various questions together with and for science and (municipal) practice: How can municipalities use digitalisation to achieve the goals of sustainable, integrated urban development geared towards the common good? What opportunities and potential are associated with digitalisation? And what challenges and potential risks do local authorities face?

Studies show, for example, how digitalisation increases the efficiency and effectiveness of urban planning processes and makes administrative actions more transparent. They also illustrate how it supports the mobility transition and climate protection and enables new opportunities for civic participation and innovative business models. With its Smart Cities research cluster, the BBSR is monitoring and supporting the digital transformation and its consequences for urban development at national, European and international level.

The BBSR research cluster

develops strategies for the sustainable design of digitalisation in municipalities,
supports the development of digital skills in urban society and
initiates, supports and researches the Model Projects Smart Cities and other smart city projects.

Dialogue Platform, Smart City Charter and Model Projects Smart Cities

With its research, the BBSR supports the work of the National Dialogue Platform Smart Cities, which is made up of representatives from the federal government, federal states and local authorities, associations and civil society. Its members exchange views on digitalisation issues and draw up recommendations for sustainable digital urban development. The results have been incorporated into the Smart City Charter. The charter provides local authorities with a guiding framework for digital transformation in the sense of integrated urban development geared towards the common good.

Following the publication of the charter, the dialogue process was continued and used to operationalise its guidelines in the discourse. The results include specific recommendations for the municipal handling of data, the "Data strategies for common good-oriented urban development" (2021) and "Beschleunigter Wandel und Resilienz: Leitlinien für die Entwicklung resilienter Städte im digitalen Zeitalter. Nationale Dialogplattform Smart Cities" (2023).

The BBSR research work and the findings of the National Dialogue Platform Smart Cities formed the basis for the Model Projects Smart Cities Funding Programme. The Coordination and Transfer Office Model Projects Smart Cities (KTS) provides technical support for the model projects and prepares the findings for the public. The BBSR's research activities are aimed at answering key questions relating to digital change and developing digital skills in cities and regions.

Further information on the research cluster and its role in the National Dialogue Platform Smart Cities and the Model Projects Smart Cities can be found on the website of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). There the institute also offers an overview of all research projects, specialist articles and publications by the BBSR on the topic of "Digital City".