How do young people the world over approach issues in smart cities? The International Smart Cities Network (ISCN) tried to find out with its "ISCN Smart City University Challenge". Students from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands tackled in sprints the question of how to illuminate "known unknowns" with data in the city.
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![Five people looking jointly on a screen to debate and collaborate a topic]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=PMXEE5ot","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=SGD9Wnfa","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=EblgwBAW","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=oR0btH2J","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=B2-LMr7J","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=dVlh9MES","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=eOtZzFbl","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=IkQeEZ1Q","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=JtFbiC1S","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=bseH3B9F","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=k6wJpqiw","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2025-09\/pixabay-thumbnail-iscn-gm-decidim.jpg?itok=Z8cBAjBJ"})
![Deckslide of ISCN Online Advisory Programme 16 showing speech bubbles between a city landscape and stylized eyes and eyebrows of a citizen open to interpretation what facial expression it is]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=0jTafXYr","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=8uMGc4gP","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=p9Rt6pjj","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=YSfUcyoV","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=3BvIw3nY","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=OOk5kzYX","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=5xs1lbhj","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=KE8LAt_B","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=d1Ei05WE","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=rAAdbH6q","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=Gh83iubz","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2025-05\/thumbnail-OAP16.png?itok=eHQTZzlD"})
![colorful picture of abstract tools, reminding of brushes and pens]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=U1fqUwXu","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=22Z8OsGV","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=IuwaRFUZ","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=34ud5YbV","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=-BCERQZ1","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=UJ3n12qT","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=SWaFp-yk","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=A1hrH0zA","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=rCAEwj2J","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=TjNpwKJg","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=0IQtHe1n","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2024-06\/ISCN-Global-Mixer-corevisual-small-250.jpg?itok=GZFB3GTz"})
![OAP 14 cover]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=MDNoyFwm","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=bdA6U8-f","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=jP3nqkcl","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=_7F80Oll","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=L1oErjaU","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=O2LzuQ-5","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=TqMzZYNa","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=XNkzNG0D","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=vMHQk579","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=yLYWTNnB","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=NKjlJYZ8","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2024-07\/OAP_14_cover.jpg?itok=5SVnwEit"})
![Cover slide with icons of a city and a university hat fusing together for creative solutions]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=MEbNw4AN","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=hT4_qAvY","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=3-9uhYhP","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=KRY1Gbak","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=bXinLt9I","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=_7cvAhdP","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=XLEMLXeU","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=AD_skLCz","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=H2p-38aU","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=sSLpOEmj","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=31n19L8S","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2024-06\/OAP-TH~1.PNG?itok=Fh1bblzm"})
![Title slide reading "Playbook Digital City Unit"]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=zMF_cQZP","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=4dU-zsaJ","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=dwEbwiTJ","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=qHFoKqJG","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=uv7Wz5zG","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=J42ocCK7","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=it4JisW5","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=hRbdr-UU","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=NWuoS9ml","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=qXd4e9ZQ","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=MouWWnuL","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2024-08\/Thumbnail-Playbook-GM-ssp.png?itok=99yhTjoT"})
![A map with pins and tiles on it, crowdsourced by citizens]({"100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_100w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=rwTfk_Qq","200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_200w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=_U2R58xW","300":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_300w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=idhc6OvI","400":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_400w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=1I3Q2RUE","500":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_500w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=b1MH2hhz","600":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_600w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=Lj-D__9Z","700":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_700w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=BTdNUPN_","800":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_800w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=FZK99Pha","900":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_900w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=nco3coUP","1000":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1000w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=TxO7fQYt","1100":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1100w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=iPEJ4nCo","1200":"https:\/\/www.smart-city-dialog.de\/system\/files\/styles\/responsive_1200w\/private\/2024-04\/Thumbnail-OAP13_3.png?itok=Re-_6VJE"})