Smart Cities: Harnessing Regional Innovation Networks and Global Collaborations

Abstract

Information technology and computer science move at a lightning pace, both literally within the electromagnetic spectrum and figuratively as a professional field. This continuous evolution affects technical experts in their professional development, project managers in their timelines and ever-moving targets, and program founders who shape the initiatives themselves. No professional can reliably predict where the next technological innovation or new application of existing capabilities will occur. In response, experts employing information and communication technologies (ICT) in large systems must always consider timelines of future developments and adhere to structured management practices to meet deadlines. Comparative advantage in the market drives technology adoption and go-to-market strategies, yet practically no company maintains exclusive control of entire production lines—from hardware engineering to end-user implementation. Instead, the global supply chain within an industry vertical achieves market efficiency by developing hardware and eventually delivering goods or services to the user. These experiences shape practitioners’ approaches to smart city initiatives.