We recently introduced the six finalists of Smart City Challenge 2023. From April to August, teams of cities, researchers, and companies will collaborate on proposal development, covering project validation, market analysis, action plans, and other relevant parts of a strong proposal. Final proposals will be evaluated by September 12, 2024 by an international evaluation committee appointed for this purpose.

Our goal is to support cities in overcoming complex urban challenges. To accomplish this, we’ve collected real urban challenges from cities and now dedicated teams of researchers and developers are working on solution ideas. Aim of Smart City Challenge 2023 is to start 4 pilot projects in November 2024.

Practical recommendations for researchers leading the project

Besides going through suggestions for proposal development, we covered another crucial aspect: leading a pilot project successfully as a researcher.

Drawing from experience, researchers Tarmo Korõtko from Microgrids project and Kalle Kuusk from DigiAudit project, shared valuable tips and firsthand insights to researchers pursuing smart city pilot projects:

• Take it as a #startup, not a research project.
  Having a commercialization partner onboard from the start greatly supported the success of DigiAudit project.
• You’ll need someone to handle business development.
  Consider partnering with an external entity experienced in developing business cases and validating your ideas.
• Engaging citizens, municipalities, and pursuing commercialization may not always be top of mind for researchers. However, these are crucial aspects to consider when planning pilot projects.
• Craft your project plan with realistic milestones, budget allocations, and realistic task assignments for the team. Clearly define the role of the municipality and communicate your expectations for their involvement as a researcher.
• Navigating the tendering process isn’t always simple. Keep all parties engaged, carefully craft your documents, and take time—it’s a demanding task.
• Be ready to communicate your project and its results, giving interviews and publishing newspaper articles.

See more about Smart City Challenge 2023.