Potsdam is one of currently 73 'Smart Cities' model projects funded by the federal government. This means: the state capital wants to create a liveable and lovable city while also mastering the leap into the digital age. With the help of citizens, city councillors and experts, Potsdam has discussed the principles of a Smart City and formulated a joint strategy: 'Smart City Potsdam – Innovative. Green. Fair.' This has resulted in areas of action ergeben: urban networks, digital participation, neighbourhood development, climate protection and climate adaptation, integrated mobility transition and Smart Region, i.e. intermunicipal cooperation.
Potsdam currently has to manage several changes. The population is growing, as is the economy, leading to a shortage of space. Changing mobility needs and the effects of climate change also present challenges for the city and its residents. At the same time, digitalisation brings about far-reaching innovations, which come with both opportunities and risks. Against this backdrop, it is important to develop concepts and solutions that allow municipalities to respond flexibly to existing and unforeseen tasks and to make use of the opportunities presented by digital development. This requires a strategic approach to the topic of Smart Cities and the targeted and rapid implementation of various topics.
To accelerate ongoing urban development processes and test innovative projects, the state capital applied for the 'Smart City model projects' funding programme from the federal government with the strategy 'Smart City Potsdam – Innovative. Green. Fair. Together, we are creating a sustainable city for tomorrow' and received approval in 2021. The funding from the federal government as a 'Smart City model municipality' enables Potsdam to implement new technologies and test new methods or instruments to make the city even more liveable.
In the first phase of the project, between 2022 and 2023, the state capital developed the Smart City strategy in a participatory manner and initiated the first sub-projects. In the second phase, from 2024 to 2026, further sub-projects will be implemented, such as a climate dashboard and a 'citizen-friendly tree register'.
Participation by Potsdam's residents is highly valued throughout the project. A total of 22 participation formats – from the strategy workshop to the market of opportunities – have already been implemented. To include as many voices, proposals and ideas as possible at the beginning of the project, a citizen survey was conducted in 2022. More than 6,600 randomly selected citizens received a 5-page questionnaire with 22 questions addressing various aspects of a 'Smart City'. The survey explored attitudes toward digitalisation, experiences with the availability of digital devices (e.g. smartphones or computers), access to the internet and experiences with existing participation formats in the city. The results showed, among other things, that the majority of participants enjoy living in Potsdam and want to contribute to the city's development. This also applies to participating in the Smart City process: the survey results indicate that it is important to the respondents to be included. Key topics included liveable neighbourhoods and a CO2-neutral, green city.
Smart City strategy
What defines a Smart City of the future? What are the goals and necessary action areas? The Smart City strategy provides answers to these questions. It defines guiding principles and an extensive package of measures – the foundation for the path to Smart City Potsdam.
The Smart City strategy of the state capital Potsdam is the result of an intensive participation process: Potsdam's residents were able to contribute their expectations – through a representative citizen survey, strategy workshops, youth participation and more.
Six action areas with different sub-projects were developed.
