Digital transformation for people-centred cities
This Thematic Group offers guidance to cities on leveraging emerging technologies and fostering inclusive digital economies to build smarter, more sustainable, and equitable urban and rural environments. The group examines the role of technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain and digital twins in enabling digital transformation across sectors, while promoting policies that ensure no one is left behind.
Co-leaders: Isabel Shirin Enyonam Wetzel (UN-Habitat), Okan Geray (Digital Dubai), Cristina Bueti (ITU)
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U4SSC Thematic Groups and Working Groups hold regular e-meetings—join the sessions to stay engaged and contribute.
For any query related to the thematic group, please contact us at u4ssc@itu.int.
The Thematic Group is structured into eight Working Groups (WGs).
Below you will find an overview of the ongoing and completed groups, including their leadership and key deliverables.
Ongoing Working Groups:
WG2
Policy Benchmarks for Digital Transformation of People-Centred Cities
Leader: Bettina Tratz-Ryan (Gartner)
Description:
The Working Group creates a people-centred benchmark to help cities become more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready through digital technologies.
Deliverable:
Policy benchmarks for digital transformation of people-centred cities
WG3
Digital Transformation Assessment of People-Centred Cities
Co-leaders: John Smiciklas (Morguard) and Gamze Geray (Adjunct Faculty at Middlesex University Dubai)
Description:
The Working Group develops an integrated framework to help cities assess progress, identify gaps, and guide inclusive, sustainable, and resilient digital transformation.
WG5
Intergenerational Procurement for People-Centred Cities
Co-leaders: Warren Smith (Dangersmith SARL & Posterity Global) and John Davies (Department for Business and Trade, United Kingdom Government)
Description:
The Working Group develops a model policy on intergenerational procurement to help cities meet the needs of people and the planet through digital transformation.
WG6
Digital
Development Goals
Co-leaders: Bas Boorsma (Urban Innovators Global & Thunderbird School of Global Management, The Netherlands) and Teppo Rantanen (BusinessTampere)
Description:
The Working Group will develop a global framework of Digital Development Goals to help cities measure and report digital progress while advancing the SDGs.
WG7
Policy and practice for organizational interoperability (PPOI)
Co-leaders: Ivy Yang (OASC) and Gert Hilgers (OASC)
Description:
The Working Group helps cities overcome organizational barriers to more effective, interoperable, people-centred digital services.
WG8
Guiding Principles and Frameworks for People-Centred Smart Cities in the AI Era
Co-leaders: Aline Matta (UN-Habitat) and Cristina Bueti (ITU)
Description:
The Working Group will develop a people-centred smart cities toolbox to help cities design and implement inclusive, AI-enabled, and people-centred digital transformation strategies.
Completed Working Groups:
WG1
Setting the context: Digital Transformation for People-Centred Cities
Co-leaders: Okan Geray (Digital Dubai) and Victoria Papp (BOMA)
Description:
The Working Group identified use cases for upgrading urban infrastructure through emerging technologies to support city digital transformation and the SDGs.
Deliverable:
A framework for enabling people-centred cities through digital transformation
WG4
Guidelines for Unlocking Net Zero in Cities Through Sustainable Digital Transformation
Leader: Leonidas Anthopoulos (Greece)
Description:
The Working Group developed guidelines on using digital technologies and innovative solutions to accelerate cities’ transition towards a net-zero future.
Deliverables:
Methodology to Assess Net Zero Progress in Cities
Guidelines for cities to achieve carbon Net Zero through digital transformation