DIZH Swiss Smart City Outreach

More and more towns and municipalities in Switzerland are exploring the concept of the smart city (SSCS, 2024). This refers to approaches that utilise modern technologies, data and digital solutions to
make towns more sustainable, liveable and efficient – whether through improved mobility, a resource-efficient energy supply or innovative forms of citizen participation. Whilst large cities such as Zurich and Winterthur have been implementing smart city initiatives for some time, many small and medium-sized towns are still in the early stages. They often lack a central overview: what solutions are already available? What experiences have been gained? What works particularly well and what works less well?

To bridge this gap, the ZHAW has developed the Swiss Smart City Survey (SSCS) in collaboration with partner organisations. This regular survey tracks the development of smart city activities in Swiss towns and municipalities, and makes the results publicly available via an interactive online dashboard. This provides a valuable source of information for policymakers, public administration, business and research. The Swiss Smart City Outreach (SSCO) project aimed to increase the visibility and use of this information. In addition to optimising the survey process and further developing the website and dashboard, targeted communication channels were promoted. Through nine events and exchange sessions, cities, municipalities, researchers, businesses and citizens were informed and provided with a space for dialogue. At the same time, innovative solutions and ongoing DIZH projects – such as a virtual reality application for sustainable urban planning – were presented to a wider audience. These activities strengthened the dialogue between relevant stakeholders and promoted the dissemination of smart city developments and successful examples.