Socially smart cities: Making a difference in urban neighbourhoods

The liveability and resilience of many European cities is under pressure from growing inequalities, persistent poverty, political polarisation, fiscal uncertainty and environmental threats, such as the climate crisis. At the same time, cities offer multiple opportunities for people to address these concerns, but we need to be ‘smarter’ in our analysis and problem-solving strategies. This report draws on a trans-European research, learning and action project conducted between 2017 and 2019 called Smart Urban Intermediaries. We wanted to better understand how positive change can happen in our cities and generate dialogue on the role of intermediaries in such change. The project offers an alternative narrative to the mainstream 'smart cities' approach. We argue that technological innovation must be balanced by social and democratic innovation.