Building Smart Cities: Technology, Education, and Inclusive Governance for Smart Communities

Technology, by itself, is no guarantee of achieving a smart city and subsequently evolving into a smart community. Educating people, from preschool to higher education, for smart cities involves raising awareness, promoting digital literacy, and promoting active citizen participation. It is important to finance not only innovation but also the social sphere to reduce differences, providing greater balance and cohesion between territories. Smart cities, and subsequently smart communities, must be inclusive, but smart is not necessarily sustainable. An influential holistic view requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, including public institutions, the private sector, voluntary organizations, schools, and citizens. And that's where governance comes in, establishing rules and good practices that can and should be followed to obtain a better result worldwide.