2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan

What is the 2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan? What is the concept of a smart city? What is the importance of the action plan? What are the strategic objectives set forth by the action plan? What are the planned actions?
1.What is the 2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan?
The "2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan" was announced in the Official Gazette on December 24th by a Presidential Circular and announced to the public by Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment and Urbanization. The announced document presents the concept and practices of smart cities, a rising trend globally, as a new approach to urban management in Turkey. This document is a strategic goal and action plan designed to ensure Turkey doesn't fall behind in this new direction and progress. In this regard, it lays out a more comprehensive and holistic roadmap for existing or planned smart city policies in Turkey. This aims to prioritize investments and activities aligned with the established common goals and policies. Therefore, with a strategy focused on "Effective and Sustainable Smart City Governance" and "Competent and Productive Smart City Ecosystem," it is developing a common vision and roadmap for all stakeholders, a systematic plan, and a national "smart city" concept. The ultimate goal and vision is "Livable and Sustainable Cities That Add Value to Life." Furthermore, this action plan, prepared under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, is Turkey's first and the world's fourth Smart City strategy and action plan.
2.What is the concept of a smart city?
The rapid growth of urban populations worldwide is creating new problems. Chief among these are the use of limited resources and environmental damage. Therefore, a new approach is needed to ensure that the cities of the future sustain the environment, resources, and development, and provide a healthier and higher quality of life. This is where the concept of a smart city was born.
Academics, non-governmental organizations, municipalities, and international organizations worldwide define smart cities differently and develop their own smart city definitions. Therefore, while there is no single definition, the concept of a smart city stands out as an approach rather than a concept. For example, according to one definition, smart cities are the efficient and effective use of information and technologies to make a city's critical infrastructure components and services, such as government, education, healthcare, public safety, real estate, transportation, and public services, more conscious and interactive.
Another definition defines smart cities as cities that monitor and integrate the conditions of all critical infrastructures, better optimize their resources, develop preventative plans, and ensure their own security.
According to the European Commission, smart cities are a concept defined and shaped by factors such as sustainability, economic development, and quality of life. This definition emphasizes that smart city objectives can be achieved through physical infrastructure, human and social capital, and information and communication technology infrastructures.
The action plan also emphasizes this point and provides its own definition of a smart city. Accordingly, smart cities are defined as "more livable and sustainable cities that are implemented through collaboration among stakeholders, utilize new technologies and innovative approaches, are justified based on data and expertise, and generate solutions that add value to life by anticipating future problems and needs."
3.What is the importance of the action plan?
The "2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan" is of great importance for two reasons.
First, the importance of smart cities in Turkey has been recognized, and a transformation in city management has been set as a goal. At this point, expectations from local governments now transcend simple municipal activities, and inclusive and holistic city management is becoming the new expectation. In other words, local governments and municipalities are now seen as the address of a collective city management expectation encompassing every need, from development and social life to the environment and security. Meeting this expectation is a goal set by this action plan.
Another important aspect of the action plan is the development of a national, holistic strategic plan with a smart city approach and the vision of "Livable and Sustainable Cities that Add Value to Life." This means that the process of change and transformation, a rising trend globally, has now been transformed into a comprehensive program applicable throughout Turkey. Therefore, Turkey has now established a new understanding and goal of urban planning and has drawn a macro-level roadmap for achieving this goal.
4. What are the strategic objectives set forth by the action plan?
The action plan identifies four strategic objectives. These objectives are:
Creating an effective smart city ecosystem,
Increasing smart city transformation capacity,
Creating a facilitating and guiding environment for smart city transformation,
Ensuring smart city transformation in urban planning services.
These four strategic objectives aim to establish a sustainable smart city foundation by establishing a smart city ecosystem governance mechanism and integrated financial management. Furthermore, the aim is to increase the knowledge, experience, and capacity of technology producers, solution and service providers, and citizens regarding smart city transformation. In parallel, the aim is to establish a new mechanism for smart city development, encompassing architecture, collaboration, interaction, and coordination among stakeholders. Another important objective is to build a holistic approach and understanding in city management and services with the participation of all stakeholders.
5.What are the planned actions?
A total of 40 actions are planned to be implemented within the scope of the action plan. The most notable of these actions include developing a unique local strategy and roadmap for each city, establishing a smart city index as an assessment model, establishing sustainability-oriented monitoring mechanisms such as the Smart City Technology Radar, increasing human resource capacity and qualifications, and improving smart city components in terms of both quality and quantity. Furthermore, creating a conducive environment and providing the necessary incentives for both the public and private sectors for smart city transformation are also noteworthy actions.