Cork a 'Smart City': Opportunities and Challenges

Aim of ResearchThe aim of this research is to examine the concept of Cork as a Smart City and region, to review how important smart destinations are, and how Cork citizens are responding to such initiatives. Many challenges... [ view full abstract ]

Aim of Research

The aim of this research is to examine the concept of Cork as a Smart City and region, to review how important smart destinations are, and how Cork citizens are responding to such initiatives. Many challenges and opportunities abound and this study will examine same in detail.  

Background

The term 'Smart City' has gained a lot of attention from policy-makers, business leaders and citizens in recent years. Many definitions of Smart Cities exist, but it can be summarised as local governments’ projects and initiatives, implemented through information and communication technologies (ICT) and designed to enhance the quality of life for citizens and stakeholders whilst maintaining a sustainable future. Six characteristics have been generally referred to as defining a Smart City or Region, namely smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment, smart people, smart living and smart governance.  This study aims to build an understanding of what the Smart Cities concept actually means to Cork as a Region, while exploring the benefits and challenges of ICT for citizen use, collaborative initiatives, branding and opportunities for Cork as a Smart Region. Research on the implications of the Smart City concept for Cork specifically is scant to date. 

Methodology

A qualitative research methodology was applied to investigate the research question and to address the aims and objectives of the study.  Rich in-depth data was required with detailed opinions and attitudes essential to this exciting concept.  Data was gathered from 11 experts in the field through semi-structured face to face interviews with authorities working in multiple disciplines currently involved in smart initiatives for the Cork Region.

Findings

 Cork is very well positioned as a Smart Region due to its geographic and demographic position and also its thriving presence of ICT industry technology companies, i.e., Tyco/Johnson Controls, EMC, Dell, Apple.  Whilst undertaking this research the benefits to enterprise became evident in terms of the potential to attract talent, investment and economic sustainability for the Region.  In July 2016, Ireland ranked first in the European Innovation Scoreboard for innovation because of its strong record of in-house innovation, the fast growth of jobs in the Irish innovation sector and the high growth in knowledge intensive industries.  As part of the Smart Cities and Communities Horizon 2020 Project, Cork aims to roll out initiatives in transport, energy, and ICT.  The Cork Smart Gateway (CSG) was launched in May 2016 to implement an integrated Smart Gateway programme for Cork, drawing together all significant actors from the four 'Quadruple Helix' innovation domains (Cork City and County Council’s, the Tyndall National Institute at UCC, and the Nimbus Centre for Embedded Systems Research at CIT); thus leveraging existing Business Networks & Community Organisations, existing infrastructure and 'smart' projects, and the powerful set of high-added value industries in the ICT and other sectors in Cork. There are opportunities for entrepreneurial growth across ICT, smart tourism and ‘Fab Labs’.

 This research aims to gain insight into the implications of technology and resources for Cork’s citizens and stakeholders in terms of skills, education, resources and engagement levels.  Open Data, data sharing, security and privacy issues pose major challenges for a city such as Cork in terms of protecting privacy, personal data and human rights.  While maximising the potential of a smart city, we must also minimise the dangers inherent in cyberspace.  Smart solutions utilise complex networked assemblages of digital technologies and ICT infrastructure to manage various systems and services. 

Cork is well positioned with Research Centres at UCC and CIT together with access to a variety of industry experts.  There are also many opportunities for enterprise to minimise any educational and skills-gap capabilities of citizens in relation to ICT. Some of the biggest ICT leaders have a presence in Cork and this should act as a catalyst for Cork acting as Ireland or Europe’s digital hub.  Citizen’s awareness on the data that they are providing needs to be increased and engagement will be required.  There is scope to employ a team to act as a virtual watchdog to monitor data security for the benefit of increasing open data to the City.  Citizen participation to build a Smart city is encouraged worldwide, and the newly introduced model of the ‘quadruple helix’; a model incorporating representative bodies from government, industry, academia and the recent addition of the citizen shows progress for cities. Whilst there has been some engagement with citizens through surveys, engagement to date has been supply driven rather than demand driven by the customers/citizens.  Engagement on a demand driven basis is difficult due to different expectations of citizens involved in projects.

Findings

This research found that ‘fab-labs’, which provide a collaborative environment whereby entrepreneurs, companies, public bodies, academic organisations and innovators could design, build, and test products and services which can make our cities and communities more resource efficient, are not yet in place in Cork.  This research recommends dual branding of Cork as both a tourist destination and a digital hub.  Branding will improve awareness of the smart region, and shows Cork as an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest.  There is an urgent need for Smart tourism apps that will offer real time information on events as you move.  Apps such as these require the implementation of sensors, and companies based in Cork have such technology to hand.  Whilst Cork is still in a transitional stage of becoming a Smart Region, the opportunities for enterprise and entrepreneurship are vast and entrepreneurial ‘fab labs’ have a critical role to play to ensure that the initiatives researched and implemented are suitable to drive social inclusion.  To ensure success, Cork must enable enterprise and innovators to work collaboratively to implement initiatives beneficial to the economic sustainability of the Region.