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Transition towards Smart City: The Case of Tallinn

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  • Lill Sarv

    (FinEst Twins Smart City Center of Excellence, Tallinn University of Technology, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Ralf-Martin Soe

    (FinEst Twins Smart City Center of Excellence, Tallinn University of Technology, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia)

Abstract

The main interest of this paper is to analyze the gap between an existing city and its future vision set in the strategy, with a focus on the transition path towards becoming a Smart City. For the analyses, we used the example of Tallinn, a middle-sized European capital city acknowledged in innovation reports as a good example of a Smart City development. This is a qualitative case study with data based on the Tallinn 2035 strategy document and on the interviews conducted with city officials. We mapped the current situation in regard to the four Smart City strategies dichotomies framework in order to understand if and how the future vision of Tallinn differs from the present. The results indicate that the current direction deviates in several ways from the future vision set in the strategy, and that to be able to move towards the vision, strategic changes are needed. With this paper we hope to add some insights to the literature about the knowledge gap between Smart City theory and implementation from the perspective of a present situation versus long-term strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lill Sarv & Ralf-Martin Soe, 2021. "Transition towards Smart City: The Case of Tallinn," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4143-:d:532148
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    1. Rogers, Ben & da Cruz, Nuno F. & Ripa, Francesco & Hamilton-Jones, Imogen, 2023. "Prosperity beyond growth: an emerging agenda for European cities," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119483, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Gabriela Viale Pereira & Luiza Schuch de Azambuja, 2021. "Smart Sustainable City Roadmap as a Tool for Addressing Sustainability Challenges and Building Governance Capacity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.

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