Smart City Ecosystem

The 19th century was the century of empires, the 20th century was the century of nation-states.

The 21st century will be the century of cities.

W. E. Webb
Former Mayor of Denver

The concept of smart cities, examined by many different disciplines economically, socially, politically, and technically, is described with 116 different definitions, but it is often treated as a purely technical matter because its visible aspects are built on digital structures. In fact, despite its dazzling appeal and the existing "fetishism" around the world, technology is nothing more than a simple "tool" that can be easily purchased by any city with the economic power for effective and efficient management, rather than an "end." Moreover, the fact that smart cities are built on digital structures does not eliminate the need for sustainability in these cities to be provided by an ecosystem led by "smart people and smart economy." This is because the pace of human and economic change and development occurs much slower than the pace of technological development. As a result, the lack of entrepreneurial smart people and an innovation-based smart economy that do not support technological investments in smart cities leads to the collapse of the city ecosystem and, over time, the loss of financial appeal and sustainability.