Open Innovation in Development of Smart Cities
Smart cities, such as Sejong, Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, have become global benchmarks for urban innovation. These cities leverage cutting-edge technologies to optimize infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life. Their initiatives span key domains such as intelligent transportation, energy management, and citizen engagement. While existing research has examined these efforts in isolation, a comprehensive synthesis of the academic literature regarding the role of open innovation remains absent. This thesis aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic literature review to identify the core strategies, outcomes, and challenges associated with open innovation in the development of one exemplary smart city.
| Level | Bachelor |
| Field of Study | Public Open Innovation |
| Prerequisites | Non |
This thesis will focus on conducting a systematic literature review of academic studies related to the application of open innovation in specific smart city initiatives. The objective is to analyze and synthesize existing research to understand the scope, impact, and challenges of open innovation in the development of one exemplary smart city. The review will cover various aspects, including:
- The implementation and management of open innovation practices in smart city technologies
- The role of citizen engagement and participation in open innovation projects
- The impact of open innovation initiatives on urban sustainability and quality of life
- Challenges and success factors in the development and scaling of open innovation solutions
By examining peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and other scholarly works, this thesis will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on open innovation in one exemplary city as a case study, highlighting gaps and opportunities for further investigation. Students can propose a city or take one from the open assignments below.
Possible Case Studies
| Open for assignment (Exemplary) |
| Completed assignments |
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Why Choose This Topic?
- Real-World Relevance: Smart cities (e.g., Sejong, Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona) represent some of the most ambitious urban experiments of our time. These living laboratories converge technology, governance, and citizen engagement to redefine urban living. These projects are not just theoretical; they are actively transforming how cities function, making smart cities a critical and timely subject for research.
- Practical Impact: The findings of this review can inform urban planners, municipal innovation managers, and policy-makers – offering real-world value beyond the academic discourse.
- Clear Research Gap: While there are many individual studies on smart cities, there is a lack of systematic reviews focusing specifically on the use of open innovation in smart cities. This thesis addresses a meaningful academic gap.
- Accessible Topic: The project is suitable for bachelor-level work, requiring no prior technical knowledge. A structured literature review provides a clear methodology and manageable scope for a bachelor thesis.
Recommended Readings
[1] Han, J. (2024). Open innovation in a smart city context: The case of Sejong smart city initiative. European Journal of Innovation Management.
[2] Simonofski, A., Vallé, T., Serral, E., & Wautelet, Y. (2021). Investigating context factors in citizen participation strategies: A comparative analysis of Swedish and Belgian smart cities. International Journal of Information Management, 56, 102011.
[3] Meijer, A. J., Gil-Garcia, J. R., & Bolívar, M. P. R. (2016). Smart city research: Contextual conditions, governance models, and public value assessment. Social Science Computer Review, 34(6), 647-656.
[4] Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS quarterly, xiii-xxiii. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4132319
How to Apply
If you are interested, please send the following via mail:
- Short motivation (Please include the city of your interest)
- Preferred start date
- CV (PDF Attachment)
- Transcript of records (PDF Attachment)
We look forward to hearing from you!
