Deadline: 10-Sep-20
The European Commission (EC) has launched a call for proposals for a Preparatory Action – Smart local Administrations in the field of Digital Solutions for citizen engagement.
Technology can be used to facilitate citizen’s access to, and interactions with, public administrations. The objective of this preparatory action is to set up a network of local ‘laboratories’ to support the development and roll-out of digitally enabled innovative solutions for citizen engagement in policy making and decision making, as well as co-creation and co-delivery of public services at the local level.
The action should draw on ongoing work in the field, such as the Innovative Public Services Action funded by the ISA2 programme, experience and knowledge gained from and tools developed by Horizon 2020 projects in the area of digital government / open government / co-creation as well the Synchronicity Large Scale IoT/AI pilot for smart cities, the Overview and Analysis of the Use and Impact of AI in Public Services (under the AI Watch study / JRC), the European Artificial Intelligence On-Demand Platform and Ecosystem (DG CONNECT / AI4EU)7 as well as other relevant activities to be supported under DEP such as those in the context of smart and sustainable cities and communities as well as other relevant initiatives on public sector innovation.
Activities
The preparatory action will set up a network of local ‘laboratories’, which in collaboration will perform the functions listed below.
Laboratories will:
- Act as a central point of contact between various city/municipality actors (e.g. local public administrations/services, citizens, businesses, NGOs, researchers, etc.);
- Initiate and animate debate, discussions and conduct research on how to promote civic engagement, social innovation, and participatory practices;
- train city actors to new participative approaches and technologies, digital data literacy;
- support the implementation of the Once-Only principle at local level;
- co-design and co-develop sustainable solutions, with city/municipality actors, aimed at solving the problems or challenges faced, using digital solutions such as IoT, AI, VR, and machine learning;
- develop and test digital tools and methods for collaboration, creative and innovative thinking between city actors.
The network will collectively:
- map and exchange best practices and engage in peer-learning with other municipalities;
- establish (a) repository(s) containing the results, lessons learnt and outcomes;
- network with existing or upcoming similar organisations, such as policy labs, living labs, Digital Innovation Hubs;
- identify and define problems or challenges faced within the municipalities that need to be tackled across sectors, cities and borders and solved in a sustainable way (e.g. related to citizen engagement in digital public services etc.).
Funding Information
- Total budget available: EUR 1.000.000.
- 1-2 proposals will be selected for funding.
- Maximum co-financing rate: 75% of the total eligible costs.
- Duration of the action: 18 months.
Eligibility Criteria
- The call is open to:
- A grouping of entities (consortia) – with the entities forming this consortia not having entities affiliated to them.
- Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants or combinations of:
- non-profit organisation (private or public);
- public authorities (national, regional, local);
- international organisations;
- universities;
- educational institutions;
- research centres;
- profit making entities;
- SMEs;
- civil society;
- natural persons: natural persons are eligible as part of a consortium but the project cannot be coordinated by a natural person.
For more information, visit https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/preparatory-action-smart-local-administrations