Prosperous and Inclusive Cities

At its very core, cities are where people come together to build a better future for themselves and for one another. A city isn't just a place; it's not merely an assembly of buildings and roads. Rather, it's an organic collection of relationships that people form with each another, in camaraderie, support, and synergy. Therefore, cities are purposefully inclusive by their very nature because cities are founded on the relationships that we build. This leads us to the question that continues to inform our work at WeGO: how do smart cities enhance that sense of inclusion? How does the emergence of smart cities, along with the advancement of ICT and digital technologies, lead to more inclusive outcomes in meeting the needs and aspirations of our citizens? How do smart cities enable and empower us to become better parents, children, neighbors, caretakers, citizens, and - ultimately - stewards of our relationships with each another? With a view toward building human-centered smart cities, digital inclusion has become one of the most important values. Technology, despite causing a digital divide, can still serve as a major driving force in reducing the gap and ensuring an inclusive digitalization of public services that benefit all people in sectors encompassing mobility, safety, welfare, environment, culture, and governance.