Scottish Cities Alliance

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council-owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. This award will go to the council that can best show how its use of digital technology is significantly improving outcomes for its residents and/or place. It is not primarily for a council that can show it has systematically transformed its approach to technology or has devised as solution for a specific area of its work, but it is for a council that can demonstrate how its digital acumen is transforming its local area, for instance with regards to the effectiveness of key services and how they support residents. Among the attributes you may seek to showcase in your entry are the benefits of data sharing; how your organisation is ensuring it supports people before they fall into crisis; and how ground-breaking collaboration between local partners has had a significant impact on your local population. This award is designed to recognise vision and farsightedness but may also be suitable for councils which have used their existing digital technology approach in a new or innovative way in their pandemic response.

The Scotland’s 8th City – the Smart City ERDF programme involves seven Scottish cities collaborating on ‘smart city’ data and digital projects. In doing this, cities are delivering strategic priorities through improved stakeholder engagement, integration of service delivery and innovation. There are 41 projects across the programme, with all cities committed to projects which are open, scalable, replicable and interoperable. The cities are also committed to knowledge exchange, mutual support and sharing of learning and assets. In working together, 8th City partners have a vision to become more attractive, liveable and resilient cities through data and digital technology.