Smart City governance from below: how Hungarian towns respond to the need for institutional design and digital capacity building

Abstract

One of the most important focal points of the complex processes taking place in the world has been created by highly diverse urbanisation zones, which all face similar problems. At the same time, for historical, economic and cultural geopolitical reasons, each town needs an approach that is tailored to its specific characteristics and needs. However, relatively little attention has been paid to developing the elements of a supportive environment, the process of planning and capacity-building needed to manage a smart city, and exploring concrete cases and best practices. This study examines initiatives supporting the conditions for smart city governance within the framework of the Digital Welfare Programme (DWP) launched in Hungary, with particular focus on the development of a marketplace as an info-communication platform to support the planning process.