The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in partnership with the Malik Institute (Switzerland) studied the factors of Smart City development in Ukraine. The main goal was to understand better how to quickly and efficiently turn large cities into "smart" ones.

Under the leadership of the Malik Institute team, experts from thirteen cities and the Regional Digitization Directorate were recruited to map out the links and identify factors in developing "smart cities".

The Malik Institute is the world's leading organization for integrated solutions for management, leadership, and management, best suited to solve this problem. This study is a small but important step in understanding where and how the Ministry of Finance should focus its efforts to maximize results.

Valeria Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration

Konstantin Malik, Executive Director for International Relations and Development of the Malik Institute, personally flew to Ukraine to talk about the methodology used in the study.

The special methodology we used to study the Smart City ecosystem allows us to analyze the system as a whole and comprehensively, not just parts of it. This lets you see which elements are really important, and then identify the exact levers and drivers for system development. This gives leaders a fuller perspective and allows them to make more informed decisions and take more effective action where it is most needed.

Konstantin Malik, Executive Director for International Relations and Development of the Malik Institute

We have identified that management efficiency and political support have a significant impact on the development of Smart City. Their impact is enhanced by coordination between state and local levels of government, active communication at and between all levels, and the availability of the necessary human resources. If we coordinate the development and development of these five variables, we can create a "core of change" that will have a significant effect on all areas and elements of the system.

Roman Zagorodniy, CDTO Regional Development Manager, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine

Key research results and their application

Twelve factors have been identified, including availability of necessary human resources, proper IT infrastructure at all levels, stable funding, support for the management vertical. In addition, one of the main factors in the development of "smart cities" can be the coordination of actions between representatives of state and local levels of government and the exchange of successful experiences.

On the one hand, this role is played by the Smart City Club community, in which the Ministry helps coordinate national and regional projects. On the other hand, there is the Diya.Tsifrovaya Hromada platform and the Digital Solutions Catalog and regional digitization forums for the exchange of best practices.

And to strengthen management efficiency, the Ministry of Digital Transformation creates positions of deputy heads of digital transformation (CDTO) in regional state administrations and communities. In addition, training programs are being developed for these CDTOs and digital leaders to help them implement change even faster and more effectively.