This report builds on and significantly extends the UK Smart Cities Index 2016 produced by Huawei. Since that report was published, there have been a series of global and local political changes reshaping the political and economic landscape in ways yet to be clear. This has only increased the focus on the role cities play in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the country and its communities.
In parallel, the momentum behind the development of smart or future cities continues to grow as UK cities look to exploit technology to address their social, economic, and environmental
challenges. This interest in technology is accompanied by programmes for innovation in governance and process that will embed innovation at the heart of city policy.
The commitment of UK cities to innovation and service improvement is reflected in the expansion of this report to cover 20 cities at various stages of maturity in the development and execution of their smart city vision.
The research for this report identifies five key developments: