ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors take issue with the idea that smart city development is driven primarily through universalist and techno-optimistic ideas and policies. They conceptualise cities as strategic actors that utilise the resources from smart city discourses to mobilise initiatives, projects and networks to benefit their own priorities and interests – including sustainability ambitions. The smart city agenda in Europe is composed of a complex set of policies, ideas, technologies and projects promoted by a diverse range of actors and networks. Through the Horizon 2020 programme, the EU's European Innovation Partnership (EIP) seeks to improve quality of life as well as the economic performance and competitive position of cities. Similar to Stockholm, the process of becoming a smart city under Horizon 2020 has a coherent and well-planned appearance in Stavanger. The creation of cross-silo collaboration and new network connections is a relatively well-known aspect of smart city initiatives.
