ABSTRACT
Data and its efficient utilization are prerequisites for building smart, environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable cities. However, the value of data can only be realized when data is efficiently used, and data ecosystems are seen as an opportunity to enable more efficient data utilization across wide networks of actors. Research on data ecosystems is fragmented but evolving. This study maps the current state of data ecosystem activities in Finnish smart cities, examining their perceived benefits, goals, and challenges. The study findings suggest that cities can promote local data ecosystems by assuming an active role in their emergence. Further, by adopting an operational model such as keystone organization, data platform organization, or a hybrid of these, a foundation for collaboration with city stakeholders, including companies, research institutions, and citizens, is established. By choosing an appropriate operational model, the city may enhance the development of more inclusive city services while also advancing overall operational efficiency, safety, and resilience within the city. An appropriate operational model also strengthens data ecosystem governance and opens possibilities for new service and business innovations with the city’s internal and external partners.
