Project Objectives

The CitySci project is located at the intersection of sustainable urban development, participation/citizen science, digitization and Smart City. Its aim is to establish a Community of Practice (CoP) and to prepare a larger research activity on European level. Institutionalizing the CoP within a network shall allow for making its knowledge base accessible to research institutions, municipal actors, business, political and social actors.

Digital methods of participation and Citizen Science open up new perspectives for local participation. All users of urban space become experts in their (living) environment and contribute their knowledge, needs and ideas. At the same time, these methods represent new possibilities for generating knowledge. Important questions are raised regarding the roles of scientists and public actors (e.g. citizens, municipal authorities, and local businesses), knowledge conflicts and issues such as data protection.

EIFER’s Contribution

EIFER is coordinating the project and is focusing on Citizen Science and participation methodologies in Smart Cities applications for active local knowledge integration in digital change processes. Furthermore, EIFER is responsible for building up an consortium and for initiating a project on EU level with a focus on eastern European countries.