7.1 Digital participation So far, the priority of municipal policy is to ensure that creativity and technology are used in classrooms to increase scientific The city’s orientation of its digital policy seeks to ensure that experience and foster technological vocations among children the city has the infrastructure, tools, and programs required (Ajuntament Barcelona). Likewise, technologies must ensure to respond to all citizens’ needs. These measures aim to fight inclusion in future employment. The policy aims to reduce the problems related to unemployment, social exclusion, health, digital divide and compensate for economic and educational energy, and mobility, and they are considered tools to enhance inequalities. This will be achieved in Barcelona by improving citizens’ quality of life. and promoting educational programs. Some of the projects related to the digital participation pillar Barcelona City Council believes that citizens must build a digital that are being implemented in Barcelona include (Ajuntament society as a new form of democracy. Again, Decidim.Barcelona Barcelona, 2020): is a fantastic tool for participation, putting citizens at the center •Implementing open-source software: the city council supports of every action and strengthening their digital sovereignty and the use of open-code technology, with a view to achieving full rights regarding data protection and privacy. technological sovereignty (Ajuntament Barcelona, 2020). This approach facilitates interactions between different actors and In Barcelona, the technology aspect and data management are would help to improve already existing systems; essential, but a people-centric approach is even more critical. •Implementing and supporting the development of 5G: The Smart City World Expo Congress and the World Mobile Catalonia’s ambition is to become a European 5G digital hub Congress have help to showcase municipal policies and actions. (Ajuntament Barcelona, 2020). The objective here is to promote technologies not as solutions but as efficient tools that can enhance the identification of 7.2 Digital innovation improvement points and decision-making processes. The second pillar of the transition journey in Barcelona is digital Therefore, Barcelona City Council has worked to ensure that innovation. This would include the digitalization of the economy, technological devices enhance all residents’ quality of life and an essential way of promoting digital ecosystems. Moreover, the conform to the European approach to human rights (privacy, wide variety of digital manufacturing workshops and innovation rights of users, and free access). The priority is to help people centers in Barcelona, such as the fab lab network, aims to without being too intrusive in their lives. Some technological democratize technologies and push “do it yourself” and other aspects of the smart city approach are now encountering related concepts. opposition—for example, facial recognition (facilitated by video monitoring)—and debates about the potential use of In terms of a strategic approach at the city level, the City technology as a social control instrument are becoming more Council is opting to focus on innovation, promoting projects common. like the i.lab to encourage cocreation with business partners and collaboration among different stakeholders, and it is using the potential of new technologies to exert a positive impact on quality of life. More than 12,500 technological companies have been created in Barcelona in recent years; 50 percent of these companies did not exist in 2015 (Ajuntament Barcelona, 2020). 7.3 Digital empowerment Digital empowerment might be the most critical pillar of the digital journey. Delivering education and training focused on the most advanced technological devices is the only way to make the public understand, accept, and leverage this digital transition. Delivering education and training also helps to promote active participation and bring awareness to citizens. 103 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021