consultations, at-home exercise sessions for patients, a Smart Nation, establishing a computerized and Internet- and Internet of Things (IoT) devices that monitor patients’ savvy society to promote investment, competitiveness, and progress and transmit the data to their carers. Singapore efficiency. Broad policies to achieve its vision have proven is trying to reduce loneliness among its aging population sufficient for national authorities. Grants have also played an through measures such as artificial intelligence powered integral role in enabling the uptake of ICT and in facilitating chatbots that talk to the elderly. smart grid pilot schemes. A smart nation or an apps nation? However, the scarcity of legislation on data protection is a growing concern. The emergence of big data must change The phrase “There’s an appo the way in which Singapore thinks about and regulates as smartphone use grew. It is particularly applicable to privacy and data protection. There are legal challenges that Singapore, where citizens have apps for reporting municipal arise when data moves seamlessly from device to device, issues; hailing self-driving vehicles; receiving location- between organizations, across borders, and into and out of specific environmental alerts on air quality, temperature, and the hands of public agencies, and these challenges have to rainfall; monitoring energy consumption; and, if they have be addressed. The real-life lab that is Singapore presents young families or are elderly residents, accessing information a range of issues concerning encryption, the benefits of tailored to those statuses. Singapore comes closer than any aggregation and data mining, and the abuse and misuse of other city to being driven by algorithms. personal information. Singapore comes across as a large- scale real-life experiment. Supporting business has been a much more important priority than encouraging citizen participation. By enabling A smart nation or a learning city? Can a city learn to be better integration of industry and academia, Singapore’s smart?1 Punggol Digital District aims to foster development in cybersecurity and IoT technologies. A data-sharing Singapore is making widespread use of artificial intelligence collaboration has also been established to encourage (AI). Its initiatives will support the upskilling of twelve transparent business interactions. thousand professionals and students in AI. These initiatives aim to encourage citizens to spearhead this movement Everywhere-anybody proactively. Singapore’s many data- and technology-driven initiatives are leading to the creation of a comprehensive The Smart Nation program addresses all aspects of urban smart ecosystem that could place citizens at its heart. For life. The omnipresence of technology that it has established is many locals, there can be no doubt that Singapore is the often criticized for its infringement on privacy. The city-state most advanced smart city in the world, but the efficiency of its is currently transforming its 110,000 lampposts into nests of hyperconnected model evokes contrasting thoughts of worry sensors that are capable of taking the city’s pulse and help and wonder in visitors.2 to imagine a “data-driven” future. The way to a permanent and generalized surveillance system is being paved. Because Overall, while it is clear that Singapore’s physical, economic, privacy is a major concern, even in Singapore, smart and social environment will keep evolving, its political technology can be made more acceptable through effective leaders, administrators, and civil servants will need to strive communication and information campaigns. Enhancing to rise to new challenges that have been emerging before digital security will also make a difference. and since the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges include dealing with climate change, fostering economic growth, Legal challenges delivering environmental sustainability, ensuring energy security, and coping with legal issues. More can be done, Singapore has taken great and bold strides toward becoming particularly in educating civil servants and the public on how (1) In 2020, HEC Paris students Benoît Gufflet and Dimitri Kremp set off on a research expedition to explore seven “smart cities,” subsequently publishing their findings in a report called Learning Cities. They coined that term to describe cities that have set their own learning curves and exhibit a good mix of experimentation, experience, and knowledge. https://www.acrosstheblocks.com/learningcities (Accessed on 22 March 2021). (2) Gufflet, B. and Kremp, D. (2021). Op. cit., pp.56-59. 145 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021