development not based on cooperation would incur high costs would bring people from all areas of city life on board as owing to inconsistencies, duplications, or gaps that would later ambassadors for the “smart ethos” (SCWFS 2019–2050, require readjustments. 2019: 151). This feeling of inclusion might help to stimulate innovation and reduce potential conflicts of interest; Vienna’s residents want to deal with administrative matters and • Communication platforms: To facilitate the involvement of bureaucracy as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Today, the different players, Vienna will create physical and virtual City Council estimates that seven out of ten newly registered platforms for an open public debate on different visions, businesses are using online administrative processes. So far, competing ideas, and ways to implement a smart and the egovernment service in Vienna receives approximately sustainable city; one million page hits per month, and Vienna’s official website, • Showcasing smart city Wien: in u marketing and wien.at, records around eight million hits per month (Wien.at commercial activities to increase the international visibility Website, 2020). of Vienna’s sustainable city relies on a shared urban plan, an attractive locational point, and a strong branding name in Information on local government decisions in Vienna is the international competition among cities, especially those centralized through the city’s website, which allows both which have won awards. individuals and businesses to access resources and information and complete certain administrative procedures. Vienna’s 6.3 Corruption among city officials smart city online platform is based on the same model as the Amsterdam Smart City website, where people-public-private Based on the records of the GAN Business anticorruption collaboration is at the center of every project development. portal, corruption does not seem to significantly impact on business in Austria. However, there is always a moderate risk 6.2.1 Tools to promote participation and the egovernance model of corruption in public procurement contracts (Austrian Anti- To enhance businesses’ and citizens’ participation, Vienna’s corruption Report, 2018). policy makers have developed a broad communication strategy that aims to bring the smart and sustainable city concept to the Austria’s government has implemented some severe core of any project. Indeed, understanding the use of technology anticorruption laws effectively, but newspapers have disclosed to improve people’s quality of life is fundamental to stimulate some high-level corruption cases over the years. In May 2020, coordination and sustainable project development that could Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigned when benefit the city. secretly recorded video footage showed him talking to an alleged Russian investor in Ibiza about buying a 50 percent Some of the projects developed by the City Council are (SCWFS stake in Austria’s Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switching its 2019–2050, 2019): editorial position to support Strache’s Freedom Party. However, •Showcase projects: Thisshowcase project model aimsone-third of citizens continue to believe that abuse of public to raise the profile of attractive projects with immediate office and bribery are widespread among elected people and communicable outcomes for the city. Where Vienna can lead officials issuing business permits (Euro barometers, 2017), thanks to demonstrative examples and activities in its area, and businesspeople perceive inefficient bureaucracy as a the city’s communication is active. The spread of examples competitive disadvantage for the country’s attractiveness (GCR, is broad, from switching the municipal vehicle fleet to green 2018). fuel to designing new public cultural venues, education and healthcare facilities, and flagship sustainable buildings— 6.4 Residents’ contribution to decision making everything that can contribute to the image of the city; •Incentive schemes: These consist of the setting of incentives Digitalization and participation are interconnected in Vienna’s for more sustainable behaviors and lifestyle. For example, smart city framework, and they have been integrated into inhabitants can be rewarded for traveling by ecofriendly a strategic plan as a new thematic field. In fact, the city’s transportation modes or buying green equipment. This government wants to make it easier for people to participate communication idea is a type of incentive that could be in the city’s development, and so it is creating space for locally based on “a transparent block chain system using tokens tailored solutions and individual initiatives, allowing people as currency” (SCWFS 2019–2050, 2019: 151); to contribute their ideas and views regarding development • Testimonials: To ensure a complete inclusion of all relevant processes. actors within a project’s development, testimonials 215 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021