Innovative public-private partnership to support Smart City: the case of “Chaire REVES”

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how French universities can play a key role in generating Smart City (SC) through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) dedicated to urban transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors led an action-research study for five years with several research and pedagogic projects, including users or citizens.

Findings

The paper points out main factors of SC development. It also presents shared demonstrators’ characteristics, including industrial scale, sustainability, and citizens’ participation.

Research limitations/implications

This research is experimented with only one regional multi-case study.

Practical implications

Practical implications of this paper include a University of Lorraine diversification strategy through the “Chaire REVES” supported by public and private partners.

Social implications

At the regional level, industrial-university-territorial partnerships could tackle both societal and economical issues “with,” “for,” and “by” citizens.

Originality/value

Based on the Living Lab concept, this case study shows a concrete regional university strategy involving: user-centric design, collaborative processes, citizens’ workshops, and new financial and organizational answers enabling collaboration between private companies and public institutions. The paper also argues that innovative PPPs involving users are necessary for developing SC.

Citation

Dupont, L., Morel, L. and Guidat, C. (2015), "Innovative public-private partnership to support Smart City: the case of “Chaire REVES”", Journal of Strategy and Management, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 245-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-03-2015-0027