This work explores the applicability of the model developed by Chourabi et al. (2012) to the urban reality of Shanghai, China. The eight variables of the model: 1) governance and public urban planning 2) management and organization 3) technology 4) policy context 5) people and communities 6) economy 7) built in infrastructure, 8) and natural environment, are examined against the Shanghai case. The findings are that for Shanghai the smart city plan inherits a process of transformation in place from the beginning of 1990s in four areas of public policy: governance, technology, built in infrastructure and economy; The smart city plan develops specificities for management and organization and shows a built-in capacity to develop a favorable policy context with the central government more recently. We have found a limited scope for people and communities and the natural environment shaping changes so called smart. The framework applied contributes to extend the scope of comparative urban theory and analysis beyond the western world, in the East Asian context, allowing further comparison across cities. Final results might be used to complete new research programs, as we suggest.

1. A focus on innovation
Smart Shanghai framed in comparative perspective
Social Innovation Research Conference (SIRC)
Innovations in public and social policy and in public service delivery. Policy and management perspectives on reforming
the delivery of public services Hosted by the School of International Relations and PublicAffairs Fudan University, Shanghai,
China 21st – 22nd May 2015 Sponsors: Thee American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the International Research
Society for Public Management (IRSPM), the Learning from Innovation in Public Service Environments Programme of the
European Union (LIPSE), the Centre for Public Services Research (CPSR) of the University of Edinburgh Business School, the UK
Political Studies Association (PSA) and the Dr. Seaker Chan Center for Comparative Political Development Studies (CCPDS) of
Fudan University
Olga Gil and Zheng Tian-Cheng
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

2. Scientific paper associated to this presentation may be found in Academia for download
https://uam.academia.edu/OlgaGil
1
Using ideas and/or graphics from this presentation? Please quote as follows:
Gil, O., Zheng, T. 2015. “A focus on innovation Smart Shanghai framed in comparative perspective” Social Innovation
Research Conference (SIRC) on innovations in public and social policy and in public service delivery. Hosted by the
School of International Relations and PublicAffairs Fudan University, Shanghai, China 21st – 22nd May 2015

3. Scope
Definitions
Theory &
Framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
Annex I, II
Index
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
2

4. Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesys
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
5SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
3

5. Theory Definitions of smart cities under three traditions:
1) human capital 2) technology and 3) digital literacy.
Normative question I: What are the skills that people and
communities shall have to be digitally literate in the XXI century?
Empirically What makes a city smart?
Normative question II: Differences in the definition of smart in cities
are important translated into differences on which stakeholders
are allowed to innovate locally, we founded
More on definitions: www.slideshare.net/olga.gil/smart-cities-euraconference2013/6
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
6SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
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6. Model and the variables Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
8
Testing
eight
variables
Unwraping the variables in the study: See Annexes
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
5

7. Hypothesis Factors to advance smart
plans are key to differentiate models of
urban governance
Comparative perspective includes Asian, American and
European cases
Why? Choice of cases driven by an interest to learn from
innovation practices in different world institutional settings and
the errors in each local setting
In the work we are developing in 2015 we cover eight cases
Shanghai, cities in Japan, Iskandar, New York, Amsterdam,
and three cities in Spain Málaga, Santander and Tarragona
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hypothesis
Model
Amsterdam
Findings
Challenges
10SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
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8. Urban Annual Growth Rate % shows converging trend
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9. Results
Global Picture
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
8

10. 9
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesys
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

11. 1. Governance Models
- Different in the cases explored. Shanghai partners with universities, firms, foreign firms as
well as banks. Users are not part of the equation as developers.
- Top participants are members of the party.
- Wide gap among the language of policy makers, firms and citizens/communities.
There is challenge to incorporate people and communities into participatory projects
2. Management and organization Case in which the central government fosters an
investment lead model, such as the case of China and municipalities
3. Tecnology smart cities discourse linked to defending urban design and optimized
services -based on distributed power. Smart has to do with technologies that allow
us to incorporate intelligence into systems to achieve efficiencies, reducing
energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
10
Concluding remarks The variables Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

12. 4. Economy
An intended economy boost underlines all the plans of the smart projects explored.
Constraints are different in each case: Shanghai has been in better condition to fund
smart projects, and has poured funds to this strategic area, as it defines it. Banks are also
willing to ease funds for.
5. People and communities
Following Hollands (2008) ‘undergird’ the social capital is critical to embed the
required the informational and communicative qualities of smart cities.
The stress on what smarts entails is very different and open to policy conceptualization
--in some cases, open to society engagement. We find more limitations in Shanghai
than in other cities (such as Amsterdam or New York)
6. Natural environment
Shanghai –and China- face severe environmental concerns 11
Concluding remarks The variables
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

13. “smartness as a vision to respond to local governance challenges”
Generally: Significant role that local governments
play in cities
Shanghai: Giant developing infrastructure and global
influence
Malaysia: Getting a place in the geo-regional area
Japan and Amsterdam: Facing energy constraints with
innovation
New York: Innovation for civic engagement
Spain: Opportunities for economic reactivation?
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
12
Concluding remarks
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

14. • Confirmation of hypothesis smart plans is
key to diferenciate the case of Shanghai
• Strong management and organization
• Built-in capacity to develop a favorable
policy context
• Smart city plan inherits process of
transformation in place from 1990´s
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesys
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
Concluding remarks
13
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

15. • Limited scope for people and
communities
• Innovation framed whithin the scope of
preferred stakeholders
• Evaluation is key, and we find Shanghai
and Japan doing it
Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesys
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
Concluding remarks
14
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

16. 23
Thank you for
your attention
and discussion
Powerpoint for download at: Slideshare Olga Gil
謝謝
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
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17. Scope
Definitions
Theory &
Framework
Hipothesis
Model
Shanghai
Findings
Challenges
Annex I, II
Index
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
16
Annex I
Previous work
Annex II
Variables in detail

18. Annex I
Previous work
Comparative research on
smart citizens and
smart cities
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG
17

19. Analysis and Findings
1.
Management
and
organiza0on:
• Cases
in
which
the
central
government
fosters
an
investment
lead
model,
such
as
the
case
of
China
and
municipali7es;
• A
case
such
as
Iskandar,
in
which
the
regional
development
agency
furthers
the
goals
set
up
by
the
government;
• A
case
such
as
the
four
smart
pilots
in
Japan,
where
locali7es
and
regions
work
together
with
the
industry
to
develop
solu7ons
with
global
applica7on;
• The
New
York
city
model,
in
which
NY
university
and
the
city
council
cooperate
in
smart
data
projects
•
Málaga
(ICT
centre),
Santander
(Na7onal
and
Interna7onal
network)
Tarragona
case,
where
a
Founda0on
has
been
set
up
to
advance
the
defined
smart
goals.
18
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

20. 2.
Technology
concerns
vary
a
lot
among
the
selected
cases:
• Shanghai
and
Japan
focus
on
the
smart
grid
and
the
development
of
a
local
and
global
industry.
• In
cases
of
both
China
and
Japan
the
smart
ci7es
discourse
is
also
linked
to
defending
urban
design
and
op7mized
services
-­‐based
on
distributed
power.
Iskandar
is
concerned
with
traffic
and
CO2
emissions.
New
York
is
focusing
on
big
data
management.
• Amsterdam
is
concerned
with
new
energy
models,
Santander
focuses
on
sensors
and
eficiency
and
Tarragona
is
concerned
with
the
chemical
industry
and
transport
efficiency.
The
search
for
solu0ons
and
the
partnerships
to
aGained
them
is
widely
varied
in
the
eight
cases
examined.
Analysis and Findings
19
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

21. 2.
Technology
(II)
• In
China,
Japan,
Iskandar
in
Malaysia,
New
York
in
the
United
States
and
Tarragona,
Spain,
smart
has
to
do
with
technologies
that
allow
us
to
incorporate
intelligence
into
systems
to
achieve
efficiencies,
reducing
energy
consump7on
and
CO2
emissions.
• In
most
cases
incorpora7ng
new
technology
is
linked
to
a
discourse
pledging
for
smart
devices
to
curve
energy
consump7on
in
buildings
-­‐
providing
a
near-­‐zero
energy
consump7on.
Analysis and Findings
20
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

22. 3.
Governance
Models:
different
in
the
cases
explored.
• Shanghai
partners
with
universi7es,
firms,
foreign
firms
as
well
as
banks.
Users
are
not
part
of
the
equa7on
as
developers.
•
In
Japan
local
governments
partner
with
firms
in
different
industry
sectors
including
the
university,
technological
firms,
power
–including
gas-­‐
as
well
as
real
estate
firms
•
In
Iskandar
governance
depends
on
the
Regional
Authority
appointed
for
the
development
of
the
conceived
smart
city.
•
In
New
York
we
find
the
leadership
of
the
city
government,
the
university
as
well
as
a
general
call
to
ci7zens
developers
through
open
technologies.
• Tarragona
steering
commiWee
is
a
Founda7on.
Governance
models
are
affected
by
4.
the
policy
context.
We
find
a
mayor
leap
of
the
central
government
in
the
cases
of
China,
Iskandar
and
Japan,
while
New
York,
Amsterdam,
Malaga,
Santander
and
Tarragona
respond
to
autonomous
local
policies.
Analysis and Findings
21
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

23. 5.
People
and
Communi0es
• Have
a
bigger
say
in
the
case
of
New
York,
where
we
find
windows
of
opportunity
for
ci7zen
developers
and
firms,
as
well
as
Amsterdam.
• Ci7zens
par7cipate
mainly
as
users
in
the
case
of
Santander,
Tarragona
and
Japan
-­‐residents
are
those
specifically
addressed
to
contribute
in
Japan.
• In
the
case
of
Iskandar,
city
dwellers
would
par7cipate
in
security
issues
according
to
the
draZed
plans.
•
In
Shanghai
top
par7cipants
are
members
of
the
party.
Analysis and Findings
22
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

24. 6.
Economy
• An
intended
economy
boost
underlines
all
the
plans
of
the
smart
projects
explored.
Constraints
are
different
in
each
case:
• Shanghai
has
been
in
beWer
condi7on
to
fund
smart
projects,
and
has
poured
funds
to
this
strategic
area,
as
it
defines
it.
Banks
are
also
willing
to
ease
funds
for.
• Japan,
Europe
and
the
United
States
are
all
affected
by
fiscal
cliffs
and
economic
downturn.
• Malaysia
is
in
beWer
shape,
and
is
trying
to
gain
momentum
promo7ng
Iskandar
as
an
important
trade
hub
in
Asia,
looking
forward
foreign
capital
as
a
main
driver
of
Iskandar.
Analysis and Findings
23
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

25. 7.
Built
infrastructure
Has
different
scope
in
the
cases
we
have
explored.
Following
Hollands
(2008)
‘undergird’
the
social
capital
is
cri7cal
to
embed
the
required
the
informa7onal
and
communica7ve
quali7es
of
smart
ci7es.
From
this
perspec7ve:
– New
York
would
be
the
city
ra7ng
higher.
– However,
the
focus
that
Shanghai
and
Japan
are
puang
in
the
smart
grid
should
not
be
downrated.
Smart
grids
could
represent
an
interes7ng
and
disrup7ng
way
to
fuel
energy
thirsty
ci7es.
– Conceptually
the
possibili7es
for
users
and
ci7zen
engagement
in
built
infrastructure
might
be
linked
to
the
concept
of
Internet
with
Things,
suggested
by
Russell
Davies.
This
is
an
evolved
concept
from
the
Internet
of
Things,
with
scope
for
ci7zen
empowerment.
It
refers
to
developments
driven
by
ci7zens
in
a
distributed
way,
using
programming
based
on
Arduino
open
architecture
Analysis and Findings
24
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

26. 8.
Natural
environment
• Concerns
present
in
all
the
cases
explored.
• Japan
did
set
up
the
smart
pilots
in
the
aZermath
of
the
nuclear
accidents.
• China
faces
severe
environmental
concerns.
Malaysia
is
also
aware
in
Iskandar.
• New
York
has
suffered
severe
impact
of
climate
change
in
november
2012.
• Málaga,
Santander
and
Tarragona
are
also
concerned.
This
field
poses
the
biggest
challenges
at
a
global
level.
Analysis and Findings
25
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

27. 26
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

28. 27
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

29. 28
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

30. Scope
Definitions
Theory & framework
Hipothesys
Model
Amsterdam
Findings
Challenges
29
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31. 30
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

32. 31
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

33. 32
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

34. ANNEX II
THE EIGHT VARIABLES IN DETAIL
33
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

35. Variables
in
the
study
34
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

36. Variables
in
the
study
35
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

37. Variables
in
the
study
36
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

38. Variables
in
the
study
37
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

39. Variables
in
the
study
38
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

40. Policy
context:
– “Poli7cal
components
represent
various
poli7cal
elements
(city
council,
city
government
and
city
mayor)
and
external
pressures
such
as
policy
agendas
and
poli7cs
that
may
affect
the
outcomes
of
ini7a7ves”
Chourabi
– Federal
systems
present
addi7onal
challenges
derived
from
the
par7culari7es
of
the
rela7onships
(intergovernmental
rela7onships)
Chourabi
39
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG

41. Education
Gil is Ph.D. in Social and Political Sciences. European University Institute, Florence. 2000, under the direction of Prf. Colin Crouch.
Thesis: The Politics of Telecommunications in the United States and Spain (1875-2000). Florence, Italy. Published by CIS (Madrid). AECPA
Best Book Award 2003. M.A. in Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Thesis: “Structuring
Telecommunications Markets from the Brazilian and the United States Perspectives (1875-1994),” under the direction of Prof. Jonathan
Hartlyn. Postgraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 1994. Bachelor Degree in Political
Science (1987-1992) and Bachelor Degree in Journalism (1985-1990), Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Gil also joined INSEAD (strategy), IESE (future finance) and IE (project management)
Tian-Cheng Zheng, is a Ph.D researcher at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid completing his thesis on “Global cities: Change in
Sociological and Economic Processes in the new Chinese Cities.” He defended his Master thesis of Sociology in Universidad de Granada working
on “Nuevas ciudades globales: Impacto del proceso de globalización en la estructura urbana de China, y el modelo de Shanghái.” He pursued
his degree on International Economy and Trade at the Lixin University of Commerce in Shanghai, China.
40
Presentations by Dr. Gil may be downloaded at http://www.slideshare.net/olga.gil
Smart citizens, smart cities and ideas for the future
Gil is chief executive for applied research. Most recent international presentations
include Warsawa, Lisbon, Tweente (Holland), and Baltimore where work was discussed with
world class experts on city development and public policy
SHANGHAI: a focus on innovation Gil and Zheng @OlgaG