The “Sarajevo – Smart City Initiative”, which is a collaboration between the City of Sarajevo and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina — was officially launched by signing of an MoU by Abdulah Skaka, City Mayor of Sarajevo and Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, in the framework of the Sarajevo Unlimited. This pilot initiative financed by UNDP aims to open up dialogue among citizens, authorities, academia and the private sector on the Sarajevo of the future and test innovative solutions for digital urban planning, technology-based improvement of public services and smart urban economy.

The initiative will rely on the engagement and contribution by prominent and knowledgeable citizens of Sarajevo grouped within the City Mind Lab that is expected to steer the process and contribute with innovative ideas and solutions.

“Development of Sarajevo City is accelerating in terms of infrastructure, economy, tourism growth, and City is becoming a regional center. This needs to be accompanied by the application of contemporary and smart solutions by city administration. Introduction of smart technologies is seen as one of priorities for this administration, which is why the initiative we are launching today represents a significant step in a right direction”, said Sarajevo City Mayor Abdulah Skaka, adding that this initiative will contribute increase of efficiency which is in the interest of citizens.

“The project will support identification and piloting of technology-based solutions that help improve public services (e.g. air quality, waste management, public transport, etc.). It will also support implementation of innovative solutions that not only contribute to more effective and productive businesses, but essentially – that affirm new technology-based solutions that ensure stronger connectivity between urban economy and the wider city ecosystem”, said Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

A pilot area within the City of Sarajevo will be selected as a “testing field” for implementation of several inter-connected activities, which can be scaled-up. Firstly, the project will facilitate the design of a virtual reality/3D tool to help territorial visualization and creation of the “digital mahala 2050” projection based on citizens’ vision, and subsequently support small-scale initiatives that will help transform the vision into reality.