Open Access
Article
SciPap-1067
Smart City Projects in the Small-Sized Municipalities: Contribution of the Cohesion Policy
by
Lenka Smékalová 1,* 
and Filip Kučera 2
1 Faculty of Management and Economics, Department of Regional Development, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Mostní 5139, Zlín 760 01, Czechia
2 Faculty of Management and Economics, Department of Regional Development, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Mostní 5139, Zlín 760 01, Czechia
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract: The paper focuses on the smart city concept implementation in the Czech Republic during 2007-2013. The aim is to deliver a closer look at the implementation of the concept in the conditions of the selected Czech municipalities by means of decoding the investments from the EU Cohesion policy. The municipalities represent small sized cities that have so far been on the periphery of interest in smart city debate as they are neither metropolises nor do they fit the newer concept of smart village. The analysed projects are divided into six smart city dimensions, the authors then explore investment intensity in relation to city size and its future commitment to become a smart city by means of having a formalized strategy. The results show that Czech municipalities invested into all smart city dimensions and infrastructure related projects prevailed. The larger the city the more intensive investment activity confirming the relation between size and absorption capacity. The divisive dimension that sets apart future smart cities is the investment into smart economy measures which were implemented in cities that later officially undertake the commitment of smartness.
Keywords: Czech Republic, Public Sector, Smart City, Cohesion Policy, Municipalities
JEL classification: H72 - State and Local Budget and Expenditures, O21 - Planning Models • Planning Policy, R58 - Regional Development Planning and Policy
Received: 30 April 2020 / Accepted: 13 June 2020 / Published: 6 August 2020
