Lolly Bowean

This keynote presents a toolkit for developing four pillars of digital democracy –democratic governance, participatory citizenship, digital diversity and rights to information. The toolkit charts a collection of instruments, measures and guidelines to empower marginal social groups. It thus enables those dispossessed of the public sphere of the city and the digital realm alike, to claim, inhabit and thrive in both urban and digital spaces.

How can smart cities improve well-being and life satisfaction of citizens? Takehiko will present a new smart city policy design approach that focuses on both subjective and objective well-being of citizens as a basis of designing smart city polities. This one of the kind approach was developed by Smart City Institute Japan and has been extended to use in about 100 cities in Japan as part of the national digital transformation strategy to revitalize regional economy and society.

What obstacles arise in urban environments that hinder digital equality and inclusion, and how can cities address them? In what ways are local governments promoting digital equity and social justice to ensure equal access to technology? This roundtable will explore the innovative strategies that cities are employing to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all residents have equitable access to technology, digital literacy, and the opportunities they facilitate.