Digitalisation is reshaping how cities live and work, addressing climate risks, revitalising town centres, and enhancing public services through technology. Since 2019, Germany’s Model Projects Smart Cities (MPSC) programme has supported 73 pioneering municipalities and regional collaboratives, investing over €820 million to pilot integrated, sustainable, and citizen‑oriented digital strategies.
The Coordination and Transfer Office (KTS) serves as the national coordination and transfer hub, channelling insights from these pilot projects into widespread practice. Since summer 2021, the office has provided strategic guidance, practical tools, and multi‑level exchange platforms so that every municipality in Germany can benefit from tested Smart City solutions.
The KTS supports all 73 MPSC sites with tailored guidance to ensure effective implementation and fosters a strong network of exchange through national and regional events. It promotes knowledge transfer by sharing new and existing expertise across municipalities and making it accessible through training, publications, and collaboration formats. Through accompanying research, the KTS identifies trends, risks, and opportunities in urban digitalisation, translating them into actionable insights for broader municipal practice. Further, KTS experts consult the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) on strategy topics. ICLEI Europe is part of the action with a specific focus on standardisation and the latest trends. With its international focus, ICLEI is well placed to review, discuss, and report on the latest developments in Smart City implementation and standardisation around the globe.
As part of its capacity-building strategy, the KTS launched the Smart City Academy, a modular education programme designed for municipal employees and decision-makers. The Academy offers online learning formats in German that cover the full spectrum of Smart City solutions from digital infrastructure to legal advice.
Starting in September 2025, ICLEI Europe, in collaboration with Fraunhofer IESE, is facilitating a module introducing cities to the strategic and technical benefits of applying standards in Smart City projects. It combines real-world case studies, expert impulses, and interactive exercises. Participants will gain strategic and technical insights to embed standardisation into long-term digital strategies. The module is designed for municipal decision-makers, project managers, and planners seeking orientation and inspiration for the practical application of standards. The work builds on ICLEI's work conducted in the KTS.