Connected, efficient, climate-friendly - Dresden shows how a city can become a smart city

What can a city of the future look like? Dresden is already on the right track - which is why it is ranked fifth in the 2024 Smart City Index. The state capital of Saxony is using targeted digital solutions to meet growing mobility needs, environmental issues and the desire for greater proximity to citizens. And it is pursuing a clear goal: ‘Digitalisation should not be an end in itself, but should create concrete added value for people,’ says Prof. Michael Breidung, Operations Manager of Eigenbetrieb IT-Dienstleistungen, which is responsible for managing the Smart City Dresden model project.

Concrete solutions for the city of the future

A look at the practice shows: Dresden is getting serious about smart mobility. The MOBI system from Dresden's public transport company connects car sharing, e-bikes, cargo bikes and charging stations at over 60 MOBI points. Digital parking tickets and smart traffic lights with real-time data ensure greater efficiency on the roads. Dresden is also focusing on the future of automated driving - for example in the EU project MOBILITIES FOR EU with charging robots and new transport concepts.

Dresden is also setting standards in terms of sustainability: the Dresden-Reick innovation power plant combines solar energy, battery storage and heating technology. The Kaditz wastewater treatment plant generates electricity from hydropower and the sun. And with the NeutralPath project, Dresden is going one step further - towards the development of entire plus-energy neighbourhoods. All of this is complemented by a 3D heavy rain portal for precise environmental monitoring.

In the digital town hall, citizens benefit from an ever-increasing range of digital services. They can apply for ID cards or make appointments online. The ID-Ideal project and the follow-up Co-Creation Lab project are also creating a network for secure, interoperable digital identities - even beyond Germany's borders.

Participation is particularly important here: ‘With formats such as the Citizens' Lab, hackathons and the Cleema app, we are making digitalisation tangible,’ explains Breidung. The goal: a digital administration that is there for everyone.

Technology that works for everyone

Dresden's digital city twin shows how urban planning works in real time - based on climate data, traffic information and sensor technology. The VAMOS2 system automatically controls traffic to avoid congestion and improve air quality. At the same time, Dresden ensures that nobody is left behind. Analogue formats such as tram surveys or district festivals were also used in the development of the smart city strategy. ‘We deliberately reach older people in particular offline - with low-threshold formats,’ emphasises Breidung. And many measures unfold their effect in the background, without the active involvement of citizens - such as smart road maintenance. The people of Dresden benefit from the smart city measures without being actively confronted with them. ‘Digitalisation is a means to an end.’

Tips & tricks made in Dresden

What can other cities learn from the city? Clearly: the close cooperation. TU Dresden was a partner right from the start - from strategy development to implementation, which has also convinced other cities and regions: the concept was adopted in Ilmenau, and municipalities from Poland, Taiwan and Brazil are also very interested in the approach. Citizens also appreciate the close collaboration between research and the city: ‘The feedback from urban society is overwhelmingly positive,’ says Breidung. In a survey conducted by TU Dresden, the majority of participants wanted more digital administration, sustainable mobility and a better digital infrastructure. At the same time, there are also critical voices: For example, reference was made to the participation of people who are less digitally savvy or to the issue of data protection. ‘This feedback is important information for the evaluation of the measures,’ emphasises Breidung.

Smart City - a continuous journey

The federal funding project Smart Cities Model Projects runs until the end of 2026. But one thing is clear for Dresden: the journey will continue after that. With its own Smart City department in the Office for Economic Development, new EU projects and constant dialogue with other cities, Dresden remains on course for innovation and always with the local population in mind.