MORAL SMART CITIES | BUILDING ETHICAL AND INCLUSIVE SMART URBAN FUTURES
GOALS OF THE PROJECT:
- Foster broad public debate on Smart City developments
- Promote inclusive and ethical decision-making in urban technology
- Strengthen collaboration between ethics committees, local governments, media, and citizen groups
- Create meaningful citizen engagement around smart city ethics
- Develop new strategies and tools such as the Moral Data City Hunt
- Enable cities to make socially embedded and responsible policy decisions
Background & Description:
The Moral Smart Cities project is a four-year research initiative led by Fontys, aimed at addressing the ethical and societal impact of technological developments in urban environments. With municipalities increasingly adopting Smart City technologies, this project seeks to ensure that ethical deliberation and inclusive participation become central components of urban decision-making.
The project creates a unique network connecting urban ethics committees, municipalities, citizen initiatives, media organizations, and academic institutions across seven Dutch cities. Together, they explore how to build a living techno-moral discourse that enables inclusive and socially grounded governance.
At the University of Twente, DesignLab collaborates with Corelia Baibarac (BMS faculty) to implement the Responsible Futuring methodology. The work is built on prior projects such as:
- Designing for Controversies in Responsible Smart Cities (NWO)
- From Frictions to Alternative Imaginaries (DesignLab Fellows Fund)
- NWO XS Project on Responsible Urban Futures
The project focuses locally on Smart Mobility in Enschede, aiming to reduce car use and lower carbon emissions through electric shared mobility—directly aligned with UT’s Climate research domain.
CONSORTIUM:
- Collège André-Laurendeau (Canada)
- KU Leuven
- Lund University
- Universiteit Utrecht
- Universiteit van Amsterdam
- University of Twente (DesignLab + BMS)
- Municipalities: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Enschede, Utrecht, Zwolle, Den Bosch
- Fontys
- Saxion
- Media 52 B.V.
- Stichting FutureCity
- MAD emergent art center
- Netwerk Democratie
- Nieuws in de Etalage
- Regionale Omroep Brabant
- The Connection
Contact:
