> City of San Diego
What Makes San Diego So Smart?
What Makes San Diego So Smart?
It’s simple really. The City of San Diego has continuously embraced opportunities to be a Smart City by using technology to collect, analyze, and leverage data to improve decision-making and increase the likelihood of positive and impactful outcomes. Several recent initiatives demonstrate not only the use of technology but also the collaboration through public-private partnerships to make government more accountable, efficient, and responsive.
The City of San Diego is home to six universities, including global research leader University of California at San Diego (UC San Diego); and more than 80 research institutions, among them the distinguished Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Through economic development funding, partnerships, and digital marketing, the City supports a robust startup ecosystem of more than 70 incubators (e.g., EvoNexus, TMA BlueTech Incubator, Hera Labs), accelerators (e.g., The Brink at University of San Diego, UC San Diego Veterans Ventures) and co-working spaces (CyberTECH NEST). In May 2019, the City, with Community Development Block Grant funding, opened the CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, the region’s first accelerator located in a low-income community (Encanto) and dedicated to serving the City’s diverse and low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs.
As the launch pad for Qualcomm, Cubic, and Illumina, the City of San Diego has established itself as a technology innovation hub and global genomics leader. SPAWAR, General Atomics, General Dynamics NASSCO, BAE Systems, and Northrop Grumman have major facilities here. These companies are among a multitude of partners investing in the City’s workforce and profile as a Smart City. The top-tier talent, entrepreneurial ethos and collaborative spirit are what have given San Diego a reputation as a Smart City. (Additional link: National Geographic’s documentary, World’s Smart Cities: San Diego.)
The City’s relationships with the public are more convenient than ever, thanks to digital and mobile interactions and advanced touch points using technology. This City’s progress is evidenced by how it has made bureaucratic processes and mundane activities more accessible and easier to deliver to our customers—all San Diegans.
SMART RESOURCES:
SMART CITY INITIATIVES:
Smart City San Diego is a broad public-private collaboration composed of the City of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), General Electric, University of California at San Diego (UC San Diego), and Cleantech San Diego. Its goal is to improve the region’s energy independence, to empower consumers to use electric vehicles, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to encourage economic growth—all part of the strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan (https://www.sandiego.gov/sustainability/climate-action-plan).
Smart City and Sustainable programs and projects include:
KEY DECISIONS AND CITY POSITIONS
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR SAN DIEGO?
The City’s investment to convert all water meters to smart meters with real-time data for service delivery…. Using data to assist our region’s homelessness crisis and align with needed services to get individuals off the streets and on a path to self-reliance…. Our desire to provide the best customer service to our residents, businesses, and visitors is genuine.
From leading tech companies to invest in San Diego to our City’s mission to provide opportunities for all, it just makes sense. San Diego is smart.
City of San Diego