Smart City Concept Implementation in Baku

Abstract

This research aimed to deeply analyze to what extend Baku is ready to be implemented the Smart City concept. As the near future demand, Smart City is an advanced urbanization model that will be applied by all cities and countries that do not want to stay behind technology and modernization. The implementation of this new trend has been planned for the capital of Azerbaijan – Baku as well. The current institutional framework and governance system have been studied to explore weaknesses and potential obstacles during the concept application. As a concept, Smart City aims to reach sustainable development and the highest citizen welfare/satisfaction level. The experience of the countries that have successfully implemented the concept has been studied. From this perspective, the capacity of Baku, obstacles in this path, and potential preventions have been discovered by the secondary and primary data collection and analysis. Apart from this, gaps in the literature related to Baku have been identified to assist and ease future researchers' work. Institutional framework and focus of monocentric governance system have been uncovered as primary preventions of the SC concept implementation. Different experts have been interviewed, and after the data analysis part, it has been shown that the mentioned challenges may complicate the application of the concept in Baku auspiciously. Before the concept implementation, Baku needs to adapt to those profound changes. Considering this, a holistic governance approach and reforms in institutional setup are unavoidable for Baku to successfully implement the Smart City concept.