Coproduction Between Government and Civil Society to Establish Smart Cities in the State of Pará

Abstract

This article discusses the environment around the process of adopting the concept of smart cities in the State of Pará (Brazil), based on the coproduction of public services involving civil society and government. The study presents a case study of coproduction focusing on the rural area, characterized by the partnership between a civil society organization and public agencies from the state, and local governments to enable specialized medical care. The article also shows the results of a survey about coproduction, focused on the urban area, seeking to identify the feasibility to implement a data sharing service, using the Wi-Fi of individuals and households in areas where the local government has difficulties in offering public services. The use of this shared infrastructure would allow coproducing public services, including preventive telemedicine services in the neighborhoods around the Metropolitan Region of Belém. The survey was based on the following question: To what extent are citizens and civil society organizations willing to form partnerships to coproduce with the government?. The results of this article show that citizens and civil society organizations are willing to coproduce with governments and explore the conditions for these partnerships to happen. Also, the article shows that coproduction involving technological infrastructure and solutions may be a start to discussing and establishing smart cities in the state of Pará.

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