Going Smart in the Brno Metropolitan Area: Local Actors’ Perspectives and Experience

Abstract

Drawing on 16 interviews across the Brno Metropolitan Area (BMA) in the Czech Republic, this article clarifies local actors' perceptions of the smart city (SC) concept, examines the roles of metropolitan and regional governance in advancing it, and documents the implementation of, and experience with, smart projects in both the core city of Brno and its hinterland municipalities. We distinguish between predominantly technocentric and holistic perceptions of the SC concept. While many actors view "smart city" as an overhyped term, tainted by corporate interests and deliberately omitted from the BMA's strategic document, it still emerges in practice through EU-funded Integrated Territorial Investments and other local initiatives. Our analysis highlights the joint regional platform for developing smart measures, compensating for the BMA's limited institutional and financial capacity. Individual municipal SC projects are motivated by grant availability, cost savings, environmental and social objectives, and the goal of enhancing residents' quality of life. COVID-19 accelerated digital adoption, improving communication and access to public services; however, these initiatives sometimes suffer from low citizen uptake and face fiscal and staffing constraints in hinterland municipalities. The article contributes to debates on smart cities and smart territories by offering insights for policymakers and practitioners.