Public Innovation in Romania: Financing Smart City Initiatives Using European Funds in Small and Medium Sized Cities

Abstract

In the current paper we identify some of the challenges in implementing innovative projects among local public administration type of organizations, alongside with some examples of best practices in Romania. Main scope of the paper is to show that only some of the local public administrations in Romania are demonstrating characteristics that are beneficial to citizens, that is: openness to innovation, strategic thinking, transparency, agility or collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. We observe some case studies and extract some conclusions of relevant indicators for promotion of innovation and smart city solutions. Also, we analyse the rate of EU non-reimbursable funds absorption of some local public administrations and conclude that it is consistent to their institutional capacity and performance to embrace innovation and competitivity of their respective territories.

Keywords

• innovation
• smart city
• strategy
• public sector