Center for Smart Cities and Regions

Futures Catalyst. To fully realize the potential of smarter cities and regions, governments need the skills to plan for, and actively manage, increasingly sophisticated technologies. To anticipate the effects and tradeoffs of the design choices of emerging technological infrastructures and have the deep understanding necessary to use them. CSCR works with local and regional governments to develop capacities to anticipate, design, experiment, iterate, and manage emerging technologies to meet public needs and implement specific actions.

• Initial Projects:
• Greater Phoenix Smart Region Initiative
• Governance of Autonomous Vehicles
• Equity and Engagement in the Smart City
• STIR Cities
• MacArthur Research Network for Opening Governance

Community Nexus. CSCR works as a boundary organization to collaborate with publics, community groups and non-profits through public engagement and public science to foster the ability of communities to envision, articulate, and bring about the future they want.

• Initial Projects:
• Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network
• Arizona Education Modeling
• Opening Pathways for Discovery, Research, and Innovation in Health
• Extreme Heat Research
• Synthetic Empathy

Educational Programs. CSCR has developed educational program offerings around smart and connected cities/regions in close collaboration with SFIS.

• Smart City Academy. The Smart City Academy will support individuals and organizations in their efforts to develop, implement and manage smart city endeavors effectively.
• Graduate Certificate in Policy Informatics. This certificate provides knowledge and skills for students seeking careers that will use informatics tools, models, and simulations to help individuals and groups deliberate and evaluate policy decisions as well as explore new governance infrastructures. Graduate Certificate in Policy Informatics. This certificate provides knowledge and skills for students seeking careers that will use informatics tools, models, and simulations to help individuals and groups deliberate and evaluate policy decisions as well as explore new governance infrastructures.

Innovation Hub. The Center serves as a national and, potentially, international hub for discussions about the future of cities and regions, hosting events, meetings, and speakers.