Support Smart Cities: NIST Seeks Public Comments on New Strategy for Smart Cities Program

Send Feedback by February 29

To support the advancement and efficiency of smart cities, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages relevant stakeholders to respond to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) call for comments on its new strategy for its Global Community Technology Challenge (GCTC), a U.S. smart cities and communities program.

Led by the Smart Connected Systems Division of NIST, GCTC was formed in 2014 with the goal of improving the urban environment through the integration of digital technologies. It is a partnership between cities and communities, local and state government agencies, business enterprises, non-governmental organizations, universities, and research institutes. As NIST reports, the program strives to create an environment in which communities can benefit from working with others to improve efficiency and lower costs.

The GCTC recently published its Strategic Plan (2024-2026), which “identifies a three-year program of research and development and reaffirms a continuing collaboration between the federal smart cities program led by NIST and communities, cities, and regions across the country,” NIST reports. Furthermore, the strategic plan is built on three key goals:

• Establish a research-based, scientific foundation for the NIST Smart Cities Infrastructure program, the GCTC, and the broader smart cities community.
• Broaden the scope and agenda for smart cities to address current challenges and achieve the equitable distribution of outcomes for community residents, businesses, and organizations.
• Enhance the national public-private partnership of smart city programs, research institutions, private sector enterprises, and the next generation of community leaders, scientists, and researchers.

NIST is accepting public comment on the new strategy through February 29. The Institute will review all stakeholder comments, with a final version of the document expected to be published in Spring 2024.

Access the document in the NIST Special Publication library as an Initial Public Draft and read how to submit comments via NIST’s news page.