background notes for smart communities workshop march 3, 2003

HicklingHicklingArthursArthursLowLowTechnology Management,Technology Management,Strategy, and EconomicsStrategy, and Economics

Mid-Term Evaluation ofMid-Term Evaluation of

The Smart Communities The Smart Communities Demonstration ProgramDemonstration Program

Background Notes for Smart Background Notes for Smart Communities WorkshopCommunities WorkshopMarch 3, 2003March 3, 2003

BackgroundBackground

HicklingHicklingArthursArthursLowLow

3

Definition of Smart Definition of Smart CommunityCommunity

““Smart Communities are towns and cities that Smart Communities are towns and cities that use information and communications use information and communications technologies in new and innovative ways to technologies in new and innovative ways to empower their residents, institutions and empower their residents, institutions and region as a whole.”region as a whole.”

Report of the Panel on Smart Communities Report of the Panel on Smart Communities

(Industry Canada, 1998)(Industry Canada, 1998)


4

1998 Panel Report1998 Panel Report

Context of Smart CommunitiesContext of Smart Communities Part of the Connectedness Agenda (6 “pillars”)Part of the Connectedness Agenda (6 “pillars”)

– Canada On-LineCanada On-Line– Canadian Content On-LineCanadian Content On-Line– E-commerceE-commerce– Government On-LineGovernment On-Line– Connecting Canada to the WorldConnecting Canada to the World– Smart CommunitiesSmart Communities


5

Smart Communities Smart Communities Program Program

GoalGoal Establish world-class Smart Communities Establish world-class Smart Communities

across the country so that Canadians can fully across the country so that Canadians can fully realize benefits that information and realize benefits that information and communication technologies have to offercommunication technologies have to offer


6

Smart Communities Smart Communities ProgramProgram

ObjectivesObjectives Assist communities in developing and implementing Assist communities in developing and implementing

sustainable Smart Communities strategiessustainable Smart Communities strategies Create opportunities for learning through the Create opportunities for learning through the

sharing among communities of Smart activities, sharing among communities of Smart activities, experiences and lessons learnedexperiences and lessons learned

Provide new business opportunities, domestically Provide new business opportunities, domestically and internationally, for Canadian companies and internationally, for Canadian companies developing and delivering information and developing and delivering information and communication technology applications and communication technology applications and servicesservices


7

Selection Criteria Selection Criteria

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement– Strategic Partnerships with community stakeholdersStrategic Partnerships with community stakeholders

Smart ServicesSmart Services– Offer informative, interactive, innovative services; Offer informative, interactive, innovative services;

international links international links Smart InfrastructureSmart Infrastructure

– On-line access available to majority of community On-line access available to majority of community OrganizationOrganization

– Credible organizational structure or sponsoring Credible organizational structure or sponsoring organizationorganization

Smart ResultsSmart Results– Improvement in economic and social well-beingImprovement in economic and social well-being

Preliminary Preliminary Mid-term EvaluationMid-term Evaluation

FindingsFindings


9

Study MethodologiesStudy Methodologies Document review Document review

– Program documents, original proposals, contribution Program documents, original proposals, contribution agreements, website reviews, etc. agreements, website reviews, etc.

Interviews with Interviews with – Leads and partners in all 12 demonstration projectsLeads and partners in all 12 demonstration projects– Members of the 1998 Panel that recommended the programMembers of the 1998 Panel that recommended the program– Selection Committee membersSelection Committee members

Case studiesCase studies– Representative of different types of communities ie rural, Representative of different types of communities ie rural,

urban, remote, Aboriginal, and francophone urban, remote, Aboriginal, and francophone – Kuh-ke-nah Network, SmartCapital, La Péninsule acadienneKuh-ke-nah Network, SmartCapital, La Péninsule acadienne

Surveys onlineSurveys online– Applicants that did not receive fundingApplicants that did not receive funding– Website users Website users

WorkshopWorkshop


10

Evaluation IssuesEvaluation Issues

RelevanceRelevance Program DesignProgram Design Program DeliveryProgram Delivery Objectives AchievementObjectives Achievement Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Future DirectionsFuture Directions


11

Relevance (1)Relevance (1)

Program Goal and ObjectivesProgram Goal and Objectives – Virtual unanimous support for program goal and Virtual unanimous support for program goal and

objectives : objectives : “““The program goal and objectives are very “The program goal and objectives are very visionary and appropriate” (SC Representative). visionary and appropriate” (SC Representative).

– Approach of delegating delivery to communities very well Approach of delegating delivery to communities very well received, enables strategies suited to local opportunities/ received, enables strategies suited to local opportunities/ capacitycapacity

Raised awareness of potential of Smart Raised awareness of potential of Smart CommunitiesCommunities– Highlighted capabilities of ICTs to deliver services, provide Highlighted capabilities of ICTs to deliver services, provide

linkages etc.linkages etc.– In remote communities, led to increase in number of In remote communities, led to increase in number of

computers in homes and in use of the Internetcomputers in homes and in use of the Internet


12

Relevance (2)Relevance (2)

Strong incrementality Strong incrementality – Many ICT services and applications Many ICT services and applications

Would have taken much longer without the program or Would have taken much longer without the program or Would not have happened at allWould not have happened at all

Provided equality of access to services, Provided equality of access to services, informationinformation– Especially important in rural and remote communitiesEspecially important in rural and remote communities

Generated interest on an international scaleGenerated interest on an international scale– Majority of communities reported international interest Majority of communities reported international interest – Connect Calgary named Intelligent Community of the Connect Calgary named Intelligent Community of the

Year 2002Year 2002


13

Design and Delivery (1)Design and Delivery (1)

Selection CriteriaSelection Criteria– Virtually all consulted felt appropriateVirtually all consulted felt appropriate– Enabled comparison of very different proposalsEnabled comparison of very different proposals– Concern expressed over infrastructure requirements, Concern expressed over infrastructure requirements,

many smaller communities may not have considered many smaller communities may not have considered applyingapplying

– Suggestion that portfolio criteria (ex. achieving a Suggestion that portfolio criteria (ex. achieving a balance between urban, rural, remote etc. balance between urban, rural, remote etc. communities) could have been better communicatedcommunities) could have been better communicated

– Suggestion also that compensation for weak Suggestion also that compensation for weak infrastructure by strong community engagement infrastructure by strong community engagement could have been explicitly statedcould have been explicitly stated


14


Two-stage application processTwo-stage application process– First round: Letter of IntentFirst round: Letter of Intent

129 submissions129 submissions

– Second round: Full proposalsSecond round: Full proposals 46 submissions46 submissions

National Selection Committee established to National Selection Committee established to make recommendationsmake recommendations


15


12 demonstration projects selected12 demonstration projects selected– 10 provinces + aboriginal and northern10 provinces + aboriginal and northern– $4.5 million over three years (to March 2004)$4.5 million over three years (to March 2004)– Matching from partnersMatching from partners

Contribution agreements with each projectContribution agreements with each project– Vendor agreement model with specific deliverablesVendor agreement model with specific deliverables

Lead projects act as umbrellas for sub-projectsLead projects act as umbrellas for sub-projects– Different strategies followed Different strategies followed

Sub-projects delivered through partnershipsSub-projects delivered through partnerships Sub-projects delivered through the leadSub-projects delivered through the lead Combination of bothCombination of both


16


Circumstances challenged the delivery of the Circumstances challenged the delivery of the programprogram– Delays in release of fundingDelays in release of funding

Keeping interest of partners while waitingKeeping interest of partners while waiting

– Meltdown of high tech sectorMeltdown of high tech sector Loss of key private sector partnersLoss of key private sector partners

Supportive synergies with other programsSupportive synergies with other programs – Federal: FedNor, WD, ACOA; CAPFederal: FedNor, WD, ACOA; CAP– ProvincialProvincial


17


Smart Communities DirectorateSmart Communities Directorate– Provides ongoing guidance and advice - organizes Provides ongoing guidance and advice - organizes

annual meetings of 12 Smart Communities annual meetings of 12 Smart Communities – Showed flexibility in allowing adjustments to Showed flexibility in allowing adjustments to

contribution agreements as conditions changed (e.g., contribution agreements as conditions changed (e.g., loss of private sector partners)loss of private sector partners)

– Established Smart Communities website - Resource Established Smart Communities website - Resource Exchange (clearing house of best practices), Tool Kit Exchange (clearing house of best practices), Tool Kit and Skills Development (online and in-person and Skills Development (online and in-person training) - evidence that website not yet achieving training) - evidence that website not yet achieving significant usage among funded and un-funded significant usage among funded and un-funded communitiescommunities


18

Achievement of Objectives Achievement of Objectives (1)(1)

High usage of many services that are High usage of many services that are operational, despite many sub-projects not yet operational, despite many sub-projects not yet fully up-and-runningfully up-and-running

Implementation of community-wide ICT Implementation of community-wide ICT projects promoted linkages amongst diverse projects promoted linkages amongst diverse players; silos bridged among players that not players; silos bridged among players that not normally communicatenormally communicate

Momentum created within communities (even Momentum created within communities (even some of those that did not receive funding)some of those that did not receive funding)


19

Examples of Sub-projectsExamples of Sub-projects

Kuk-ke-nah Network (Aboriginal)Kuk-ke-nah Network (Aboriginal)– Access to health informationAccess to health information

Potentially significant impact on treatment of diabetesPotentially significant impact on treatment of diabetes

SmartCapital (Ottawa)SmartCapital (Ottawa)– Integration of public, university and national library Integration of public, university and national library

catalogues onlinecatalogues online Calgary ConnectCalgary Connect

– Services and information provided to “at risk” Services and information provided to “at risk” populationpopulation


20


Community EngagementCommunity Engagement– Significant impactSignificant impact– Engaged many partners and ordinary citizensEngaged many partners and ordinary citizens– Seen as “liberating,” “empowering”Seen as “liberating,” “empowering”– Equality of access to services, information, trainingEquality of access to services, information, training

Capacity buildingCapacity building– All communities developed new capacitiesAll communities developed new capacities

TechnicalTechnical Organizational/ManagerialOrganizational/Managerial


21


Achievements varied with type of community Achievements varied with type of community (Remote, Rural, Urban(Remote, Rural, Urban))– Different challengesDifferent challenges

Infrastructure was lacking in remote communitiesInfrastructure was lacking in remote communities Community engagement more difficult in urban Community engagement more difficult in urban

communitiescommunities Technical capabilities lacking in remote & rural Technical capabilities lacking in remote & rural

communitiescommunities– Incremental impactsIncremental impacts

Deep impact, small population in remote communitiesDeep impact, small population in remote communities Wide impact, large population in urban communitiesWide impact, large population in urban communities

– Interest in sharing solutions differentInterest in sharing solutions different Much sharing among remote and francophone Much sharing among remote and francophone

communities, and those with similar strategies communities, and those with similar strategies


22


LeverageLeverage– FundingFunding

Levered funding from other programs to fill in gaps Levered funding from other programs to fill in gaps (e.g. infrastructure) such as Community Access (e.g. infrastructure) such as Community Access Program providing local access centresProgram providing local access centres

Levered funding from regional development agencies Levered funding from regional development agencies (FedNor, WD, ACOA)(FedNor, WD, ACOA)

– InfrastructureInfrastructure Levered fibre and other infrastructure builds by Levered fibre and other infrastructure builds by

provinces (e.g. provinces (e.g. Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan)Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan)


23


SustainabilitySustainability– Sub-projects are sustainable; mSub-projects are sustainable; many may be any may be

supported or maintained by other agencies supported or maintained by other agencies (municipal, provincial, educational, health)(municipal, provincial, educational, health)

– Project offices may not be sustainable; will impact on Project offices may not be sustainable; will impact on ability ability

To share know-howTo share know-how To provide international leadershipTo provide international leadership

Projects may have significant positive social Projects may have significant positive social and economic outcomesand economic outcomes– Too early to tell at mid-termToo early to tell at mid-term– Important to measure in individual project Important to measure in individual project

evaluations and in final program evaluation evaluations and in final program evaluation


24

Lessons Learned (1)Lessons Learned (1)

Valuable know-how developed in project Valuable know-how developed in project offices but means need to be found to capture offices but means need to be found to capture and retain – in danger of being lost (with end and retain – in danger of being lost (with end of program) of program)

Opportunities for commercializing smart Opportunities for commercializing smart community products and services – steps community products and services – steps required to avoid competition among Smart required to avoid competition among Smart Communities to provide these services Communities to provide these services

Dissemination cannot be passive (e.g., Smart Dissemination cannot be passive (e.g., Smart Communities website) - need concerted Communities website) - need concerted marketing efforts, best focused on “like” marketing efforts, best focused on “like” communities ie remote, rural, urbancommunities ie remote, rural, urban


25

Lessons Learned (2)Lessons Learned (2) The three types of communities (remote, rural, The three types of communities (remote, rural,

and urban), have differing capacities and needs and urban), have differing capacities and needs in becoming Smart Communities eg demands on in becoming Smart Communities eg demands on rural and remote to build technical and rural and remote to build technical and managerial skillsmanagerial skills

Willingness of business partners to contribute Willingness of business partners to contribute leading edge approaches greatly affected by leading edge approaches greatly affected by economic health of technology sectoreconomic health of technology sector

Three-year time frame may be too short for full Three-year time frame may be too short for full demonstration; fdemonstration; five years appears more realisticive years appears more realistic– Time for consultation among local groupsTime for consultation among local groups– Time to develop and work with partnersTime to develop and work with partners– Time to develop and implement applicationsTime to develop and implement applications


26

Future DirectionsFuture Directions Develop models/structures to:Develop models/structures to:

– Capture and make available know-how, knowledgeCapture and make available know-how, knowledge– Market ideas pro-actively to entire country and Market ideas pro-actively to entire country and

internationallyinternationally– Exert international leadershipExert international leadership

Provide incentives for others to become smart Provide incentives for others to become smart communitiescommunities

Continuing focus on applications and services Continuing focus on applications and services enabled by provincial and municipal enabled by provincial and municipal broadband network buildsbroadband network builds


27

This StudyThis Study

Activities underway to complete the study:Activities underway to complete the study: Case Studies (3)Case Studies (3) Online surveys (2) Online surveys (2) Workshop (March 3)Workshop (March 3) Draft and final reports (by March 31)Draft and final reports (by March 31)

background notes for smart communities workshop march 3, 2003

Documents

remote communities

communication technologies

ict services

lineconnecting canada

innovative ways

communications technologies

demonstration projectsmembers

original proposals