Shaping the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Cities: A Framework for Digital Transformation

The report outlines a three-phase digital transformation framework for small and medium-sized cities (SMCs), focusing on seven functional areas: public and social services, industry and economy, governance, environment and low carbon, governmental effectiveness, infrastructure, and development assurance. It identifies key challenges such as lack of digital talent and funding, and argues for a human-centric, sustainable approach that distinguishes the needs of SMCs from those of large cities.

• Small and medium-sized cities (SMCs) face distinct challenges in digital transformation, primarily including a lack of digital talent, insufficient funding and resources, limited understanding of digital technologies, and a lack of intercity cooperation mechanisms.
• The report identifies four primary drivers for SMC digital transformation: the need for national policy guidance, the necessity to upgrade urban governance, the urgent need to modernize local industries, and the desire to attract returning talent to counter the 'Matthew effect' of cumulative advantage.
• Digital transformation in SMCs should follow a 'human-centric' core and a goal of sustainability, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, and 13 to create inclusive, resilient, and carbon-neutral urban environments.
• SMCs differ from big cities in their digital transformation needs due to demographic shifts, such as the departure of young people and an ageing population, which leads to a preference for services that integrate online and offline options.
• The proposed digital transformation model is structured across seven functional areas: public and social services, industry and economy, governance, environment and low carbon, governmental effectiveness, infrastructure, and development assurance (leadership/policy).
• The transformation process is divided into three maturity phases: Phase 1 is technology-driven and localized; Phase 2 is application-oriented and systematic; and Phase 3 focuses on innovation iteration and the development of a business ecosystem.
• Successful digital transformation requires coordinated action from four stakeholder groups: governments (core leadership), citizens (providing feedback and adopting low-carbon lifestyles), enterprises (providing technology and industrial innovation), and research institutes (guiding policy and standards).

APA

World Economic Forum (2022). Shaping the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Cities: A Framework for Digital Transformation. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_SMCs_A_Framework_for_Digital_Transformation_2022_EN.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Shaping the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Cities: A Framework for Digital Transformation. 2022. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_SMCs_A_Framework_for_Digital_Transformation_2022_EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Shaping the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Cities: A Framework for Digital Transformation |date=May 2022 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_SMCs_A_Framework_for_Digital_Transformation_2022_EN.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2022shaping, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Shaping the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Cities: A Framework for Digital Transformation}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_SMCs_A_Framework_for_Digital_Transformation_2022_EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }