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Science city improves to 17th place – focus is on stable infrastructure and efficient citizen services
The science city of Darmstadt has slightly improved its ranking in the latest Smart City Index published by the digital association Bitkom, now reaching 17th place (previous year: 18th). This means Darmstadt remains the smartest city in Hesse. The index compares the level of digitalization in major German cities annually.
“We are pleased with the slight improvement in the Smart City Index. However, what is even more important for citizens is that services are available, running smoothly, and applications are processed quickly. Especially when resources are scarce, every digital investment must deliver tangible benefits: less effort, shorter waiting times, and consistent quality,” emphasize Mayor Hanno Benz and Head of Digital Affairs Holger Klötzner.
Focus on administrative digitization
The city is increasingly focusing its digital strategy on efficient citizen services and stable administrative processes. "The Smart City Index confirms our focus areas and also shows that we need to further improve in the area of administration. The fact that we have specifically aligned Digitalstadt Darmstadt GmbH with the digitization of public administration is an important step in this direction," explains Mayor Benz.
In the next ten years, around a third of the workforce will retire. This trend can only be mitigated through consistent digitalization. This includes digital record keeping, modern work platforms, and more efficient management of IT projects.
Sustainable solutions instead of flagship projects
Digital Affairs Officer Klötzner emphasizes: “We no longer want flagship projects that only show short-term effects. What is crucial are sustainable solutions that generate added value for citizens on a daily basis. Digitalization is always an interplay between organization and technology.”
Progress also in other categories
In the category of society, Darmstadt ranks among the top 10 nationwide, coming in at number 9. The city has also made progress in other areas. Currently, administrative infrastructure is being modernized, specialized procedures are being standardized, and electronic files are being introduced to shorten processing times and improve citizen services.
Ranking results like those from Bitkom serve as a benchmark for the city. However, the guiding principle remains that digital services must be suitable for everyday use, make administration more efficient, and ensure essential public services.
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD)
