Innovation is helping to:
Simplify administrative procedures for firms and residents
Improve service delivery
Improve resident outcomes
Brussels
Belgium
Mayor
Philippe Close
Population
180,000
Innovation Website
Lead Innovation Officers
Katlijn Perneel, Filis Zumbultas
Spotlight on innovation in Brussels
Brussels is currently engaging in a transformation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, jointly developed and supported by the city administration and its partner i-City. With a citizen-centered approach, Brussels has introduced an integrated front office using an omnichannel strategy that focuses on providing a cohesive user experience for citizens regardless of the channels used (physical, digital, phone, mail, etc.) at every point of contact. The administration has already introduced the e-desk, and continues to widen the range of online services offered by adopting a disruptive approach to digitalization.
Vision and approach to innovation capacity
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Brussels has an explicit innovation strategy.
Brussels is currently focusing on an internal rethink of their Human Resources and City Administrative Service.
Policy areas that Brussels is focused on
Brussels does not prioritise policy sectors for its innovation work.
Policy areas by number of cities
Brussels utilizes 1 innovation skill or role
Innovation roles by number of cities
Brussels’ innovation work is sprinkled throughout the municipality. The city’s dedicated innovation team consists of 3 staff.
Terms Brussels most associates with innovation
Brussels' most common innovation activities
- 1
Taking risks or testing new ideas
- 2
Data-driven analytics/public data management
- 3
Engaging residents in new ways
- 4
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
- 5
Organizational change within the municipality
- 6
Human-centered design
- 7
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
How is innovation funded here?
Like 81% of cities surveyed, Brussels has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Top sources of funding
Activities being funded
47 cities
Launching or sustaining a project
79 cities
Idea generation & brainstorming
51 cities
Investing in digital systems
36 cities
Investing in physical infrastructure
30 cities
Paying for services
*"Training staff and building capacity" is not an option in the 2018 survey, while "Launching or sustaining a project" is not an option in the 2020 survey.
How is innovation measured?
Innovation work has been internal to the city administration, with no major data partnerships aimed at collecting or analyzing data to fuel innovation capacity or strategy.