The Netherlands
Jan Van Zanen
350,000 (2018)
Thomas Kruse
Improve service delivery
Improve internal government operations
Anticipate and manage future challenges
Improve resident outcomes
Simplify administrative procedures for firms and residents
Support from outside city administration
Utrecht has the vision of Healthy Urban Living for all citizens, which is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Health is at the heart of the city’s urban development strategy. For this vision, innovation is required in diverse domains and themes to connect and cooperate with the stakeholders. Innovation can help the city define problems, develop ideas, and prototype scalable solutions.
Note: The City Innovation Snapshot (PDF version) was produced in 2019 and some aggregate findings have been updated with the latest survey results below.
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Utrecht has an explicit innovation strategy. Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Utrecht approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.
Utrecht’s innovation work is sprinkled throughout the municipal administration. In particular, there is a team of 5 strategists
Taking risks or testing new ideas
Data-driven analytics/public data management
Engaging residents in new ways
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
Organizational change within the municipality
Human-centered design
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
Like 81% of cities surveyed, Utrecht has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Utrecht also invests in digital systems and physical infrastructure.
Utrecht has developed partnerships to promote its innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms, not-for-profit organizations, and city residents/resident associations in addition to cooperation at the international level.
To improve data use, the city has also developed data partnerships with the private sector, academia, and think tanks to collect and analyze data, as well as with other cities.