Page 77 - U4SSC Compendium of survey results on integrated digital solutions for city platforms around the world

8 Shanghai

8.1 City Profile

Shanghai, with a population of more than 24 million (including more than 9 million migrants), is
the largest metropolis in China. It is one of the world’s largest seaports and a major industrial and
commercial centre of China.

Shanghai is under mounting pressure for functional transformation in the face of continuous
population growth and environmental resource constraints. Hence the city aims to realize its motto,
“Better City, Better Life” in the future.

8.2 Strategic approach

Shanghai first proposed a smart city strategy in 2010, and this has been reiterated over the past
ten years. The construction of Shanghai's smart city has advanced from the stage of laying the
foundation for the Information Superhighway to building a single-function application system. It
has now reached the stage of promoting the integration and innovation of the applications. At
present, the digital transformation of Shanghai is progressing holistically, involving all aspects,
including economic life and governance.

The fundamental basis for planning and constructing a smart city in Shanghai is people-oriented
and focused on people’s livelihoods. The government encourages the participation of citizens and
other social entities, in order to promote the comprehensive development of a smart city, while
continuously enhancing the attractiveness, creativity and competitiveness of the city. The major
objectives are achieving digital transformation, digital governance and building a digital economy.

8.3 Technological Architecture of the Urban Platform

Shanghai has built a “City Brain” architecture. This depends on data aggregation and sharing,
network infrastructure development, system integration and collaboration, and the openness of
an application ecosystem.

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