Participatory Governance in the Digitalization Process of a Smart City: The Case of the Municipality of Rome

A smart city can be defined as an urban ecosystem that combines new technologies related to digitalization in infrastructure, governance models, and everyday life, as well as inclusivity and stakeholder participation for achieving effectiveness and long-term sustainability. Although many frameworks and co-creative governance approaches emphasize the importance of integrating diverse perspectives in urban innovation, the practical implementation of stakeholder engagement remains a significant challenge in the development of digital strategies. This persistent difficulty often stems from factors such as varying levels of digital literacy, power asymmetries among stakeholders, and insufficient mechanisms for meaningful participation. As a result, there is a risk that smart city initiatives may fall short of their potential to deliver inclusive and sustainable outcomes, ultimately undermining both the legitimacy and the long-term effectiveness of urban digital transformation processes. This is especially relevant in the Italian context. Indeed, despite the relevant number of papers dedicated to stakeholder engagement in smart cities, few studies have explored how municipalities implement these innovative strategies, and even fewer have within the Italian context. This research aims to fill this gap by analyzing the stakeholder engagement in Rome’s smart city strategy and the effectiveness of participatory and co-creative approaches in transforming a city into an effective smart city. The research results reveal that the experience of the Rome Smart City Lab (RSCL) creates a model of participatory governance where the stakeholders can co-create the digital innovation strategies of a municipality and where the stakeholder techniques are fully implemented. The research results provide interesting results useful for both academics and policymakers involved in the digital transformation of a smart city, since the RSCL’s approach confirms that digitalization initiatives become more effective and efficient when they are shaped by the very individuals and groups responsible for their implementation. This participatory process seems to enhance the adaptability and sustainability of digital strategies over time, ultimately contributing to the realization of truly inclusive smart cities.