Smart and Inclusive Public Services: Digital Pathways to Local Sustainability
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 22
Special Issue Editors
Interests: labour market modelling; digital transformation in public services; regional development; AI and sustainability; spatial and econometric modelling
Interests: labour market dynamics; social policy; education and skills development; regional resilience; digital inclusion
Interests: public governance; sustainability policies; digital government; ethical leadership
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: corporate governance; digital transformation; leadership; sustainable management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Digital technology is increasingly shaping how public services are designed, delivered, and evaluated, with profound implications for local sustainability and community well-being. This Special Issue will explore the transformative role of digital innovation in strengthening the resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of local development, while fostering evidence-based public governance.
Our focus is on how advanced digital tools such as artificial intelligence, spatial and econometric modelling, big data analytics, digital twins, and e-government platforms can enhance transparency, efficiency, and participation in public services. By linking digitalization with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this Special Issue will emphasize the dual challenge of ensuring social inclusion and equity while supporting economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
We welcome both theoretical and practice-oriented contributions, including case studies and policy applications, that provide actionable knowledge for policymakers, communities, and businesses. Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics of interest:
- Digital transformation in public administration and service delivery at local and regional levels;
- Smart governance, open data, and citizen participation platforms;
- Digital inclusion and accessibility for vulnerable groups;
- Innovative methods for policy monitoring, evaluation, and forecasting using digital tools;
- Foresight and structural change management using digital technologies (labour market, education, demographic change, business adaptation);
- Public–private partnerships and SME support in the digital transition;
- Sustainable local economic development enabled by digitalization;
- Contributions aligned with Horizon Europe and Digital Europe priorities on digital inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable governance.
This Special Issue aims to connect international research with practical needs, offering insights that can strengthen inclusive, transparent, and sustainable digital public services.
Dr. Cristina Lincaru
Dr. Camelia Speranța Pîrciog
Prof. Dr. Adriana Grigorescu
Prof. Dr. Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- digital transformation
- public governance
- regional development
- digital inclusion
- sustainable management
- public services
- local sustainability
- data-driven governance
- policy-relevant evidence
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