Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has prepared the smart city plan for all of Istanbul’s residents by effectively using data and technology-based approaches, information-age innovations, and design principles of quiet living spaces.

This study summarizes the process of creating the Istanbul Smart City Strategic Plan (2021 – 2030), explains the methods followed while creating the project management principles, and presents the findings obtained during the project. It also includes the smart city strategies, strategic goals and initiatives. The plan has been prepared as a document where you can find all of the Istanbul smart city projects. The Istanbul smart City Strategic Plan is the first of its kind prepared at the local government level in Turkey, and is compatible with the Turkish National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan.

The Smart City Strategic Plan, managed by the Smart City Branch Directorate within the IMM Department of Information Technologies, has been revised to respond to climate change and global COVID-19-related changes. These revisions have been made within the framework of the new vision defined by the new administration for Istanbul after the 31 March 2019 Local Elections, and has been published in December 2021.

During the Current Situation Analysis, the current situation of Istanbul, the competencies of the stakeholders, the technology infrastructure and ongoing projects were examined and progress was made on the smart city journey.

A visio statement, main strategies, thematic area strategies, initiatives and nearly 180 project plans that will uplift Istanbul in all areas concerning smart cities have been put forward. These will enable the city reach its 2030 targets. The aforementioned smart city vision and strategies have been determined with clear governance principles, in line with the basic vision of the new administration for Istanbul, "A fair, green and creative city, happy Istanbulites" established after the March 2019 Local Government Elections.

Nearly 180 project plans, which were determined with regards to IMM’s municipal strategies, are clear and understandable, born out of real needs, and achievable through the harmonious cooperation of stakeholders. These plans also take into account developing global trends, are open to sustainable development and can add "smart" elements to other projects. 

With the Road Map, the last stage of the Istanbul Smart City project, on which we planned the Smart City Journey of the city, all the data from the previous phases were combined, and the priorities, resource requirements, governance principles, communication plans and performance indicators of the projects aiming gradually for 2023, 2025 and 2030 were clarified. The realization of the project has brought together many different fields of expertise within the IMM.