Innovation procurement as key to cross-border ITS pilots

Abstract

Cities are criticised to be slow and rigid in adapting novel ICT-solutions. In the field of smart mobility, this can be even more complex as transport often concerns multiple regions, thus calling for more adaptive and collaboration-based models. This paper discusses how cross-border cities can initiate joint intelligent transport system (ITS) pilots via innovation procurement process. Theoretically, new public management (NPM) concept is being challenged by public value (PV) in delivering cross-border, open and experimental mobility trials. Empirically, PV and NPM models are tested via recent empirical evidence of joint ITS pilots in the cities of Helsinki, Tallinn and Vantaa as part of the finest smart mobility project.