Stakeholder collaboration and open innovation in smart cities: A Quattro Helix model for technological and social transformation

The dynamic development of Smart Cities, rooted in the idea of sustainable development, requires the implementation of innovative and integrated technological and social solutions. One approach that enables more effective achievement of these goals is the concept of Open Innovation, based on collaboration among various stakeholder groups. This article addresses the issue of integrating this concept with the Smart City idea and presents an original cooperation model within the Quattro Helix framework, encompassing public administration, academia, the business sector, and civil society. Based on literature analysis and case studies (Amsterdam, Helsinki, Songdo), a conceptual model of stakeholder collaboration has been developed for the co-creation and implementation of solutions that respond to the needs of cities and their residents. The paper also presents a set of original key performance indicators (KPIs) that allow for assessing the effectiveness of Open Innovation implementation in urban practice. To increase the practical usefulness of the model, the article provides a set of implementation guidelines outlining the stages of execution—from diagnosing local needs, through piloting and testing solutions, to scaling and integrating them into urban policies. The proposed approach allows for flexible adaptation of actions to the local context and the real capabilities of cities. The study is supplemented with a SWOT analysis conducted from two key perspectives: technological and social. This analysis made it possible to identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as potential opportunities and threats related to the implementation of Open Innovation in urban environments. The article also considers challenges associated with stakeholder diversity, the need for coordinated actions, regulatory barriers, and social and digital inequalities. The developed cooperation model within the framework of Open Innovation is universal and can be implemented either partially or fully, as part of Smart City development strategies tailored to the needs of modern societies.