In this episode, Óskar Jörgen Sandholt, Director of Service and Innovation at the City of Reykjavík, shares insights into the city’s digital transformation journey. From pioneering fibre-optic connectivity to leading innovative service design, he discusses Reykjavík’s approach to user-centric urban solutions. Óskar highlights major initiatives, including the Better City for Children project, which streamlines services for students in need, and the impact of AI-driven tools in municipal governance. He also delves into the challenges of digital transformation, the role of public-private collaboration, and Reykjavík’s award-winning smart city strategies. Tune in to discover how technology, policy, and innovation are shaping the future of Iceland’s capital.

Episode Overview:

[00:01:04] Teaser Question: “If the city of Reykjavik were an animal, which animal would it be?”

[00:02:55] Our guest’s background

[00:11:12] Establishing Reykjavík’s iTeam and collaboration with Bloomberg

[00:15:50] A Better City for Children – Improving outcomes for students in need

[00:20:49] Iceland’s Prosperity Act and integrating policy with innovation

[00:24:37] The role of Generative AI in city government and its future potential

[00:32:19] The chargeback model for financing digital transformation

[00:41:24] Winning the Seoul Smart City Gold Award – Key factors and impact

[00:44:55] Avoiding new barriers in digital transformation – Ensuring inclusivity

[00:50:00] Future challenges and missing tools for accelerating change

[00:56:05] Podcast Segment – “Roll with the Punches” (This or That questions)

[01:00:17] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

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