The German government has published a plan to help cities and communities across the country adopt smart city technologies.

The “Smart Cities and Regions” plan is a step-by-step guide and framework for cities to implement technologies that are proven and easier to adopt.

A number of federal ministries have worked on the framework, led by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building.

The step-by-step framework contrasts with the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s Smart Cities Model Projects programme, which comprises around 20 pilot sites of advanced smart city technologies throughout the country.

The plan includes the establishment of a competence centre and a marketplace for smart city applications.

The marketplace will offer digital solutions that are easier and faster to procure. This is a key requirement of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) who have been involved in the drafting of the step-by-step plan in the working groups and on the advisory board.

The marketplace will initially build on the existing digital marketplace “Huhu Land”, now “Deutschland Digital”, and be further developed.

The plan now goes forward for adoption by the German Digital Ministers’ Conference. Funding for the plan must also be agreed by the German federal and state governments.

The “Step-by-Step Plan for Smart Cities and Regions” and associated statement can be found on the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building downloads site.