On the aconium GmbH Future Journey, we meet people for whom digitalization is more than just a buzzword. 3 questions for … Lars Prahler, Mayor of Smart City Grevesmühlen.
Mr Prahler, what do you see as the greatest social challenges in connection with digitalization?
Lars Prahler: We are undergoing an all-encompassing and unstoppable transformation process, with development processes becoming ever faster and more complex. This is accompanied by an emotional and widespread fundamental scepticism among the population. This needs to be taken seriously. Therefore, both strategies and simple building blocks should be better explained in order to turn scepticism into openness, to deal with digitalization from a socio-political perspective and not just let it happen.
Why are the topics of “digitalization” and “gigabit expansion” important for Grevesmühlen?
Prahler: Our basic conviction is that the city is increasingly being assessed as a location in terms of its level of digitalization and specific digital applications. Grevesmühlen is judged on the condition of its roads, but also on whether its broadband and wireless network are sufficient. And schools not only have to be clean and large enough, but are also assessed according to how digitally equipped they are. And just as in the analog world, the overall impression is decisive. The city must therefore follow an overall strategy for digitalization and set priorities.
Which areas are already digital – and where are you still planning digitalization?
Prahler: The aim is to optimally serve all needs and all population groups. This shapes the necessary architecture of the digitalization process. And it has to be said that nothing can ever be finished, because the processes are highly dynamic. The architecture is such that we have created structures that can support this process on an ongoing basis: for example, Digitale Stadt Grevesmühlen GmbH, the Digital City Working Group or the Digitalization Officer. The current fields of action have been identified: retail, healthy city, tourism and mobility. Individual applications are already available at www.grevesmuehlen-erleben.de (e.g. delivery service, care finder, interactive map) and are constantly being added to.