Across Europe, cities are pioneering efforts to build smarter, inclusive, and environmentally responsible urban landscapes. To support local and regional authorities in building advanced digital capabilities, the Local and Regional Digital Indicators framework (LORDI) recently introduced LORDIMAS—a digital maturity assessment tool developed in collaboration with Living-in.EU.

LORDIMAS empowers local governments across Europe to evaluate their digital progress, promote open data sharing, and advance efficient governance.

Espoo, Ghent, Helsinki, and Rivas Vaciamadrid have each engaged with LORDIMAS to refine their digital journeys. Their experiences illustrate the tool’s practical impact in aligning local digital agendas with broader European goals, enhancing citizen services, and fostering innovative governance.

Espoo is building a resilient, inclusive, digital future

In Espoo, Finland's second-largest city, digitalisation isn’t just a tool, it’s a key part of the city’s identity and mission. Guided by the “Espoo Story,” a long-term strategy, Espoo prioritises knowledge-based leadership, citizen-centric services, and sustainability. “We’re constantly working to integrate digital tools that support our growing, diverse population,” says Piia Wollsten, Director of Digital Services Development.

Espoo’s digital transformation focuses on inclusive platforms, ensuring that all residents, including those who speak foreign languages, have access to public services. “Our digital platforms allow residents to engage with wellbeing services, education, and city planning in one place, making it easier for them to access the information they need,” Wollsten explained. Espoo’s participation in the LORDIMAS survey has provided valuable feedback, helping the city benchmark its efforts against other municipalities. “LORDIMAS enables us to see how we’re doing relative to other cities and encourages us to continuously improve,” she added.

Ghent: a collaborative approach to digital transformation

In Ghent, Belgium, collaboration is the driving force behind the city’s digital strategy. With initiatives led by District 09 and the Data and Information Service, Ghent has positioned itself as a hub for data-sharing and digital innovation. “Our digital journey is deeply rooted in collaboration, both within city departments and with external partners,” shares a representative from the City of Ghent. Through LORDIMAS, Ghent benchmarks its efforts in areas like open data and digital inclusion.

Ghent’s strong network connections extend beyond its borders, partnering with cities like Helsinki on projects such as SPACE4Cities, which leverages satellite data for urban planning. “These international collaborations allow us to learn and grow in ways that wouldn’t be possible on our own,” Thoeye remarks. Despite challenges, such as balancing political priorities with long-term ICT goals, Ghent remains committed to fostering an open data culture, which is central to the city’s vision for digital maturity.

Helsinki is putting citizens first in digital service design

Helsinki’s approach to digital transformation is defined by its commitment to co-creation and transparency. “Service design at Helsinki starts with understanding citizen needs,” explains senior data architect from the city. Helsinki’s service design achieved a perfect score in LORDIMAS, reflecting the city’s structured approach to creating citizen-focused services. The city involves citizens directly in the design process, from elderly-friendly devices to inclusive digital solutions. “Our digital customer experience playbook guides each step of service development, ensuring citizens are at the center of everything we do,” Leivo emphasises.

Helsinki’s data management and interoperability frameworks further reinforce this citsn-centric approach, with clear guidelines that uphold privacy and transparency. The city’s LORDIMAS results help Helsinki fine-tune its efforts, allowing it to benchmark its impressive digital achievements while addressing remaining challenges, like enhancing data interoperability.

Pioneering smart governance and green transition in Rivas

In Rivas Vaciamadrid, digitalisation aligns with the city’s goals for a green transition and citizen engagement. Carlos Ventura Quilón, Coordinator of the Department of Economics and Organisation, explains how Rivas uses digital tools to enhance both safety and sustainability. “Every aspect of our governance—from advanced analytics to smart lighting—is designed to create a more sustainable, safe environment for our residents.”

A highlight of Rivas’s journey is its implementation of the Catalina chatbot, which provides easy access to city services for all citizens. Rivas’s use of LORDIMAS helps the city refine its approach to digital governance, highlighting areas where it excels and areas for growth. “Our goal is to be completely sustainable and digitally sovereign. LORDIMAS helps us measure our progress and ensures we stay on track,” Quilón explained. With additional plans to expand digital safety and green infrastructure, Rivas is well on its way to meeting ambitious ecological targets.

Measuring digital maturity and planning for the future

Espoo, Ghent, Helsinki, and Rivas’ experiences with LORDIMAS highlight its practical benefits for cities. Through structured assessments, LORDIMAS provides regions and municipalities with a clear understanding of their digital maturity, helping them to pinpoint strengths and areas needing improvement.

The interactive tool organised into seven sections guided by 29 digital indicators, enabling local authorities to assess and benchmark their digital maturity across key areas. Unlike static assessments, LORDIMAS is dynamic, allowing governments to update their data as their digital landscape evolves. This flexibility makes it possible for cities to focus on specific digital objectives, tailoring their strategies to align with targeted goals in smart city and data strategy.

The tool’s benchmarking capabilities allow cities to compare progress with peers, fostering a collaborative environment where best practices and innovative solutions are shared. LORDIMAS also supports cities in aligning digital strategies with local priorities, from citizen-centred service design to sustainable urban planning, ultimately empowering them to enhance governance and efficiency in line with evolving digital goals.

LORDIMAS is free of use, and can be accessed here.

This article has been written based on the interviews conducted by IMEC as part of the EU Support Services for Smart Communities, on cities' and municipalities' experiences with LORDIMAS.