What Role for Citizens? Evolving Engagement in Quadruple Helix Smart District Initiatives

Globally, smart city initiatives are becoming increasingly ubiquitous elements of complex, sociotechnical urban systems. While there is general agreement that cities cannot be without citizen involvement, the motivations, means, and mechanisms for engaging citizens remain contested. In response, this article asks what role in two recently established districts within wider Smart Dublin programme: Sandyford, a business district, Balbriggan, town north with Ireland’s most ethnically diverse youthful population. Using multiple methods (online in-person interviews, site visits, focus group, participant observation), specifically examines how “quadruple helix,” popular concept innovation studies one adopted promotional materials by Dublin’s emerging districts, used key actors as an overarching framing device activities. It finds that, to date, quadruple helix being applied simplistically uncritically, attention pre-existing persistent patterns uneven power influence between different involved. As such it risks inhibiting rather than supporting meaningful engagement sustainable places both articulate driver their