WELCOME TO THE FELLOW CITY

Poznan, Poland

The City of Poznań aims to better understand and respond to citizens’ concerns through the GreenDEMO project. To do so, the city is developing a digital sentiment analysis tool that gathers and interprets data from multiple sources. The goal is to identify what issues worry residents most and what the city administration should address or communicate more effectively - such as infrastructure projects that cause short-term disruption. By “listening better” to the voices of Poznań’s citizens, the city hopes to strengthen trust, improve communication, and guide its actions toward more responsive and inclusive urban governance. Ultimately, this approach reinforces democratic participation by making citizen feedback a meaningful part of how decisions are made.

City Identity and Vision

Poznań is a forward-thinking city guided by the belief that a truly modern urban future must be built around people. Inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals - especially Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable - Poznań envisions itself as a human-centered smart city. While technology plays a role, the city firmly rejects the idea of urban life as a mechanical system to be optimized. Instead, it sees the city as a living, social space shaped by its diverse residents: the young and the old, long-time citizens and newcomers, students, entrepreneurs, workers, and dreamers. The Smart City Poznań Model is rooted in their needs and aspirations, aiming to create a city that is safe, welcoming, innovative, and responsive—a city that works for everyone. GreenDEMO offers an opportunity to deepen this vision by embedding citizen voices more directly into decision-making and ensuring that democratic participation shapes Poznań’s sustainable future.

Challenges and Needs

Poznań faces several key challenges in advancing a just and sustainable urban transition. A central issue is effective communication - ensuring that residents not only receive accurate information about municipal actions, but also understand and support the broader vision guiding the city’s development. It is often difficult to convey complex policy goals or the long-term benefits of disruptive projects, such as infrastructure works that cause temporary inconvenience. Another challenge is building stronger feedback mechanisms that allow for meaningful citizen input and enable the city to adjust its course when necessary. Poznań also seeks to enhance the reputation of its city administration as a trustworthy, citizen-oriented institution. Strengthening the city’s profile both nationally and internationally is part of this effort, as Poznań aims to be seen as a model of inclusive and responsive urban governance.

Strategic Actions and GreenDEMO's Role

Through GreenDEMO, Poznań is launching a pioneering initiative to build and test a sentiment analysis tool capable of capturing residents’ concerns, emotions, and expectations based on diverse data sources. This effort involves close collaboration with the academic sector to ensure methodological rigor and technological innovation. As part of the process, the city will analyze and map the data it already holds—from official feedback channels to less formal expressions of public opinion - to better understand how citizens perceive current policies and projects. The tool will serve both as a diagnostic instrument and as a means to improve communication strategies, strengthen trust, and support adaptive policymaking. Ultimately, GreenDEMO in Poznań aims to bridge the gap between institutional action and everyday citizen experience - turning passive data into active democratic participation.

SAY HELLO TO THE OTHER

DEMO CITIES & FELLOW CITIES