**3. Materials and Methods**

Our case study is the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI), established in June 2012. As mentioned in their mission statement, the network aimed to become "an association of local territories whose entities are representative of the territory and lead innovation systems in their

own field by promoting their own local network of agents related to research and innovation" [34]. Even though the network was formally promoted by different city council members and currently includes more than 70 cities, it was initially funded by a private foundation (FUNDETEC) sponsored by big national and international firms with a strong presence in Spain, such as INDRA, Hewlett-Packard or Telefónica. Later, in 2015, this foundation was dissolved and the RECI network assumed part of its infrastructure and goals. According to the RECI manifesto, Smart cities are those with "innovation and networking" systems aimed at improving "economic and political efficiency allowing social, cultural and urban development" [34]. From this perspective, the RECI aims to foster a dynamic of cooperation between cities and firms leading to the consolidation of a "Spanish network of smart cities". This policy should promote the automatic and efficient management of urban infrastructure and services, as well as the reduction of public expenditure and the improvement of the quality of services, thus attracting economic activity and generating progress [34]. A key instrument in achieving these goals is "economic growth" by fostering public-private cooperation among cities and creative and technological industries [34].

Many cities have embraced this paradigm as a key strategy that affects different policy areas at the urban level, and the European Union has incorporated the concept in a variety of publicly funded programs for public administrations, research institutions and private companies. Spain's Smart City policy is a good example of a national policy that follows EU's guidelines and other quality standards in the industry (such as the Spanish Agency for Normalization, AENOR), aimed at promoting sustainable growth by fostering the participation of local councils.
