The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a coalition of stakeholders from the City of Dallas, corporations, Civic and NGO organizations, academia and private individuals who are invested in Dallas’ continued evolution as a forward‐thinking, innovative, ‘smart’ city - namely, how do find innovative ways to solve our most challenging issues? The DIA’s operating definition is that a smart city is one that lives at the intersection of data, technology, and community to improve quality of life, resource efficiency, and inclusive economic development. Operating from a foundational vision that smart cities are about people and not just technology, DIA is focused on building a critical mass of the most highly-engaged citizens in the country.
Our History
A coordinated and engaged community is a key component of creating a smart and inclusive city. This core principle led to the launch of the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) on September 15, 2015 as part of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s smart cities program announcement. The DIA’s mission is to support priorities identified through the City of Dallas’ Smart Cities Roadmap and deep community engagement at the neighborhood level. To provide this support, DIA serves as an partner by identifying and implementing innovative projects that fit community priorities at a community level.
Today the DIA, with key leadership support at the City of Dallas, encompasses a network of three dozen partners across the public, private, civic, and academic sectors and over 20 city departments. In short, the DIA took a best minds approach in order to align on projects and objectives for its first program, the “Smart Cities Living Lab” in the West End Historic District in Downtown Dallas.
The Living Lab launched in March 2017 and is the fastest to-market smart cities initiative in the country, moving from ideation to implementation in under 12 months. This work was done with key input and direction from the City of Dallas, DIA partners, network of experts from dozens of cities around the world, and most importantly, the residents of Dallas. This accomplishment supports the theory that an independent organization working across sectors to support the vision of the city would allow for rapid testing to identify high-value projects for consideration of larger deployment.
Since 2018, our work has focused on issues of equity, primarily in South, Southern and West Dallas. These challenges include the digital divide, transportation and public safety. Please see our Digital Equity page for current programs.
Our Vision
Our course of action is to develop a multi-phased approach that leverages our distinctive strengths for the benefit of Dallas that also leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. Understanding that there is not a ‘one sized fits all’ solution, looking at customized projects for distinctive parts of the city is critical to serving all residents. Our vision is for Dallas to be a city that is not only prepared for – but a driving force in shaping – the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its residents. Today the DIA, with key leadership support at the City of Dallas, encompasses a network of three dozen partners across the public, private, civic, and academic sectors and over 20 city departments. In short, the DIA has taken a best minds approach in order to align on projects and objectives for its Phase I “Smart Cities Living Lab” in the West End Historic District in Downtown Dallas. To read the case study on the results and learnings from the Living Lab, you can access the document here.
“The best way to plan for downtown is to see how people use it today; to look for its strengths and to exploit and reinforce them. There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.”