Approaches to the Definition of “Smart Territories” as Guidelines for the Strategic Development of Municipalities

The subject of the study is “smart territories” as elements of a spatial ecosystem. The purpose of the work is to study “smart territories” as guidelines for the strategic development of municipalities, identify related problems and develop appropriate proposals for improvement. Based on the analysis of the works of Russian and foreign scientists on the definition of a “smart territory”, it is proved that it is an autonomous spatial ecosystem that exists in a single communication space with spatial ecosystems of other levels and can act as a recipient and donor of a “smart good” at the same time. It is concluded that the “smart” territory (“smart municipality”) — this is a public space, which is an administrative-territorial entity, which is managed (at the appropriate level) through information and communication and “end-to-end” technologies, and information systems (public and non-public platforms) operating on their basis, with the participation of entities (external and internal) included in the “smart network”, targeted interaction which are aimed at improving the quality of life of the population, business conditions in order to maintain balance, as well as accumulation, in the future, the useful use and reproduction of human, social, entrepreneurial, infrastructural. In addition, depending on the degree of involvement of smart solutions (technologies) in the system of public and public administration of the “smart territory”, as well as the overall functioning of its institutions and non-institutional entities, it is possible to determine the level of its “intelligence” (its evolution: “Smart Cities 1.0”, “Smart Cities 2.0”). The obtained research results make it possible to adapt new approaches to “smart territories” as possible reference points for the strategic development of municipalities.