A smart city is an urban system that, through the integrated use of digital technologies and data, improves in a sustainable way the quality of life (social, environmental and economic) of citizens and organisations.
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When discussing smart cities in the Italian context, it is important to consider that 70% of municipalities have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and 85% have fewer than 10,000. Municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants account for 17% of the population, while those with fewer than 10,000 account for 31%.
The small size of local authorities, low employee salaries combined with increasing workloads, and limited career development prospects have driven municipal staff to leave for more attractive positions. Between 2007 and 2024, staffing levels in local authorities fell by 28.4% (IFEL - ANCI Foundation report, “The workforce of Italian municipalities”, 2026).
This is the context we must bear in mind when assessing which areas are suitable for hosting a smart city project and which administrations have the capacity to implement and manage it.
An overview of European experiences
Across Europe, several smart city initiatives (some of which are discussed below) have become recognised as best practices because they successfully combine technology, governance, modularity, citizen participation and financial sustainability.
Malmö (approximately 365,000 inhabitants), Sweden, has developed a mixed-use neighbourhood model based entirely on renewable energy, applying the smart city concept to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability; a similar approach has been adopted in Växjö (approximately 83,000 inhabitants), also in Sweden.
In Hamburg (approximately 1,910,000 inhabitants), Germany, the HafenCity project has transformed a port area into an example of sustainable construction and smart services.
The municipal administration of Aveiro (approximately 80,000 inhabitants), Portugal, has created an urban testbed for technological innovation, with solutions addressing mobility, energy and the environment.
Barcelona (approximately 1,690,000 inhabitants) has launched a smart city initiative that uses new technologies to manage urban mobility, freeing up space for pedestrians, cyclists and urban activities, with the aim of improving quality of life.
Ellinikon (approximately 50,000 inhabitants), Greece, is developing an ambitious project to regenerate a former airport, with the aim of creating a smart, sustainable and resilient district supported by infrastructure for energy, waste, integrated mobility and digitalisation.
| Smart City |
Key Focus Area |
Smart City Solution |
Key Lesson for Italian Municipalities |
| Malmö |
Renewable energy and environmental sustainability |
Development of energy-efficient districts powered by renewable energy |
Launch smart city pilot projects in clearly defined urban areas |
| Hamburg |
Urban regeneration and smart infrastructure |
Smart redevelopment of the port district through integrated urban services |
Combine urban planning, digital infrastructure and public services |
| Aveiro |
Digital innovation and urban technology |
Experimental smart city platform for testing digital solutions |
Create urban innovation labs and real-world testing environments |
| Barcelona |
Sustainable mobility and public space |
Superblocks, low-traffic areas and sustainable urban mobility solutions |
Redesign public spaces around citizens, accessibility and quality of life |
| Ellinikon |
Urban regeneration and climate resilience |
Integrated sustainable district with smart infrastructure and green spaces |
Develop long-term smart city strategies based on resilience and sustainability |
Common success factors in European best practices
The cases described above are only a few of the many European examples. More generally, analysis of European smart city best practices highlights several recurring features of the projects that have proved most effective:
How many Italian municipalities have the capacity to promote a smart city?
There is no such thing as a “perfect smart city”: each city experiments with solutions best suited to its specific context and size. Analysis of the most significant cases shows that, despite their differences, these experiences remain a valuable source of inspiration for identifying replicable models.
European experiences examined by researchers in the literature suggest that medium-sized or large administrations provide the most suitable setting for implementing a smart city initiative.
The distinctive features of the Italian context described above therefore point to the adoption of a new integrated intervention model. If smart city initiatives are to spread across the country, the model must be designed not only for large cities but also for networks of small and medium-sized municipalities coordinated at supra-municipal level (consider, for example, the benefits of interconnecting transport systems across different areas, including through the adoption of a single electronic ticket).
Only a wide-area approach (informal groupings of local authorities, Unions of Municipalities and Mountain Communities) can genuinely pave the way for a different future: connecting municipalities, overcoming the weaknesses that currently constrain them, and strengthening a smart city model that draws on the best European experiences while also reflecting the voice and needs of our own communities.
The digital citizen in a smart city
Living in a smart city requires familiarity with the tools of digital citizenship: scanning a QR code to book and hire a bicycle, using a mobile phone to reserve shared spaces such as study rooms or sports facilities, using apps to pay for parking or public transport without cash, accessing online municipal services through a digital identity, registering for cultural or sporting events via digital platforms, receiving notifications about deadlines and notices through official applications, viewing real-time transport maps and walking and cycling routes, reporting faults or service disruptions through dedicated portals, managing waste through smart, traceable collection systems, as well as participating in public consultations or participatory budgeting through e-democracy platforms.
Digital literacy and inclusion are therefore essential to building and living in smart cities responsibly. The 2026 State of the Digital Decade Report, published by the European Commission, reminds us that improving citizens’ digital skills is one of the Digital Decade’s main objectives and that only 60.4% of the European population currently has at least basic digital skills.
- the need for innovative governance involving local authorities, businesses, citizens and universities;
- the recommendation to start within clearly defined areas (neighbourhoods, districts or peripheral areas) before subsequently expanding;
- the achievement of financial sustainability, supported by European fundings and public-private partnerships;
- strong citizen engagement and digital education;
- the integration of services (traffic, energy systems and urban planning), designed as interconnected components (for example, the introduction of electric mobility must be accompanied by careful planning of charging stations);
- the city’s adaptability and resilience to climate, demographic and technological change;
- continuous project monitoring using clear indicators.
