Evaluating smart city strategies: insights from Bologna and Zurich

Smart cities have emerged as innovative solutions to address the challenges of modern society, leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to enhance urban management and the quality of life for citizens. According to the United Nations, around 55% of the world's population currently lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to increase to 70% by the year 2050. Despite the growing interest in smart cities, there is a lack of comparative studies that analyze in detail the strategies adopted by different cities and their tangible impacts. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing and comparing the smart city strategies implemented by Bologna, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland, to identify best practices and areas for improvement. The research employs a comparative case study approach, examining Bologna and Zurich through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected from official reports, academic literature, and interviews with officials and stakeholders. The findings highlight the importance of integrating ICT, environmental sustainability, and active citizen participation for the success of smart cities. Additionally, the results are summarized according to the six key dimensions of Smart Cities: Smart Economy, Smart People, Smart Governance, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, and Smart Living.