smart-cities

Mapping Smart Cities in the EU
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Aims and objectives of the study
This report was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy
Committee, to provide background information and advice to their members on Smart
Cities in the EU and to explain how existing mechanisms perform, in particular vis-à-vis the
targets of EU 2020
1.2. Methodology
We have taken a conventional approach to the study with a strong emphasis on desk
research. We followed this with in-depth analysis to provide an actual, accurate and
objective picture of current patterns and trends, and an understanding of the factors
contributing to the success of Smart City initiatives that are at the basis of a Smart city.
Smart city initiatives are a subset of actions that contribute to the definition of a Smart City
(see Chapter 2). Based on these insights, we identify examples of good practice and
formulate recommendations for future interventions that could influence developments in
Smart Cities and their contribution to the objectives of Europe 2020.
Initially, we considered the 468 cities in the EU-28 with 100,000+ residents. Data on these
cities were obtained from the UN Demographic Yearbook 2009–2010. 3 Each of the cities
was examined using online sources of information (such as local government and Smart
City project websites) cited in the relevant literature. 4 Through this process, we assessed
the level of Smart City activity present in each selected city.
On the basis of this initial analysis, we identified 240 cities in the EU-28 with significant and
verifiable Smart City activity. These cities are mapped in Chapter 3. From this group, we
took a sample of 50 Smart City initiatives across 37 cities. Within this sample, we analysed
the stakeholders, funding and scalability of the initiatives (see Chapter 4). To explore the
relationship between Smart Cities and Europe 2020, we collected relevant evidence into a
structured dashboard but restricted the sample of cities used in the dashboard to 20
because of current data limitations (see Annex 10). We then conducted a quantitative
analysis of the alignment between the Smart City initiatives in the sample of 20 Cities and
Europe 2020 targets (see Chapter 5). The analysis itself is based on the alignment between
the objectives and characteristics of each city’s portfolio of projects, and the relevant
Europe 2020 objectives. This analysis takes into account the differential importance of the
various targets (actual vs. desired outcomes). The implications for assessing the
motivations and interests of key stakeholders are also recognised. Finally we focus on a
range of innovative deployment strategies in the top six performing Smart Cities in order to
identify cross-cutting themes and potentially replicable Smart City solutions (see Chapter 6).
Figure 1 illustrates how the sample of cities evolves across the chapters of the report.
3
4
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2009-2010.htm.
For a detailed discussion of these resources please refer to Section 3.1.
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