Smart city performance of the EU15 capitals, a comparative study

Dóra Szendi

doi:10.32976/stratfuz.2026.21

Authors

Dóra Szendi University of Miskolc

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32976/stratfuz.2026.21

Keywords:

smart city, EU15 capitals, measurement, performance

Abstract

The urban population is growing steadily today, and smart cities are playing an increasingly important role across all continents. More international organizations and institutions are supporting the development of smart cities, and an increasing number of recommendations are being made for measuring their effectiveness. This study examines the capitals of the EU15 region in terms of their smart performance and ranks them accordingly. The assessment is conducted using a comprehensive smart city index, in line with the recommendations and pillars outlined in the international literature. The index evaluates the cities’ performance across six components and identifies differences among them. The results suggest that there are disparities in urban indicators even within the region; like the European average, northern-southern and western-eastern differences can be observed. The Northern and Western cities perform consistently well across multiple components, while Southern cities lag due to economic and governance challenges.

Author Biography

Dóra Szendi, University of Miskolc

PhD, associate professor with habilitation, University of Miskolc, Institute of World and Regional Economics

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