The rapid expansion of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies has intensified the expectation that artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and automation can accelerate the process of achieving the United Naitons Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in developing nations. Whether these technologies live up to their expectation, however, depends not only on technological capability but also on the legal, regulatory, and institutional environment in which they operate. However, the governance of 4IR technologies has gained far less scholarly attention than their technological potential. The present study examines how legal frameworks, policy instruments, and governance arrangements influence the contribution of 4IR technologies to sustainable development in developing countries. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, literature published between 2015 and 2025 was identified through searches of Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Pub Med, and arXiv. From 721 retrieved records, 50 peer reviewed studies met the eligibility criteria and were synthesised using a narrative approach. The analysis reveals three consistent patterns. First, legal authority is fragmented within and across jurisdictions. Second, policy commitments frequently outstrip implementation capacity, a performativity in which governments announce SDG ambitions without building the institutional means to deliver them. Third, governance is constrained by limited expertise, weak enforcement, and poor coordination between agencies. The review also identifies three important gaps in the literature: a predominant focus on artificial intelligence at the expense of other technologies, limited empirical testing of the links between fourth industrial revolution technologies and SDG outcomes, and minimal attention to how rules are enforced in practice. These finding suggest that the prime difficulty of harnessing 4IR technologies for sustainable development in developing nations are institutional rather than technological. Therefore, it is not only about advancing technological innovation but also strengthening regulatory coherence, governance capacity, and the effective implementation of legal frameworks to achieve SDGs in developing countries.
Rapid urbanization is increasing pressure on infrastructure, natural resources, social well-being, and institutional capacity, while climate change, demographic shifts, migration, technological disruption, and geopolitical instability are further complicating paths to sustainable urban development. This study develops a conceptual, SDG-aligned framework to examine the interactions between six major global megatrends and their associated sub-trends, with a particular emphasis on their cascading effects, interdependencies, and impact on urban resilience. Drawing on existing scholarly and policy literature, this study synthesizes case-based evidence from diverse urban contexts to demonstrate how global trends translate into locally distinct sustainability challenges. Within this framework, the study proposes an Extended Composite Sustainability Index (ECSI) that conceptually integrates six interconnected dimensions namely urbanization, demographic shift, climate change, technological transformation, spatial change, and geopolitical instability to provide a multidimensional framework for assessing sustainable urban development. This framework conceptualizes resilience and SDG progress as outcomes of interactions between these dimensions, rather than as independent variables. The proposed ECSI and its associated formulations are presented as conceptual constructs. The analysis shows that technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, can contribute to resource efficiency, safety, and inclusive urban development, but without proper governance and institutional safeguards, they can also reinforce privileged and digital inequalities. Overall, this study highlights the need for an integrated assessment approach that simultaneously evaluates sustainability dimensions, while also providing a conceptual basis for future empirical calibration, sensitivity testing, and validation using real-world urban datasets.
The rapid growth of urbanization in India has significantly increased the demand for efficient urban infrastructure, intelligent public services, and sustainable resource management. Cities are facing numerous challenges, including traffic congestion, rising energy consumption, water scarcity, environmental pollution, inefficient waste management, and increasing pressure on healthcare and public safety systems. Conventional urban management techniques are often inadequate for handling these complex and interconnected challenges because they rely heavily on manual monitoring and reactive decision-making. The Internet of Things (IoT), combined with smart electronic systems, has emerged as a transformative technology capable of addressing these issues by enabling real-time monitoring, automation, and intelligent decision-making. IoT-based smart electronics integrate sensors, embedded processors, wireless communication technologies, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to create interconnected systems that continuously collect, process, and exchange information. These technologies enable city administrators to monitor infrastructure, optimize resource utilization, improve service delivery, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. In India, the Smart Cities Mission has accelerated the adoption of IoT-enabled technologies across various sectors, including transportation, energy management, water distribution, environmental monitoring, healthcare, public safety, and digital governance. Smart electronics have enabled intelligent traffic control systems, smart street lighting, smart electricity meters, connected surveillance systems, and automated waste management solutions, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Despite significant progress, several challenges remain, including cybersecurity threats, interoperability issues, data privacy concerns, high deployment costs, and the need for standardized communication protocols. This paper presents a comprehensive discussion on the role of IoT-based smart electronics in building smart cities in India. It examines the technological architecture, key applications, implementation challenges, and future opportunities associated with IoT-driven urban development. The paper concludes that the integration of IoT with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge computing, fifth-generation (5G) communication, blockchain, and digital twin technologies will play a crucial role in achieving sustainable, resilient, and citizen-centric smart cities in India.
Jaume Martin Bosch, Marco Combetto, Luca Tangi, A. Paula Rodriguez Müller
Introduction Blockchain technology (BCT) has been widely discussed as a potentially valuable technology for advancing sustainable development in the public sector. Its core features, including transparency, immutability and decentralisation, may contribute to more accountable, efficient and inclusive public services. However, limited empirical evidence exists on how BCT-based public sector initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methods This study examines 306 public sector BCT-based use cases across the EU, compiled by the Public Sector Tech Watch observatory. We apply a GPT-4o-based AI text classification pipeline to assess the degree of alignment between project descriptions and the 17 SDGs. The pipeline combines refined SDG descriptors, structured prompting and documented model parameters. Its outputs are benchmarked against a human-coded subset to assess validity. Results The results show strong alignment with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), followed by more moderate alignment with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). By contrast, goals such as SDG 2, SDG 6 and SDG 14 remain weakly represented. These findings provide an empirical overview of how BCT applications in EU public administrations are framed in relation to the SDGs. Discussion By highlighting patterns of alignment between BCT adoption and the SDGs, this study offers evidence to inform policymakers, practitioners and future research on sustainability-oriented public sector innovation. It also demonstrates the value of AI-assisted classification for mapping large corpora of digital government initiatives, while recognising that the results capture stated or perceived alignment rather than verified sustainability impacts.
Omar Al-Jamili, Abdulaziz Fahmi Omar Faqera, Mohd Adan Omar, Shehu M. Sarkintudu · 8 authors
Open Government Data (OGD) has become central to digital transformation and data-driven governance, yet scholarly understanding of how OGD initiatives progress from initial adoption to sustained institutionalization remains fragmented. This study aims to synthesize the existing literature and develop an integrative framework that explains the socio-technical mechanisms underpinning the long-term sustainability and value creation of OGD initiatives. The study integrates bibliometric analysis with a systematic literature review of 481 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 31 December 2024. Quantitative science-mapping techniques are combined with qualitative thematic synthesis to capture the intellectual structure, technological evolution, and theoretical foundations of OGD research. The findings reveal rapid growth and thematic diversification in OGD scholarship, with increasing attention to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. However, the literature remains theoretically fragmented across behavioral, institutional, and public-value perspectives. Two critical gaps are identified: insufficient theorization of institutional legitimacy as a driver of continuity, and limited exploration of user-centric governance mechanisms shaping sustained data reuse. To address these gaps, the study proposes the Socio-Technical Institutionalization Model (STIM), which conceptualizes OGD sustainability as the dynamic alignment of technological infrastructures, institutional arrangements, and user ecosystems. By combining quantitative science mapping with systematic thematic synthesis and proposing the STIM lifecycle framework, this study offers an integrative synthesis that extends prior OGD reviews. The framework bridges fragmented theoretical perspectives and explains how open data initiatives may evolve from adoption to institutionalized value creation within complex digital governance ecosystems.
This record contains the presentation materials prepared for the Data for Policy July Fireside Chat, “Digital Infrastructures of Democracy,” delivered online on 20 July 2026 by Professor Igor Calzada and chaired by Professor Marta Poblet. The talk presents Calzada’s action-research programme on digital citizenship and the democratic governance of digital infrastructures. Building upon the Oxford Research Encyclopedia article Digital Infrastructures of Democracy, it conceptualises democracy as being increasingly mediated by three interconnected infrastructural layers: material infrastructure, data infrastructure and algorithmic infrastructure. These layers are not politically neutral; their ownership, design and governance shape participation, rights, public accountability and the distribution of power. The presentation connects this conceptual framework with research on AI economics, Web3 decentralisation, the Digital Metropolis, EcoTechnoPolitics, territorial digital inclusion, data cooperatives and anticipatory AI governance. Particular attention is devoted to evidence from the Basque Country and Gipuzkoa, including the emerging supercomputing and quantum ecosystem associated with IBM Quantum System Two. The Basque Country is examined not as a model to be replicated mechanically, but as a city-regional laboratory whose lessons can support context-sensitive institutional learning elsewhere. The central argument is that democratic resilience requires the alignment of technical design, institutional reform and civic agency. Advanced computational capacity becomes a democratic public capability only when institutions can govern technological dependencies, territorialise benefits, ensure accountability, respect ecological limits and preserve meaningful opportunities for public participation and contestation.
Introduction: The integration of blockchain technology with Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart city deployments presents significant technical challenges, particularly regarding consensus mechanism design. Traditional blockchain consensus protocols such as Proof of Work (PoW) and standard Proof of Stake (PoS) impose computational, energy, and latency requirements that exceed the capabilities of resource-constrained IoT devices, motivating the development of lightweight alternatives. Materials and methods: This paper examines lightweight consensus mechanisms specifically designed for edge-optimised blockchain deployments, evaluates hybrid on-chain/off-chain architectural patterns, and presents a comparative analysis of emerging solutions. We propose four research hypotheses (H1–H4) regarding hierarchical consensus performance and validate them through extensive discrete-event simulation across five smart city domains, using a 500-node testbed calibrated to representative urban workloads. A novel Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)-based process model formalises the three-tier consensus workflow, and security analysis quantifies Byzantine fault tolerance guarantees. Results: The proposed three-tier framework achieves a 94.7% ± 2.3% reduction in on-chain transactions while maintaining cryptographic auditability, with consensus latency under 500 ms for district-level operations (p < 0.001 vs. single-tier baseline). District-level throughput reaches 1247 ± 89 transactions per second (TPS), representing an 8.0× improvement over city-wide consensus, with energy consumption per transaction at the edge tier 95% lower than single-tier implementations. The simulation of 10,000 Byzantine attack attempts yielded a 99.97% detection rate. All improvements are statistically significant (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d > 0.8). Conclusions: Hierarchical consensus architectures, combined with selective off-chain processing, offer the most promising pathway towards scalable, secure blockchain–IoT integration in smart city contexts. Through an examination of five practical smart city use cases, we demonstrate that tailored consensus approaches can achieve the security guarantees necessary for critical urban infrastructure while respecting the computational limitations of deployed sensor networks. Remaining challenges in dynamic validator management, cross-chain interoperability, quantum resistance, and regulatory compliance are identified as priorities for future work.
India’s aspiration to emerge as a developed nation by 2047 under the vision of Viksit Bharat necessitates the identification and scaling of localized innovations. Odisha, characterized by its socio-cultural diversity and rapid technological transition, presents a compelling case as a living laboratory for future-ready developmental models. This study positions Odisha at the intersection of three transformative domains: algorithmic welfare systems, governance challenges arising from silent urbanization, and the digitization of cultural heritage through Web3 technologies such as NFTs. By integrating quantitative modeling, qualitative fieldwork, and policy analysis, the study proposes a framework for culturally rooted, inclusive, and decentralized development. The findings suggest that Odisha’s experiments in adaptive welfare delivery, the recognition of hybrid urban spaces, and digital cultural economies not only address local challenges but also offer scalable insights for national policy. The state thus emerges as a microcosm of a technologically empowered, socially equitable, and culturally vibrant Viksit Bharat.
Efficient administration of small estates in Malaysia is characterized by the complications of the hybrid processes between manual and digital administration, and fragmentation of jurisdiction. This paper examines the operational bottlenecks in the existing system of estate distribution coordinated by the Department of Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG) as being the challenges of manual verification, absence of integration of the agencies across states, and security of documents as the major impediments to effective governance. In order to overcome these issues, the paper will offer the Integrated Estate Governance Framework (IEGF) an architectural improvisation based on the Small Estates (Distribution) Act 1955. The framework emerged as a result of adopting a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to the development of the study through the qualitative knowledge of senior officers in the JKPTG in a variety of states. The IEGF integrates a Consortium Blockchain with an AI Engine (to support decisions), Smart Contracts (to automate workflows) and Decentralized Identifiers (DID) with ECDSA (to perform secure authentication). The architecture is designed to be privacy and storage efficient by using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). Findings show that the IEGF allows the jurisdiction-independent application process and automatic title endorsement through the e-Tanah integration. The paper has come up with the conclusion that a combination of these technologies offers a scalable, transparent, and robust solution to modernize the national land administration.
Abstract (Recent Book Presentation – AAG2026, San Francisco, California) This presentation introduces the recent book Datafied Democracies & AI Economics Unplugged , which critically examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping democracy, sovereignty, and economic systems through data infrastructures. Moving beyond techno-centric accounts, the book situates AI within political economy and innovation systems theory to interrogate how platform capitalism and data-driven governance are transforming contemporary societies into “datafied democracies.” The book develops a twofold analytical framework. First, it explores smart cities as key sites of technopolitical transformation, where AI infrastructures consolidate power in “data-opolies,” raising fundamental questions about democratic accountability and representation. While policy initiatives around “trustworthy AI” attempt to address these tensions, the analysis demonstrates that technical solutions alone are insufficient without institutional and territorial embedding. Second, the book examines the emergence of network states, algorithmic nations, and alternative forms of sovereignty in a post-Westphalian context. It critically interrogates the promises of Web3 decentralization, showing how they often reproduce new forms of concentration, including crypto-elite dominance and technocratic governance. In response, the book advances data sovereignty as a contested field—contrasting state-centric, corporate, and collective approaches—and positions data cooperatives as a pathway toward democratic data governance. The central argument is that the key challenge of AI economies lies not in technological innovation per se, but in the governance of data infrastructures and their societal implications. Drawing on global case studies, the book ultimately proposes mission-oriented and institutionally grounded innovation systems to reconnect technological development with democratic values, addressing the enduring tension between frontier innovation and social inclusion.
Rutuja Chirwatkar, Beemkumar Nagappan, L. P. Singh, Anoop Dev · 6 authors
Another recent paradigm for enabling ubiquitous smart cities to be efficient, resilient, and innovative is Distributed Resource Management (DRM), in which heterogeneous devices, infrastructures, and services operate autonomously and continuously. This paper discusses more advanced concepts of edge-cloud synergy, decentralized coordination, cyber-physical integration, and context-aware optimization to address the increasing burden on urban energy, transportation, communication, and environmental systems. These are the main objectives: (1) to create scalable DRM frameworks with the features of real-time decision, (2) to enhance the interoperability of distributed heterogeneous resources, and (3) to enhance sustainability and service quality as a result of flexible allocation schemes. The proposed solutions will be the multi-agent systems, distributed ledger technologies (DLT), machine-learning-based prediction systems, and dynamic resource-orchestration algorithms. A hybrid simulation-prototype was applied to test the performance based on the metrics of latency, reliability, load balancing, and energy efficiency. Results suggest that significant improvements (up to a 35 percent reduction in resource contention, a 28 percent reduction in response time, and a 20 percent increase in system robustness under high-density urban workloads) have been achieved. A qualitative measure also fosters greater transparency and trust in cross-domain operations. In totality, the paper identifies that the disruptive potential of decentralized management systems can make smart-city ecologies adaptive, secure, and sustainable.
The fast growth of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has turned smart cities into big data ecosystems for intelligent mobility, energetic efficiency and public services. But this increasing reliance on IoT data raises significant privacy issues because of the perpetually gathered sensor readings, inter-organisational sharing and algorithmic analyses. In this paper, we focus on the state-of-the-art IoT data-sharing methods that preserve privacy and protect recent progress in preserving privacy while sharing data in the IoT personal record by preserving statistical value. It combines traditional approaches, including anonymisation, differential privacy, federated learning, secure multiparty computation and homomorphic encryption with new technologies (e.g., blockchain-enabled governance, edge intelligence or zero-knowledge proofs) (Nguyen et al., 2023; Alrawais et al., 2024; Lin & Kuo, 2025). The paper analyses the impact of hybrid architectures combining edge-cloud cooperation and decentralised access control for improving data protection, in terms of not losing performance or interoperability. Conclusions: Summary of the main findings, Barriers to Implementation. This paper identifies several ongoing barriers, including computational expense, related to past research. Personal data while preserving its analytical worth. It combines cutting-edge technologies like blockchain-enabled governance, edge intelligence, and zero-knowledge proofs with traditional strategies like anonymisation, differential privacy, federated learning, secure multiparty computation, and homomorphic encryption (Nguyen et al., 2023; Alrawais et al., 2024; Lin & Kuo, 2025). The study investigates how hybrid architectures that incorporate decentralised access control and edge-cloud collaboration can improve data security without compromising interoperability or performance. The results point to enduring obstacles, such as interoperability, computational overhead, and regulatory compliance, especially in urban settings with limited resources. In order to integrate privacy-by-design principles into IoT analytics for smart city governance, the study suggests a multi-layered conceptual framework. To maintain public confidence in urban digital transformation, this framework places a strong emphasis on open data policies, citizen consent procedures, and the incorporation of cutting-edge cryptographic techniques. The information adds to the current discussion on how to balance privacy and innovation in smart cities and provides guidance for system architects, legislators, and municipal IT leaders who want to adopt IoT responsibly.
This research explores the future synergy between quantum computing (QC) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as a tool to revitalize urban transport systems through optimized improvement techniques as well as decentralized governance. Utilizing a conceptual approach combined with thematic analysis, this research provides an integrative framework that combines insights from quantum computing, blockchain governance, and transport geography. Key results include the observation that the integration of these technologies holds the potential to address enduring issues regarding efficiency, sustainability, and equity within transport through exemplary spatial optimization as well as open, participatory governance strategies. However, significant challenges do remain, including energy consumption, the digital divide, as well as regulative uncertainties, requiring careful design, equity-focused protections, as well as effective governance infrastructure. This paper suggests that the actualization of the full potential of these future technologies requires interdisciplinary collaboration as well as a focus on the public good rather than technological advancement alone.
This interim report provides a comprehensive overview of stakeholder perspectives on the opportunities and risks associated with the development and administration of fintech, distributed ledger technology and artificial intelligence in Aruba. The Government of Aruba aims to diversify its economy away from its reliance on tourism by developing its information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The report is based on consultations with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society and academia, conducted during an on-site mission in February 2025. Key findings highlight the potential for Aruba to become a base for export-oriented ICT services, leveraging its strong infrastructure and well-trained labour force. However, challenges have also been identified, including regulatory and institutional constraints, limited job opportunities and the risk of brain drain. The report emphasizes the need for a supportive regulatory environment and targeted initiatives to foster innovation and competition in the ICT sector, ultimately contributing to Aruba's economic diversification and resilience.
Private city models—encompassing Charter Cities, Free Private Cities, Seasteads, Startup Cities, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs)—are emerging as innovative alternatives to traditional urban governance. This article examines the discussion of these private urban experiments through the lens of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. We present a structured taxonomy of private city models and analyze case studies to illustrate how blockchain can facilitate governance, economic transactions, and transparency in these contexts. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, we examine how distributed ledger technologies enable new forms of decentralized governance and finance (e.g., local cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance for city services) while also identifying critical challenges and limitations. Comparisons with traditional public-sector urban governance highlight the potential efficiency gains and transparency improvements of blockchain-powered private cities, as well as concerns regarding accountability, inclusivity, and regulatory integration. Finally, we discuss future prospects for integrating blockchain in urban development, including the concept of networked “crypto cities,” and outline key areas for further research. The analysis balances theoretical propositions with empirical insights, ultimately finding that blockchain can augment private city models by enhancing transparency and enabling novel economic systems, but it is not a panacea for governance and must be implemented with careful consideration of social and legal frameworks.
Ensuring consistent progress toward cities’ net-zero emission goals requires understanding key dimensions of urban climate governance—particularly the motivations driving municipalities toward net zero and the critical barriers and enablers along this pathway. Current knowledge on these critical aspects is fragmented, lacking a holistic framework and empirical prioritization of key factors. We developed an integrated analytical framework and empirically distilled the most salient motivations, barriers, and enablers through a large-scale survey targeting 489 net-zero-committed municipalities—known as “Zero Carbon Cities”—across Japan. With responses from 309 municipalities, we deliver the first systematic mapping of factors perceived as most influential by Japanese local authorities. The results indicate that municipalities are primarily motivated by seizing local economic development opportunities (enhanced local energy conditions, financial gains and savings, and local industry revitalization), future-proofing communities against disasters, and enhancing the local quality of life. Key barriers and enablers were identified across four categories: municipal resources and authority (budgets, dedicated staff, and empowered climate agencies), knowledge and expertise (staff climate competence), institutional coherence (cross-departmental coordination and stakeholder involvement), and political will and leadership (the presence of climate champions and awareness within city halls and among residents). Accordingly, we discuss implications and derive recommendations toward strengthened local action in Japan and beyond.
Herman Zahid, Adil Zulfiqar, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Sajid Iqbal · 7 authors
This review explores the transformative architecture of Smart Grid 3.0 by integrating cutting-edge technologies. It presents novel architectural frameworks to transform nanogrid, microgrid, and VPP topologies to their Grid 3.0 counterparts. This study systematically analyzes the application of advanced algorithms and technologies across all hierarchical subsystems—nanogrid 3.0, microgrid 3.0, VPP 3.0, and Smart Grid 3.0. These digital technologies have transformative capabilities. The digital twins can perform real-time monitoring, simulation, and predictive analysis; blockchain ensures secure, decentralized energy transactions; and the metaverse creates immersive, interactive environments for system management. This review also explores the role of AI in power grid which is to optimize energy scheduling, fault detection, and energy management. This paper adds to the literature by systematically addressing subsystems of Smart Grid 3.0, including energy generation, transmission, distribution, communication, and storage. Challenges such as interoperability, scalability, data integrity, and cybersecurity are discussed, and solutions are proposed which highlights the need of interdisciplinary approach. These include cyber-attack detection and mitigation mechanisms, advanced simulation tools, and robust policy frameworks. A thorough review of literature enabled this paper to present practical implementation strategies and real-world examples of digital technologies integrated smart grids. By integrating these technologies across hierarchical energy systems, this study establishes a foundation for future research in transforming conventional smart grid infrastructure into a resilient, efficient, and interconnected cyber-physical energy network called Smart Grid 3.0 as the peak of this evolution so far.
This study proposes an AI-assisted governance framework to enhance decision-making within decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). By integrating chain-of-thought (CoT) reasoning with stakeholder-adaptive recommendations, the framework improves decision alignment, increases voter participation, and enhances governance transparency. Through simulations based on historical KlimaDAO data, the system achieved a 97% alignment with past decisions, a projected 40% increase in participation, and a 35% improvement in governance clarity. To support quantitative analysis in tokenomics, we developed a tailored CoT reasoning strategy, effectively reducing information asymmetry and generating structured, trustworthy recommendations. These results underscore the potential of AI to foster more inclusive and transparent DAO governance. Future work will explore deploying lightweight AI models and extending this approach to a broader range of DAO ecosystems.
The article explores the transitive model of digital statehood as a conceptual response to systemic challenges arising from the dynamic digital transformation of public governance. The author argues that traditional models of state administration no longer provide adequate responses to the rapid evolution of digital tools, infrastructures, and agents that operate within new decision-making spaces — from distributed ledgers to autonomous cognitive systems. Therefore, the concept of transitivity is proposed as a theoretical framework to describe the transition from classical hierarchical forms of statehood to complex, open, and dynamic digital architectures.The methodological foundation of the research combines three complementary approaches: the system-synergetic, institutional-cognitive, and network-platform paradigms. The system-synergetic approach makes it possible to view public governance as a complex open system capable of self-organization and the emergence of new structures in response to external digital impulses. The institutional-cognitive paradigm captures the changing logic of institutional functioning in the context of decentralized knowledge and functions, while the network-platform approach focuses on understanding the state as a digital platform where decisions are formed through the interaction of multiple agents — both human and algorithmic.Within the proposed transitive model, a three-level architecture of digital statehood is introduced: (1) the institutional core, which undergoes cognitive reconfiguration under the influence of digital agents; (2) the infrastructural level, based on the integration of AI and blockchain technologies into functional management mechanisms; (3) the level of external agents — platforms, networks, and users — that actively participate in shaping public decisions. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of smart contracts as a new institutional unit that enables automated, conditional, and irreversible execution of public governance decisions.It is demonstrated that the integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence alters the principles of trust formation, legitimacy, and accountability in digital interaction. At the same time, digital logic becomes the driver of institutional evolution — from fixed models to flexible, adaptive mechanisms functioning in a mode of permanent recalibration. The article also reveals the phenomenon of «post-institutional reflexivity,» in which the role of the state is reimagined — not as a monopolist of authority but as a cognitive integrator of data, platforms, and meanings.The practical value of the study lies in the proposed theoretical construct, which may be applied to the design of digital policy frameworks, the transformation of governance processes in the public sector, and the assessment of risks associated with technological dynamics. The article provides a foundation for further research into the formalization of trust mechanisms, automated decision legitimation, and the synthesis of governance strategies in complex digital environments.
Integrating AI and blockchain technologies holds significant potential for enhancing e-governance, particularly in improving predictive policy execution within smart cities. This study conducts a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis of existing literature to identify trends, key publications, and research gaps. Using peer-reviewed articles indexed by Scopus and published between 2019 and 2024, we observe a significant rise in research output, focusing on the separate applications of AI and blockchain in e-governance. Key themes identified include enhanced transparency, efficiency in public services, and concerns related to data privacy. However, our analysis uncovers a clear gap in empirical studies addressing the combined use of AI and blockchain technologies. The bibliometric coupling map reveals central clusters around “smart city” and “blockchain,” while topics such as “sustainability” and “climate change” show significant impact, highlighting their relevance to governance. Additionally, the study identifies a lack of cross-disciplinary research, emphasizing the need for future interdisciplinary collaborations. Despite the insights gained, the study is constrained by its reliance on bibliometric methods, which may not capture the complexities of real-world technology integration. Future research should prioritize longitudinal case studies and pilot projects to address regulatory, ethical, and practical challenges, contributing to the responsible adoption of AI and blockchain in digital governance.
The integration of blockchain technology into smart city governance frameworks is revolutionizing the way urban management systems are structured, enabling secure, transparent, and decentralized decision-making processes. This chapter explores the transformative potential of blockchain-enabled decentralized governance models in enhancing accountability, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, and promoting citizen participation. The application of smart contracts and distributed ledgers is examined as a means to automate governance functions, facilitate real-time resource distribution, and ensure trust among stakeholders. Through detailed case studies and critical analysis, the chapter highlights practical implementations of blockchain in local governments, such as energy trading, public service automation, waste management, and participatory budgeting. In addition, the challenges of citizen engagement, legal compliance, and technological integration are addressed with forward-looking strategies for overcoming these barriers. This chapter contributes a comprehensive understanding of how blockchain can reshape urban governance ecosystems, offering scalable, resilient, and inclusive solutions for future smart cities.
James Evans, Davide Cassanmagnago, Tathagata Chatterji, Andrew Irvin · 10 authors
Urban innovation has emerged as a priority to address global climate and sustainability goals. As the world continues to urbanise, global organisations are encouraging cities to spearhead innovation to meet global carbon reduction targets and reduce inequalities (UN Habitat, 2022). Finding new ways to build, manage and live in cities is critical to provide all humans with adequate nutrition, shelter, access to products and services including mobility, leisure, health, energy, and education (UN, 2023). Focusing on the potential role of urban innovation is logical -cities drive innovation by bringing diverse people, knowledge and resources together (Florida et al., 2018). In many ways urbanisation represents the manifestation of new technologies and forms of social organisation, from the hydraulic cities of Mesopotamia 7000 years ago through to industrial and post-industrial cities today (Jacobs, 1969;Athey et al., 2008). However, while the link between cities and innovation is longstanding, the idea of 'urban innovation' as a specific activity to discover new ways to develop, manage and inhabit cities in more sustainable ways is recent, distinct and less familiar. This framing of urban innovation reflects established approaches to governance for sustainability, layered over the distinctive characteristics and capabilities of cities. In this paper we define urban innovation as a directed activity that takes place in and is driven by cities as a way to address local challenges that will contribute to the delivery of global climate and sustainability goals. The emergence of the urban innovation as an influential global policy agenda pushes cities once more to the front of the battle against climate change. This paper examines the emergence of urban innovation as a discrete and influential policy goal to deliver global climate and sustainability goals and outlines a research agenda to help achieve this.The paper is authored with leading global organisations in this space -the United Nations Climate Change Global Innovation Hub and the Global Covenant of Mayors. The United Nations is the leading global organisation coordinating international action on key challenges including climate change. The United Nations Global Innovation Hub for Climate Change promotes innovation as a catalyst for achieving global climate and sustainability targets. Their first global dialogue series focused on cities specifically because of their potential to integrate technological, social, and policy innovations. The Global Innovation Hub emphasizes systemic approaches to urban innovation, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and community engagement to create sustainable, climate resilient development in urban environments. The Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) represents an alliance of more than 13,000 cities combatting climate change. Through its Innovate4Cities initiative, launched in 2019 in response to the Edmonton Cities and Climate Change Science Conference (Oke et al., 2022), the GCoM alliance outlines the knowledge gaps and action priorities for urban innovation, research and implementation, sharing data and best practices, and unlocking financing for scalable urban innovation projects. Both work closely with the Mission Innovation Urban Transitions Mission, which launched at COP 26 in 2021. This organisation empowers cities worldwide in their transition towards net-zero, resilient, and people-centred cities, mobilizing decision-makers across all levels of government to prioritize pathways enabled by clean energy and systemic innovation across all sectors and in urban governance (Urban Transitions Mission, 2024). The Urban Transitions Mission develops innovation systems capable of transforming cities to address climate change, including a focus on coordinating city level research and innovation challenges (European Commission, 2022).These organisations form part of a Global Innovation Alliance (GIA), which is engaging cities and relevant partners to build a worldwide urban innovation policy agenda for climate and sustainability goals. This policy agenda is complemented by the Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science, which provides a cross-sectoral, systems-based foundation for knowledge to enable urban innovation. This document launched at the Cities and Climate Change Science Conference in Edmonton, Canada in 2018, and in its latest iteration following the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference, serves as an evidence base for the knowledge and innovation outputs being co-created by researchers, governments, businesses, and civil society (Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, UN-Habitat & University of Melbourne, 2024). These initiatives demonstrate the growing ambition for science to inform action and facilitates the exchange of knowledge to support stronger and more ambitious urban solutions and partnerships.The priorities and initiatives of these international organisations individually and collectively show that urban innovation has become central to the delivery of global climate and sustainability goals at multiple levels of governance. Urban innovation is being promoted as a way to develop solutions to challenges in sectors ranging from energy and transport to housing and social justice. By cutting across domains, and more closely engaging economic and knowledge production, urban innovation represents an exciting new way to create more sustainable cities. However, as Bai (2024) notes in relation to the potential of cities to deliver the SDGs, action on the ground requires clarity of roles. The term 'urban innovation' is used widely now in policy and research, but in different ways by different groups to mean different things, not necessarily with sustainability or justice and equity as core values. Realising the potential of urban innovation to deliver climate and sustainability goals requires greater clarity in defining what exactly it is, how it should be done in practice, and who is supposed to be doing it. Given the political weight and resource behind it, researchers have an important role to play in helping to ensure that urban innovation is an equitable and effective. Addressing rather than exacerbating inequalities and making sure successful innovations are actually transformative lie at the forefront of this challenge. This Grand Challenge article builds upon the high levels of current ambition and activity associated with key international initiatives like the Global Innovation Alliance and Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science to frame a broad and inclusive research agenda for sustainable cities and urban innovation.Innovation relates to the development of new services, products or processes that generate value through being of use to customers or users. The concept of innovation was arguably first framed as a place-based agenda in scholarship and policies relating to regional innovation clusters. These often developed near universities, most famously in the case of the Silicon Valley innovation cluster in California that grew up around Stanford University. The focus was on supply-side technology development though, with little consideration of the demands of cities and their residents. The emergence of the idea of smart cities in the early Twenty-First Century dramatically changed this, positioning innovation as a key element of place-making. Urban innovation became an activity focusing on how to deploy digital technologies to improve cities and urban services (Angelidou, 2015). Successful examples include the replacement of traditional incandescent bulbs with LED for street lighting, and the adoption of digital information and payment platforms for citizens to engage with municipal authorities. Evidence suggests that cities investing in smart city projects tend to generate economic benefits associated with traditional innovation, gauged through measures such as numbers of patent filings (Caragliu and Del Bo, 2019). A rapidly growing body of work from China suggests a correlation between the innovative capacity of cities and their environmental performance (see for example Tan, et al., 2022;Yang, et al., 2022;Guo, et al., 2023). Work in this context has also identified a positive relationship between the existence of a digital economy and the achievement of low carbon transitions in larger Chinese cities (Liu et al., 2024). However, it is the distinct idea of urban innovation as a directed process that brings different stakeholders together to develop solutions to problems in their own cities that has gained traction beyond smart cities. In relation to environmental policy, the need for practical action to complement international commitments on climate change and sustainable development, coupled with the emergence of world cities as major political actors (Bulkeley, 2013), has provided fertile ground for urban innovation to emerge as a potential driver of societal change. Urban innovation represents the culmination of a longer-term metamorphosis of cities from being framed as sources of sustainability problems to sources of sustainability solutions (Angelo and Wachsmuth, 2020). In principle, urban innovation offers a way to situate and address the United Nation Sustainable Development the context of cities and 2024). In practice, the term urban innovation local a way to their own a to create sustainable and inclusive and new for their is urban innovation has rapidly become a priority to deliver global climate and sustainability emergence of urban innovation as a driver of sustainability and climate goals has by of research and innovation in but also the and of this has provided to by to new solutions in to demonstrate and how work in world like urban the of urban et al., a of sustainability solutions have in cities, successful projects have to up beyond their This has a focus on the in which projects and the need to build the capacity of cities to and innovations As notes examples of successful urban that help deliver global climate and sustainability goals the current policy agenda in the of leading global organisations promotes urban innovation as a rather than a discrete The systems to urban innovation from a of systems and and innovation upon the associated concept of an innovation innovation to a of and resources that work to the development and of new and products such as universities, governments, and research a regional or global context to enable innovation through knowledge and and 2020). urban innovation as an innovation brings focus a of that city provide et al., 2024). organisations provide local provide and help through The systems urban innovation by ways to and support the innovative capacity of cities while the and with of urban at and levels has a of in innovation as a to drive and address major societal challenges & and the of urban innovation is as a driver of systemic change. 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Open access
Smart Cities and Technologies
Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
Or Yatzkan, Reuven Cohen, Eyal Yaniv, Orit Rotem-Mindali
Urban energy efficiency and sustainability are critical challenges, as cities worldwide attempt to balance economic growth, environmental sustainability, and energy consumption. This systematic review examines the dynamics of urban energy management, focusing on how local authorities navigate energy transitions through efficiency measures, renewable energy adoption, and policy interventions. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following research question: how do local authorities implement energy-efficient practices and adopt renewable energy technologies to reduce emissions, optimize cost-effectiveness, and influence urban policy-making? The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of these approaches in different urban contexts. By reviewing 47 articles, this study identifies the unique characteristics of urban energy management and highlights the need for tailored, context-specific solutions, such as integrating decentralized renewable energy systems, optimizing building energy performance, and developing policy incentives that consider local socio-economic conditions. The findings reveal varying degrees of success among cities, with particular challenges in lower-income municipalities, where financial and institutional barriers hinder the implementation of sustainable energy projects. This study concludes that localized approaches and long-term strategies are essential for achieving sustainable urban energy transitions, offering a comprehensive perspective on the complexities of urban energy systems and their evolving policy landscape. Future research should focus on assessing the long-term impact of municipal energy policies, exploring innovative financing mechanisms for renewable energy integration, and examining the role of digital technologies in optimizing urban energy management.