To better understand the unique analytical approach taken by the contributors of this volume, it is helpful to revisit how the concept of the smart city first emerged. Around 2008, major technology firms—particularly CISCO and IBM—sought to expand their markets by offering digital solutions tailored to help cities manage infrastructure more efficiently. IBM introduced the use of the term “smart” to describe cities and regions managed through sensor-driven software systems. This initiative resonated with local leaders—especially mayors—who were grappling with increasing administrative and logistical challenges. In France, for instance, cities like Montpellier and Nice became early adopters, testing these innovations through collaborative projects with CISCO and IBM.
As cities began to generate vast amounts of digital data, awareness grew about the strategic value of this information, further fueling enthusiasm for the smart city model. This momentum also opened the door for new players, especially digital platforms like Airbnb and Uber, which provided services powered by algorithmic matching. Their rapid expansion was deeply tied to the broader spread of information and communication technologies, most notably the widespread adoption of smartphones.
Fateh Belaïd is a Fellow at KAPSARC. Prior to this, he served as a full professor of Economics at Lille Catholic University and led the Smart & Sustainable Cities research unit. He has held several roles at France’s Scientific and Technical Center for Building and has directed numerous joint projects for the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and the European Commission. His expertise lies in energy and environmental economics, with a focus on applied microeconomics, energy modeling, and econometrics. His research covers topics such as household energy use, energy efficiency behaviors, investment in sustainable technologies, energy poverty, renewable energy, and policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics, a Master’s in Applied Economics & Decision Theory from Littoral University, an engineering degree in statistics, and a habilitation to supervise doctoral research from Orléans University. His work has appeared in publications like Ecological Economics, The Energy Journal, Energy Economics, Economic Surveys, Energy Policy, and Environmental Management.
Anvita Arora is an architect and transportation planner currently researching smart cities, electric mobility, and freight transport at KAPSARC in Saudi Arabia. Before joining the center in 2018, she was the managing director and CEO of Innovative Transport Solutions (iTrans), a startup incubated at IIT Delhi. For over a decade, she led more than 40 applied research and planning initiatives for clients ranging from local governments to global agencies such as UNEP, the World Bank, ADB, and DFID. Anvita has taught transport planning at the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi for 12 years and was also a visiting faculty member at TERI University. She spent nearly 12 years with IIT Delhi’s Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Program (TRIPP), a Volvo Research and Education Foundations Centre of Excellence.
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