Smart Cities 2035: Four scenarios on how emerging technologies will shape our society

This document aims to spread the outcome of a future-oriented research project centred around the development of possible future scenarios regarding the usage of data in medium-small Italian municipalities that adopt smart solutions. The document opens with an overview of the research context – the Observatory on Trends and Applications of Supercomputing – in which this study is situated. Next, the theoretical foundations of the study are presented. Drawing from the field of Future Studies, this section clarifies the distinctions between forecasting, foresight, and anticipation, and explains the principles and objectives of strategic foresight. The methodology section follows, detailing the diverse techniques employed to achieve the project’s objectives. The research, that involved a panel of visionary experts, combined horizon scanning with scenario planning, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of trends, uncertainties, and transformative drivers that could shape the future competitive landscape. At the heart of the report are four original future scenarios. Each scenario is carefully crafted and analysed, highlighting the opportunities and threats it presents. These scenarios offer alternative visions of how Italian smart cities might evolve, emphasizing the variability and uncertainty of the future while providing actionable insights for decision-makers and other stakeholders. Lastly, strategic insights and surprising or overlooked patterns emerged during the study are included in the conclusive section, pointing out interesting suggestions and ideas that could be further developed. This research is not just an exploration of potential futures—it is a guide for strategic thinking, innovation, and preparedness, equipping Italian smart cities and innovation ecosystems to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the AI-societies of tomorrow.