Public trust, not tech, is biggest barrier to smart city success in Mediterranean

A newly published study titled “The Overton Window in Smart City Governance: The Methodology and Results for Mediterranean Cities” in Smart Cities (2025, Vol. 8, Issue 98) assesses the institutional readiness and public legitimacy of smart city transformations across six Mediterranean islands - Malta, Mallorca, Crete, Cyprus, Sicily, and Corsica.

Utilizing an integrated framework combining SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) analysis and the Overton Window model, the study delivers a systematic, multi-scalar review of how technological innovation is pursued, politicized, and either normalized or rejected in distinct insular urban contexts.

The study’s findings reveal that while islands like Malta and Mallorca exhibit strong institutional maturity and project coherence, others, such as Cyprus and Corsica, show fragmented governance and underdeveloped digital ecosystems. Tourism-dependent urban economies, seasonal population pressures, and administrative decentralization compound the challenges. Despite strategic aspirations often expressed in national or EU-funded plans, many islands lack the stakeholder integration, performance metrics, and digital literacy to translate them into sustainable outcomes.

Moreover, the study introduces the ‘Ecopolis’ concept - a normative model built around four pillars: sustainable infrastructure, citizen-centric services, data-driven governance, and inclusive economic development. This framework is proposed as a future-forward planning template, though the study acknowledges no island has yet implemented it holistically. Fragmentation, trust deficits, and inconsistent funding continue to limit systemic integration.

How do governance and innovation capacity vary across the region?

Using the SOAR framework, the study profiles each island’s strategic performance. Malta emerges as the most robust case, with centralized national leadership, digital governance systems, and well-structured public engagement mechanisms. Its institutional sophistication allows it to translate EU innovation funding into concrete services like e-governance platforms and smart public service portals.

Mallorca, in contrast, thrives on opportunity readiness. With a focus on smart tourism and mobility, the island’s projects are driven by external partnerships and aligned with EU Green Deal priorities. However, without Malta’s institutional depth, Mallorca’s gains remain sector-specific rather than systemic.

Crete demonstrates localized innovation, especially in renewable energy and sustainable tourism, but suffers from uneven implementation across its territory due to decentralized governance. Cyprus presents clear digital ambitions in e-tourism and participatory governance, but faces implementation bottlenecks due to inconsistent municipal coordination and a lack of a unifying national smart city roadmap.

Sicily and Corsica reflect the ‘results without integration’ phenomenon. Both islands have launched sectoral initiatives, digital heritage archiving in Sicily, and eco-mobility pilots in Corsica, but lack cohesive strategies and institutional pathways for scaling up. Governance weaknesses, low citizen trust, and uneven EU fund absorption further dilute these efforts. The study argues that without cross-sectoral coordination and accountability frameworks, these islands risk remaining stuck in a cycle of fragmented experimentation.

What determines the public acceptability of smart city technologies?

Beyond strategic planning, the study turns to the Overton Window framework to evaluate whether smart city innovations are politically and socially viable across different Mediterranean islands. By categorizing technologies on a spectrum from “Unthinkable” to “Policy,” the analysis incorporates public perception, institutional adoption, and stakeholder narratives into the feasibility equation.

On the outer edge of unacceptability, predictive policing in Sicily is categorized as “Unthinkable” due to widespread concerns about surveillance and civil liberties. Similarly, AI-based governance automation in Corsica remains in the “Radical” category, with political leaders hesitant to endorse them due to trust issues and fears around transparency.

Crete’s intelligent tourism platforms and Cyprus’s digital participation systems fall under “Acceptable” and “Sensible,” indicating that while these ideas are institutionally supported, their public uptake remains limited. Barriers include digital literacy gaps, inconsistent infrastructure, and lack of public awareness campaigns. These technologies are perceived as valuable but lack the traction to become fully embedded in urban practice.

By contrast, Mallorca and Malta lead the normative spectrum. Mallorca’s smart mobility systems—apps, transport hubs, and digital tourism tools—are deemed “Popular,” enjoying backing from media, civil society, and local institutions. Malta’s national e-governance infrastructure is fully institutionalized and categorized under “Policy,” reflecting high levels of citizen use, regulatory backing, and embeddedness in public service delivery.

The study’s methodological rigor includes surveys, focus groups, and policy document analysis. A total of 103 citizens in Athens, along with dozens of stakeholders across the islands, contributed insights on digital trust, participation willingness, and perceived legitimacy. These responses underscore the importance of aligning digital governance strategies with citizens’ normative expectations, particularly in regions with historically low trust in institutions.