Zurich has once again secured top spot in the seventh edition of the IMD Smart City Index. The Norwegian capital Oslo is in second place, ahead of Geneva, which according to a statement covering the report, successfully defended its ranking of third place from last year. In comparison with 2025, Lausanne improved by three places to seventh. For the index, citizens from a total of 148 cities were surveyed by the World Competitiveness Center (WCC) of the IMD business school. As the index showed, citizens also evaluate the quality of their city based on its political transparency and opportunities for participation. The concept of “smartness” therefore encompasses not only the application of cutting-edge technologies, but also a stronger perception of effective city governance and the implementation of digital services. Cities where people feel their voices are properly heard score significantly higher, according to the report. “The most advanced urban centers, where citizens feel happiest, are not necessarily distinguished by their utopian skylines, visible sensor networks, or pure technological sophistication”, comments Arturo Bris, Director of the WCC, in the statement. “Instead, they stand out for how effectively they align governance structures, sustainability priorities, public investment decisions, and perhaps most importantly, the cultivation of citizen trust”, he concludes. Away from the podium places occupied by Zurich, Oslo and Geneva, places four to six go to London, Copenhagen and Dubai respectively. After Lausanne in seventh, the Top 10 is rounded off by Canberra, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.