The world is rapidly stepping into the digital future, and megacities are already struggling to become the most convenient, technologically and environmentally friendly. According to the 2025 Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, cities that implement technologies not for trends, but for the quality of life of their population, took the leading position.
Zurich took first place on the list. The city has been developing the Smart City Zurich strategy for several years, where digital platforms help manage traffic, energy, and waste. Thanks to the Open Zurich project, authorities and startups work in one ecosystem, and transport is combined into a single application. Here, even the heat from industrial facilities is reused - for heating and cooling buildings.
The city of Oslo ranks second in the world in paying special attention to environmental cleanliness. Currently, electric vehicles account for almost half of personal vehicles, while the Oslo toll ring system serves to promote zero emissions traffic. The city receives most of its energy from water sources, and the FutureBuilt program creates modern buildings with minimal carbon footprint.
Geneva is strengthening Switzerland's role as an innovation hub. Environmental engineering networks such as Geneva Lac Nations are being implemented in the city, and the LoRaWAN system for monitoring air, water, and energy consumption is being developed. The TetraEner and Smart Canton projects prioritized sustainable development and digitalization.
Fourth place was taken by Dubai, which made a brilliant leap in the rankings. The city is implementing thousands of sensors, reducing traffic congestion with smart transport systems, and developing large-scale energy projects to provide 75 percent of clean energy sources by 2050. Local authorities say they want to make Dubai "the happiest and smartest city on Earth" and are currently achieving this.
Abu Dhabi Zayed took fifth place with the development of the Smart City project and the transfer of most public services to the TAMM application. Smart parking lots and lighting are being tested in the city, electric vehicles are being introduced, and the network of charging stations is being expanded. The region's goal is carbon neutrality by 2050.
London paid great attention to stability and digital infrastructure. By 2026, the metro will have a full 4G and 4G network, and open city data is already helping to create new services and improve transportation. London became one of the first cities to introduce ultra-low emission zones and contactless payments in the metro.
Copenhagen completes the top seven, striving to become the first city since 2009 to have zero carbon footprint. Here, 62% of the population travels by bicycle, and the Copenhagen Connecting program brings hundreds of millions of euros in benefits to urban development. Investments in ecology and technology will make the Danish capital a model for a sustainable metropolis in the future.
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