Smart city acceptance and adoption: The case of potential smart citizens

In the extent literature, several case studies explore interdependencies between smart cities and concepts such smart communities, corporate citizenship and citizen involvement. Thus, citizens are more supposed to accept and adopt transformations in their city if they perceive smart cities as an opportunity to improve their daily life. Conversely, they tend to be more resistant and mistrustful if they perceive any form of uncertainty or risk. The paper explores how do 215 potential smart citizens, who are brought to be future leaders, understand different components of the smart city. A general linear model is developed for the propose of this research to underline a typology of smart citizens based on their willingness to understand, accept and support smart city projects. The findings highlight that citizens build an understanding of smart cities based on what is developed in their city, in Flanders, in Belgium and in Asia. Technological factors seem is be less important comparatively to human and institutional ones. Citizens are more commonly supporting projects improving sustainability, governance, inclusiveness and wellbeing. However, these latter need to be aligned with cultural identities and social expectations. Based on significant factors, the research identifies six profiles of citizens: the local planner, the regional green questioner, the national entrepreneur, the international public supporter, the humanist and the marketer. Each profile is characterized by a different balance between uncertainty, resistance and supportive willingness. This finding demonstrates the importance that public authorities need to decade to the critical thinking, the imaginary and the behavior of different categories of citizens.