The face of the F2 smart city generation is taking shape in Asia

Asia's next-generation smart cities are taking shape. Here's how Vietnam's Vinhomes Green Paradise is using data standards and climate planning from the design stage.

India is wrapping up its Smart Cities Mission with 97% of projects completed as of March 31, 2026. The cycle, spanning over a decade, has demonstrated how this nation integrated technology into existing cities. The next question may be more challenging: What happens when a city is measured according to independent standards right at the blueprint phase, before residents or operational data are available?

The 2026 IMD Smart City Index shows that the criteria for a “smart city” are changing. The report ranks 148 cities based almost entirely on resident perceptions, with scores divided into two pillars: Structures (infrastructure, institutions, and foundational conditions) and Technology. Notably, the Structures score is a more effective and consistent prediction of overall performance.

The message of the 2026 IMD Smart City Index is quite clear: a city does not become smart simply by integrating technology. For an established city, the ultimate “graders” remain the residents.

This raises another question for the next generation of smart cities. If the F1 generation was mainly about upgrading existing urban areas with technology, could F2 start from the opposite approach: integrating standards for data, governance, and urban........

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