5 Things You Didn't Know About Smart Cities in the Arctic

When we think about smart cities, we often picture bustling metropolises like Singapore or Dubai.

But what happens when smart city technologies meet Arctic conditions?

A four-year research project involving six countries shows that the interpretation of "smart" varies significantly across different parts of the Arctic.

(learn more about the project via the video below)

The project began as a collaboration between University of the Arctic (UArctic) partners.

Led by Nord University's High North Center, it has brought together researchers and practitioners from 7 different Arctic countries.

Their goal? To understand how smart city solutions can work in a region where winter transforms entire cities, where populations are scattered across vast distances, and where traditional knowledge meets modern technology.

Here are 5 key findings from the project:

1. Technology needs careful interpretation

Smart cities is not a panacea for High North sustainable future.

**CITY LANDMARK**: The "BODØ" sign stands outside Stormen library in the city center. *Photo by Markus J. Thonhaugen*.

Solutions designed for warmer climates often need complete rethinking for Arctic conditions - sometimes technology alone isn't the answer.

– We need to be really careful how we interpret the concept, says Associate Professor Evgenii Aleksandrov.

2. 'Smart' means different things across the Arctic

While Norway and Sweden talk about smart cities, Alaska and Canada focus on "smart communities," and Finland emphasizes "smart ecosystems."

These aren't just different words - they reflect different approaches to the concept.

– We use the term 'smart societies' as an overarching concept as it allows for multiple perspectives, says Associate Professor Nadezda Nazarova.

**WATERFRONT** **VENUE**: Harpa concert hall and conference center along Reykjavík's marina.

3. Traditional knowledge remains crucial

In Alaska, communities have tracked whale movements for generations.

While apps can now predict whale arrivals, relying solely on technology risks losing valuable traditional knowledge.

4. Students are part of the solution

Universities are involving students in real smart city projects, working directly with municipalities to develop practical solutions for the future.

– Real-life cases make it much easier for students to understand how to implement theory in practical life, says Associate Professor Elena Dybtsyna.

5. Local Involvement is essential

The research shows that copying southern smart city models doesn't work - Arctic communities need to develop approaches based on their unique conditions.

Therefore, local involvement is also very important.

Arctic countries must work together to develop Arctic-specific solutions, potentially creating innovations that could help other regions adapt to extreme conditions.

In Bodø, for example, citizens actively participate in making their city smarter through real-world projects, showing that smart solutions must grow from local needs.

– Smart city development shouldn't be given to technocrats and bureaucrats. It requires continuous dialogue with locals, with stakeholders, with citizens, conclude Professor Anatoli Bourmistrov.