ABSTRACT
Since 2019, the interdisciplinary Research Network for Smart Sustainable Cities at the University of Stavanger has followed Stavanger’s evolution as a Nordic smart city, focusing on practical implementation and theoretical implications. This chapter synthesizes key findings from experiences and research on smart city initiatives. It reflects on Stavanger’s journey from a resource-dependent city to a smart city, highlighting 11 critical lessons learned. These establish Stavanger as a critical case of a lived Nordic smart city, providing room for discussion of the complexities of translating policy into practice, particularly the potential for ‘smart-washing’, and challenges with pilot projects or participatory design. By examining Stavanger, the chapter also provides valuable insights into the realities of smart city development, offering a nuanced understanding of the interplay between smart and sustainable urban initiatives and emphasizing the need for cross-disciplinary and intersectoral collaboration and innovation. This contributes to the smart city discourse by learning from Stavanger as a critical example of the potential and challenges inherent in smart city transformations.
