Vol. 10 No. 3 (2026)

Guest Editor:  Stefano CARBONI, University of Sassari, Italy

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2026) of the Smart Cities and Regional Development Journal brings together a diverse set of contributions examining the evolving relationship between smart technologies, urban governance, institutional resilience, sustainability, and public value. The issue opens with a critical reflection on the smart city as an ideological construct, questioning not only its technological foundations but also the values, actors, and power relations embedded in its development. This broader perspective is complemented by a systematic review of green corridors as climate-resilient infrastructure, highlighting the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating urban heat, managing stormwater, and strengthening ecological connectivity.

The volume also addresses the growing influence of algorithms and digital tools on decision-making, including comparative evidence on algorithmic overconfidence, financial literacy, and investment decisions in Morocco and France. Further contributions explore collaborative digital transformation through the case of INA-DIGITAL in Indonesia, the role of digital accounting and financial audit in smart governance, and the persistent challenges of e-governance implementation in Haiti.

Security and institutional capacity are also central themes. The issue includes research on smart borders and digital corridors in NATO-oriented border areas involving Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as an analysis of civil institutions and sustainable development in Ukraine. Taken together, the articles show that smart cities and regions cannot be reduced to technology alone. Their success depends on accountable governance, resilient institutions, democratic values, environmental responsibility, and the capacity to adapt digital innovation to complex social realities.