February 5, 2013
Across the globe, the number of people living in cities will increase to 6.3 billion by 2050, up from 3.6 billion in 2010. It is projected that by 2025 there will be 37 megacities with populations of more than 10 million; 22 of those cities will be in Asia. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, one consequence of this explosive urbanization will be a corresponding growth in smart city initiatives – characterized by the integration of technology into a strategic approach to sustainability, citizen well-being, and economic development.
The smart city technology market will surpass $20 billion in annual value by 2020, the study concludes.
“Over the last twelve months, the market has shifted away from being shaped largely by technology suppliers and city developers,” says research director Eric Woods. “Today, the market is being driven by the enthusiasm of city leaders. Mayors and other city executives have seized on the smart city concept as a rallying point for the technological, commercial, and social innovation needed to meet the challenges and opportunities facing their communities.”
Rather than a traditional technology market, the smart city should be seen as a complex confluence of several existing markets, as well as a driver for new, emergent solutions that span several traditional domains, according to the report. The biggest test for the smart city now is to show that innovative pilot projects can be deployed at a citywide scale and replicated across cities. This will be vital to ensuring momentum in pathfinder cities and building confidence for other cities to embark on the same journey. It will also be necessary to convince commercial partners and other stakeholders that these are economically viable models that will provide long-term returns for citizens and investors.
The report, “Smart Cities”, examines the evolution of the smart city market, detailing the impacts on key technology markets, including smart grids, water management, transportation, building energy efficiency, and government services. It also compares approaches to the smart city in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and provides detailed profiles of major smart city projects in each region. The report includes forecasts of the size and growth of the market for smart city technologies through 2020, segmented by key smart city industry sector and by region. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.
Contact: Richard Martin
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* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Smart Cities,” is a summary and reflects Pike Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.