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Meet Luca: Bridging Research, Policy, and Urban Innovation

We’ve made a habit at the FinEst Centre to introduce our new team members. Each brings unique expertise, academic ambitions, and diverse experiences, along with fascinating hobbies and ideas.  

Today, we’re happy to introduce Professor Luca Mora, who has joined the FinEst Centre for Smart Cities and Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies at TalTech as a Research Fellow and Professor of Urban Innovation.

We’re excited to welcome Luca, whose extensive expertise in smart governance, urban studies, and digital transformation will strengthen our mission to drive forward-thinking urban innovation! 

A Leader in Urban Innovation

Luca is a Professor of Urban Innovation at Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School, where he leads both the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department and the Urban Innovation Policy Lab (UnityLab). This multidisciplinary research lab brings together over 20 academics, bridging social sciences, engineering, and technology to drive forward-thinking urban solutions. 

Luca also holds a part-time professorship at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), where he collaborates with the Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies and contributes to the development of the FinEst Centre for Smart Cities. 

Driving Smart City Research and Innovation

With over 15 years of experience in multidisciplinary research, Luca has been at the forefront of integrating urban studies, computer science, and innovation management. His work has significantly advanced the theory and practice of smart city development and urban digital transformation. 

His scholarly work has been widely published in prestigious international journals, including Public Administration Review (CABS 4*), Information Systems Journal (CABS 4), Organization Studies (CABS 4), Regional Studies (CABS 4), Organization (CABS 3), Technological Forecasting and Social Change (CABS 3), Technovation (CABS 3), Government Information Quarterly (CABS 3), and Nature Cities. 

Highlighting the key achievements (2015–2024) 

  • Secured funding: contributed to obtaining funding for 20+ research and consultancy projects, many as principal investigator. Among the main outputs of these projects is one of largest smart city research centres in Europe. 
  • International collaborations: built a transnational cooperation network with over 150 organizations from 45 countries, including partnerships with the European Commission, UN agencies (UNCTAD, UN-Habitat), CAF – The Development Bank of Latin America, and top universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National University of Singapore (NUS), Monash University, The University of Edinburgh, University College London (UCL), and Delft University of Technology. 
  • Program development: played a key role in designing and launching four new academic programs, including an MSc in Digital Transformation Management at Edinburgh Napier University set to begin in 2025. 
  • Teaching excellence: Over 10 years of experience in designing and delivering modules for more than 300 undergraduate and 100 postgraduate students annually. Consistently achieved high student satisfaction ratings throughout this period. 
  • Research outputs: co-authored 50+ peer-reviewed publications with citations increasing from 32 to over 3,000 in seven years. Of these publications, 18 are in CABS 3 and CABS 4/4* journals within the last five years. Edited seven special issues on digital transformation management in leading journals. 
  • Global recognition: delivered invited presentations on digital innovation management at +50 international events across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 
  • Engagement in international policy processes: appointed academic consultant for the UN (UNCTAD, UN-Habitat), CAF – The Development Bank of Latin America, and the European Commission. Authored four United Nations reports on smart city governance and digital innovation over five years, contributing to the development of the United Nations’ International Guidelines for People-Centred Smart Cities – a non-binding framework for developing national and local smart city regulations. 
  • Editorial leadership: appointed Co-Editor-in-Chief of Technological Forecasting and Social Change (CABS 3), a leading journal focused on the societal impact of digital technology. 

Shaping the Future of Smart Cities

Luca’s work bridges academia, policy, and real-world urban innovation, making a lasting impact on how cities leverage digital transformation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

He has been serving as an academic consultant for several intergovernmental organizations such as the European Commission, the United Nations, and CAF – The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. In this capacity, he authored three major United Nations reports on digital transformation governance in urban areas:

In addition to his research and consulting work, Luca is an active member of the editorial board for the Journal of Urban Technology, and he serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief for Technological Forecasting and Social Change. He has also been a guest editor for seven Special Issues on smart city development in notable academic journals.  

Whether through research, policy advisory roles, or educational leadership, his contributions are certainly shaping the future of smart cities worldwide! At the FinEst Centre, we are happy to welcome such ambition and knowledge to our research community. 

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