New opportunities for the development of smart cities in Italy: the role of banking foundations

The present study represents a theoretical contribution in the field of smart cities and banking foundations and, in particular, the paper aims to underline the opportunities and the potential benefits of banking foundations supporting the development of smart cities in Italy. We analysed the reports on strategic business plan of the period between 2017–2019, published by the eighty-eight banking foundations, the corporate governance and the internal organisation model, the notes to the financial statements and the websites of the Italian banking foundations and, through a deductive approach, we elaborated their general business model. This research, thanks to its multidisciplinary approach, contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a virtuous example of interactions and synergies between smart cities and banking foundations in Italy. This work represents the first step of a far deeper analysis and consequently future developments will constitute valid tests of core arguments deeply analysed in this context.