I have lived and worked between London, Munich and Paris for several years now. All three are examples of great cities, but with very distinct features. Proof of their attrac-tiveness can be found on my weekly early Monday morning and Friday evening flights between these cities, which are often full of grey suits, tourists and students.

All three are examples of smart cities. The factors that make a smart urban area are numerous. A global city brand, liveability, quality of institutions, physical and digital infrastructure, connectivity, innovation and new technologies, as well as a high quality of city governance and sustainability all play their part. And smart cities attract smart people. Cities that showcase the most buoyant office markets foster top universities, high levels of research and development, and a seamless physical and digital ecosystem. They then draw in international students and highly-skilled professionals as a result. In turn, these cities enjoy vibrant