Luca Mora

Luca Mora is a Professor of Urban Innovation at Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School, where he leads the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Subject Group and the Urban Innovation Policy Lab (hosting over 25 academics). He also holds a Professorship at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), supporting the €32 million FinEst Centre for Smart Cities under Horizon Europe.

Luca’s research bridges urban studies, computer science, and innovation management, advancing smart city development. His work spans governance models, digital transformation, and sustainable urban transitions, with publications in Organization Studies, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, and Cities. He has authored three UN reports and secured over €40 million in grants.

His recent articles analyze smart city governance, GeoAI applications, and grassroots digital innovation, emphasizing equity, collaboration, and methodological rigor. Awards include the 2021 TalTech Best Research Article Award, multiple Edinburgh Napier Above & Beyond Research Awards, and Fellowships at the Royal Society of Arts and the Higher Education Academy.

Advising and Grants: Luca supervises PhD projects on urban digital twins, transport infrastructure, and tourism sustainability. He has led Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and United Nations projects, focusing on collaborative ecosystems, green-digital transitions, and policy frameworks. He also serves as Executive Editor for Technological Forecasting and Social Change and on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Urban Technology and IET Smart Cities.