Agenda

This event showcases the MAIA project’s results on potential demand for air mobility services and shared autonomous shuttles to access airports, and algorithms to best locate vertiports and dispatch autonomous vehicle fleets to answer that demand. It engages the audience to exploit these results in support of European, national, and local policy goals. Register HERE

Welcome to the 2025 edition of our events – the global stage where urban innovation comes to life.

This opening session sets the tone for an exciting journey ahead, with a warm welcome from Smart City Expo director Ugo Valenti and Tomorrow.Mobility president Marc Rozendal. Joining them are high-level representatives who will share how territories around the world are transforming the way we live, move, and build. Get ready to explore bold ideas and groundbreaking strategies.

the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme promotes decentralized international urban and regional cooperation focused on sustainable development and innovation. During SCEWC 2025, its Global Thematic Networking Workshop will bring together 248 delegates from 124 cities and regions to co-create pilot projects around three pillars: Smart & Connected, Green & Clean, and Just & Inclusive.

As urban systems face growing pressures, shocks, and stresses, urban resilience must evolve into an integrated cycle of action. This session showcases cities' experiences and concepts of the resilience cycle and the pillars of UN-Habitat resolution 9/2: early warning, foresight, risk reduction, crisis response, and post-crisis recovery and reconstruction. Organized by the UN-Habitat City Resilience Global Program and Barcelona City Council.

This roundtable discussion will explore strategies for boosting cybersecurity within urban environments. We will focus on identifying key takeaways for Central and Eastern European (CEE) cities, drawing upon the experiences and lessons learned from their Western and Northern European counterparts.

Discover the future of ultra-fast, sustainable transport at the Hyperloop Conference — the global meeting point for pioneers redefining mobility. Connect with leading experts, startups, investors, and policy makers from the EU and beyond who are shaping the framework for next-generation transport. Experience inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and networking that will accelerate your vision of tomorrow’s connected, zero-emission world.

Smart cities are becoming a major frontier for investment, from climate tech and mobility to housing and digital infrastructure. This panel will explore how venture capital, corporate VC, and private equity are navigating shifting markets, regulation, and technology—and where capital is heading by 2030 across AI, green construction, and other scalable urban solutions

This session examines AI’s dual role in sustainable urban development: its promise for climate action and its hidden environmental and social costs. Participants will explore the sustainability paradox of urban AI and leave with practical strategies for implementation that are intelligent, equitable, and ecologically responsible.

More information https://www.cidob.org/actividades/scewc-side-event-ai-environmental-footprint-between-hidden-costs-and-green

A meeting between international elected representatives, exchanging about AI projects for public policies, and how AI can contribute to the mission of public entities

A panel exploring how cultural, geographical, and policy diversity shapes Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) in smart cities. Featuring transport planners, policymakers, and CCAM developers, the discussion shares practical examples from Europe.

How are governments up to date with technological innovations to improve public services and government efficiency? Are governments into the digital transformation to make their services more accessible, and user-friendly?

How can AI enhance decision-making in smart cities while ensuring ethical and unbiased outcomes? What role do AI technologies play in optimizing public services in the cities of the future?

Register for our interactive workshop on fragmentation in the mobility sector jointly organised by EIT Urban Mobility and the ITF. Fragmentation is a major source of inefficiencies leading to poorly coordinated services, longer transit times and the inefficient use of public funds. More information and registration under this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/efWhweEBPs

A deluge of self-driving cars could turn urban streets into a congested, dangerous mess -- but it's not inevitable. MIT Mobility Initiative Senior Fellow David Zipper will identify specific ways can help cities future-proof themselves for the rise of autonomous vehicles.

The next frontier isn’t doing less harm — it’s rebuilding ocean health while creating value. This session spotlights industries moving beyond sustainability to regenerative models that restore ecosystems as part of business.

How do green spaces in cities contribute to improving the quality of life, enhance biodiversity, and fostering community engagement and physical well-being?

In what ways is technology driving innovation in urban design practices? How are digital tools shaping the design process for buildings, infrastructures, and cities?

As climate risk grows, housing investors are backing retrofits, renewables, and net-zero solutions. This session dives into how blended finance and policy tools are turning climate resilience in housing into investable opportunities for cities and private capital.

Shared mobility is reshaping how people move, offering flexibility, convenience, and sustainability. This session explores how services like ridesharing, MaaS, and demand-responsive transport are influencing mobility systems—and what this means for users, providers, and cities. How are shared mobility services transforming the way people move in urban and suburban environments? What challenges do they face in integrating with existing mobility systems?

What will define mobility in the next ten years? This forward-looking session brings together senior decision-makers to discuss transformative trends that will shape the transport systems of tomorrow. As digital and sustainable technologies converge, the panel will explore how to navigate innovation, scale impact, and build adaptable mobility systems fit for the future.

This session will feature a video message from Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commission Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, addressing the EU Agenda for Future Mobility.

How can we finance projects to reach sustainable goals? How important is it to work on cross-sector collaboration to move forward on financing?

In this session we will explain what the Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility consists of, which arises from the collaboration between the Barcelona City Council, Fira de Barcelona, and BITHabitat, with the recent addition of new partners. In this regard, the current portfolio of projects will be presented, as well as the theme of the new mobility challenge that will be launched to the public.

The talk will focus on lessons learned within recent trials of autonomous trucking in ports. We will have a chance to assess together with top industry-experts the viability of the technology,going well beyond the hype.

Explore how geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and changing trade patterns are affecting port operations worldwide. Panelists will discuss strategies for resilience, risk mitigation, and agility in uncertain markets.

Productive, Smart and Connected is a closed IURC thematic session with mandatory attendance for assigned participants. Cities and regions will join one of 11 clusters (90 mins in 3 rooms) based on thematic networks: PORTICO (cities) and S3 Platforms (regions). Topics include Mobility & Transport, Strategic Sectors, Urban Innovation, and Agri-food.

Green and Clean is a closed IURC thematic session with mandatory attendance for assigned participants. Cities and regions will join one of 11 clusters (90 mins in 3 rooms) based on thematic networks: PORTICO (cities) and S3 Platforms (regions). Topics include Clean Energy, Blue Economy, Circular Economy, and Climate Adaptation.

Just and Inclusive is a closed IURC thematic session with mandatory attendance for assigned participants. Cities and regions will join one of 11 clusters (90 mins in 3 rooms) based on thematic networks: PORTICO (cities) and S3 Platforms (regions). Topics include Urban Regeneration, Affordable Housing, Industrial Modernisation, and Civic Participation.

Three cutting-edge startups take the stage to pitch their innovative solutions for digitalizing cities and utilities. Each startup will present their vision, technology, and impact potential to our distinguished jury of venture capitalists and industry leaders including Schréder, Via Verde, Connexin, BNP Paribas Solar Impulse, EIT Urban Mobility, Bloomhaus Ventures, Demeter, and Plug and Play. Following the pitches, the jury will engage in a live Q&A session, diving deep into each startup's business model, scalability, and market opportunity.

Legal foundation in place, LDT CitiVERSE EDIC takes its first steps. Its mission to create a harmonized ecosystem around Digital Twins has already officially started with the establishment of the legal entity and with the recently launched BUILD project as a driving force for the setting up With 14 members states on board the LDT CitiVERSE EDIC becomes a reality as the foundation for intelligent, sustainable and human-centric urban environments.

Dive into the dynamic world of Urban Shark Tank, where visionary companies pitch real-world solutions to a panel of city leaders determined to accelerate climate neutrality. This interactive session blends entrepreneurial spirit, creative storytelling, and urban innovation—offering a fast-paced stage for ideas ready to scale across smart, sustainable cities.

Explore how local governments are scaling partnerships across Europe through a unique digital tool. This session will offer valuable insights, practical examples, and networking opportunities for municipalities and stakeholders looking to enhance cooperation, access funding, and build impactful, cross-border projects.

Barcelona will be the World Capital of Architecture in 2026. Over the course of ten months, and through activities held across the city’s ten districts, a diverse, open, and participatory program will bring architecture, urban planning, and landscape design closer to all citizens. This session aims to show how these disciplines improve everyday life and can help address global challenges through first-hand insights from leading experts.

Showcasing how European cities can align sustainability efforts for cohesive, transformative change. This session explores how integrated planning and smart urban technologies drive systemic shifts — linking energy, water, mobility, housing, and public space. With Benidorm as a case study and insights from EU initiatives, we highlight scalable, cross-sector strategies for greener, more liveable cities.

This session will explore how 5G is transforming port ecosystems. Experts will discuss real-world use cases, including real-time monitoring, autonomous operations, and enhanced communication systems, and highlight the role of ultra-low latency in improving efficiency and safety.

Climate change challenges urban mobility, and the EIT Urban Mobility report Costs & Benefits of the Urban Mobility Transition highlights public transport as the most cost-effective way to cut emissions. The panel, moderated by EIT Urban Mobility , will explore how innovation in public transport can accelerate progress toward the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal, featuring experts from CARRIS-Lisbon PTO, Tranvías de Zaragoza, Freenow and GOOGLE.

As the climate crisis intensifies, urban leaders are under increasing pressure to play a pivotal role in mitigating the repercussions of climate change by implementing innovative practices, advancing sustainable energy strategies, and adopting climate-smart practices. How are cities leading solutions that confront the escalating consequences of the climate emergency, balancing environmental responsibility, city living, and economic vitality?

This session emphasises the crucial role of road safety engineering in tackling the global crash crisis, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s Second Decade of Action. It explores safe infrastructure, road audits, inspections and the Safe System approach, while advocating stronger institutions, professionalisation of auditors, and international standards, especially in LMIC's. Note that this session will be delivered in English.

Mobility data has become a cornerstone of intelligent transport systems. This session explores how digital tools—from AI to data spaces—can enable smarter mobility while also addressing challenges around privacy, integration, and infrastructure. How can mobility data, supported by AI, blockchain, and digital infrastructure, enhance the efficiency and security of transport systems? What are the main enablers and barriers?

A space for exchange between Ibero-American local government officials who will share practical cases and experiences on how they are governing the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and digital infrastructure, from a public, ethical, and strategic perspective.
The activity is part of the CIDEU Smart City and Digital Transition Micronetwork, comprised of cities from various Ibero-American countries.

Launched in March 2025, MICAD is an EU-funded project supporting inclusive metropolitan planning for climate and digital transitions. This session will present its goals, approach, and main outputs—including toolkits and Roadmaps—and invite participants to share feedback to help refine and adapt the project.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it is central to how governments rethink, rebuild, and deliver essential services. This session will highlight how AI is transforming public infrastructure across major American cities, showcasing real-world applications that improve efficiency, responsiveness, and equity.

Discover how virtual worlds and federated AI agents are transforming the way cities are designed, governed, and experienced. This session explores the emerging "Citiverse" — a next-generation digital ecosystem empowering inclusive, data-driven, and participatory urban transformation.

How can cities integrate climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and smart infrastructure for long-term resilience? What role do technology and community engagement play in sustainable urban growth?

The world is changing fast. Generational shifts, AI and new tech are redefining life and work - with cities as living labs of innovation. In her light-hearted yet insightful style, futurist Nikki Greenberg reveals what 2050 could look like, sharing global examples of tech transforming cities. Expect energy, vision and strategies to build future-ready, human-centered and inspiring places.

Many transport innovations are coming our way. We don't know which ones will stay and which ones will be next, but we do know that the majority will be rolled out on city streets. How can cities smartly choose those innovations that will help them reach their policy goals, but also discourage those that don’t bring added value? What does it take for private-sector innovations to support rather than disrupt what local authorities want to achieve? How can we come to policy-responsive innovation that is a win for both the public and private sectors? Cities and regions from the POLIS network will share their experiences on how to govern innovation but also innovate their governance systems.

Next-generation technologies are reshaping how we design, build, and live in our cities. From digital tools and AI to virtual reality and advanced construction methods, emerging innovations are revolutionizing urban planning and development. How do these technologies offer new pathways to create more efficient, building-adaptive, and future-ready urban environments?

This roundtable brings leading voices from cities, academia, and industry to exchange on key priorities in future urban mobility research current research gaps identified in the first report of the EIT Urban Mobility Academic Research Board (ARB). The session is designed as an open dialogue and closes with a networking session.

This event showcases the MUSE project’s results on assessing the impacts of Urban Air Mobility deployment on citizens’ quality of life and developing tools for cities and regions to better decide on priorities and service design. It engages the audience to exploit these results in support of European, national, and local policy goals. Register HERE

GCoM, the largest global alliance of cities fighting climate change, will showcase success stories of climate action worldwide, including smart mobility in Shimla (India), floating infrastructure for sea-level rise in Belize City, and waste-to-biogas projects in Basse and Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana). It will also launch its 2025 Impact Report highlighting implementation progress.

Alliance of European Mayors and Better Politics Foundation co-produced a documentary on innovation in European cities, spotlighted mayors and cities that are pioneering new approaches to democratic resilience, digital transformation, and citizen engagement. Outstanding mayors from cities such as Stockholm, Bologna and Lisbon participates in this powerful story of how local leadership is reshaping democracy from the ground up.

This session will discuss the effect of online tools (mis)use on citizen trust and participation in democracy, as well as strategies to counter misinformation and to promote digital media literacy. On the background of the EU Democracy Shield initiative, cities will exchange their experiences and discuss approaches to better respond to threats, and to continue enabling citizen participation in offline and online spaces.

Join to explore how (and why!) inclusive innovation can drive positive change. From the EU’s vision and funding impact to specific insights from those supporting innovation on connectivity, circularity, mobility, or to improve resilience, the debate connects policy to practice with contributions spanning public institutions, cities and the private sector.

DRT proves to be an effective solution in contexts such as low-density areas or late-night services. But scaling remains complex - profitability, regulation, and public-private contracting all pose challenges. Could autonomous vehicles help unlock the full potential of DRT, or do they add new layers of complexity to this model?

As the maritime sector becomes more digitised, ports in Europe, the United States and Asia are adopting smart technologies - AI, IoT, digital twins and autonomous systems - that create enormous efficiencies but also introduce new vulnerabilities. In this panel, experts will share regional and cross-continental strategies to protect critical port infrastructure from cyber threats that can cripple global supply chains.

Session 2 showcases three additional startups revolutionizing the way cities and utilities operate. These innovators will present their groundbreaking technologies to our expert jury panel, competing for the chance to secure non-dilutive funding, strategic partnerships, and investment interest. Following each pitch, our jury of industry leaders and top-tier VCs will challenge, question, and explore the potential of each solution.

How do we advance urban regeneration to create green and thriving neighbourhoods? This session will explore practical strategies for uniting finance, public action, and community voices to shape vibrant, sustainable places for all. Hear insights from industry leaders on innovative financing and partnership models, and learn from city officials about successful land revitalisation projects and how they engaged students in the design process.

This session emphasises the crucial role of road safety engineering in tackling the global crash crisis, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s Second Decade of Action. It explores safe infrastructure, road audits, inspections and the Safe System approach, while advocating stronger institutions, professionalisation of auditors, and international standards, especially in LMIC's. Note that this session will be delivered in Spanish.

Enabling technologies offer transformative potential for how cities function and how we live within them. From anticipating future dynamics to optimizing public services and enhancing connectivity, these innovations are key drivers of resilient smart city development. How we boost this potential to maximize efficiency in urban systems design and management, and the everyday experience of city life, will define what cities look like in the upcoming years.

How are cities shaping their strategies to create more livable and inclusive communities? This session brings together city representatives to share experiences on planning, governance, and collaboration, exploring how innovation and technology can support better decision-making, citizen participation, and the delivery of public value.

Disruptive technologies are transforming the foundations of urban life. From AI and digital twins to immersive platforms and next-gen connectivity, these tools are creating new possibilities for smarter, more sustainable cities. This session will show solutions to turn innovation into real impact for citizens, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of the next urban era.

What innovative strategies and technologies are being implemented to reduce waste and promote circularity in urban resource management?

How can cities turn vision into reality to improve quality of life? Bridging the gap between ambition and action requires practical strategies that prioritize livability, wellbeing and inclusive urban development. This session will explore how city leaders and innovators are translating ideas into tangible solutions, shaping urban environments that are more connected, equitable and responsive to citizens’ needs.

Leading ports share their experiences and breakthroughs on the road to toward zero emissions. Learn about green energy integration, emission reduction technologies, and what it really takes to become a net-zero port in practice.

Explore Austria’s pioneering autonomous bus project in Carinthia, led by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and SURAAA-Smart Urban Region Austria Alps Adriatic and discover smart city solutions by: Commend: Real-Time Multilingual Communication; Designa: Smart Parking & Charging; Infrared City: Climate-Informed Urban Planning; Lixtec: Sensor Street Lighting; Rubicon: Digital Lost & Found; Skidata: Integrated Access; Tridonic: Smart Lighting

The MaaS Alliance Partnership Forum & MaaS STAR Awards is a high-level event to mark the 10 years anniversary of the Association and to introduce the new and re-activated decade of the Alliance to stimulate interaction and dialogue with all stakeholders in the field of Mobility to advance with seamless multimodal mobility offers with user needs at its heart.

Discover the latest innovations and implementations of shore power systems (cold ironing). Experts will discuss infrastructure readiness, policy incentives, and how electrifying ships at berth is helping to reduce air pollution and improve sustainability.

How can cities create more inclusive environments that support the needs and aspirations of women, immigrants, and other marginalized groups? How can we bridge the digital gap and ensure all equitable access to technology and online resources?

Technological advances are reshaping daily life, while cities remain key arenas for democratic action and civic rights. In this context, technology is a powerful driver of progress and transformation, enhancing urban living. Yet this development also brings challenges such as the digital divide, misinformation, and declining trust. This session explores how cities can form alliances to defend civic rights and ensure technology serves the public good.

Which emerging disruptive technologies are poised to transform smart cities, and how can urban leaders proactively integrate them? How can the widespread adoption of enhanced connectivity drive innovation in smart cities?

This event offers the opportunity to connect with the Latin America Smart Cities community, including industry experts, companies and local leaders, to exchange insights on how innovative technology and green infrastructure can accelerate economic and social development. 

This stage session reveals how standard municipal operations across Europe—from cybersecurity protocols to smart city infrastructure management—actively safeguard digital rights, often without being framed in rights-based language. This session will start with a key-note from the EU Commission on the latest report of the Digital Decade 2030

Join representatives from CIVITAS, Driving Urban Transitions, Smart Cities Marketplace, and EIT Urban Mobility for a discussion on mobility and urban sustainability. Discover inspiring European practices, see how research, policy, and innovation combine to drive systemic change, and explore how collaboration can accelerate more connected, accessible, and sustainable cities.

This session will explore how diverse data-driven approaches can be used to enhance road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. By bringing together practical examples from EIT Urban Mobility's innovation program and broader European project collaborations, the session aims to demonstrate how mobility data can inform smarter infrastructure and enhance traffic safety for all road users.

This closed-door session brings together public authorities within the EIT Urban Mobility network for an engaging exchange on innovation in urban mobility. Through focused thematic discussions and interactive networking, participants will explore solutions to critical challenges shaping urban mobility and identify areas where collaborative efforts can drive impactful, city-led innovation.

His panel will explore the synergies between city and port development through integrated planning and shared digital infrastructure, resilient ecosystems and collaborative public-private strategies.

How can cities reinvent the way they are designed, built, and lived in? From rethinking infrastructures and housing to driving sustainable building practices and resilient planning, innovation is reshaping the fabric of urban life. This session will spotlight new and innovative approaches that are transforming construction and development, unlocking smarter, greener and more adaptable cities for the future.

This session explores how cities can manage tourism sustainably, using a resilience-based approach to balance the influx of visitors and their economic benefits with the affordability and livability of their residents. Barcelona, Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro will present initiatives towards this purpose. Moreover, UN-Habitat and UN-Tourism will present a new global effort to help cities and territories assess tourism-related risks and their positive and undesirable impacts on the urban system.

Rapid urbanization, coupled with accelerated digital transformation, is reshaping the urban landscape, compelling local governments to evolve beyond traditional frameworks, adopt proactive approaches, and develop tailored solutions to address their distinct challenges. Traditionally, cybersecurity has been confined to national and organizational frameworks. However, with the growing digital complexity of cities and the spread of cyber-physical systems (i.e., IoT), it is becoming increasingly challenging and unsustainable for central national administrations to manage cybersecurity at the local level, necessitating that cities take more active roles.

A truly intelligent city is a well-designed one—where every space, infrastructure, and function is optimized with a focus on resource efficiency and resilience. This conference aims to broaden the Smart City paradigm by embracing complementary approaches, combining high-tech and low-tech innovations, leveraging local stakeholders and existing strengths, promoting responsible resource use, and making the most of the existing urban fabric.

The event will highlight specific city challenges - in France, Grenoble and Germany, Jena and in Tokyo Japan. Projects established to address key issues related to Climate and social change will be presented from the points of view of several stakeholders with a focus on the challenges, results and their potential for tackling similar issues in other urban regions.

Road traffic deaths are the most common cause of accidental death at the workplace, with an alarming, estimated number of 400,000 per year: a third of the 1.19 million people that die each year as a result of road traffic crashes occurs in someone’s value chain. The FIA developed the Road Safety Index, a program that help organizations to assess the safety impact of their operations, identify gaps, and implement long-term improvements.

UK Cities today are grappling with a perfect storm of infrastructure challenges: aging buildings, increased flooding, and rising temperatures are straining systems that were never designed for today’s climate extremes. Failing infrastructure leads to cascading impacts on people and transport systems. But how can digital infrastructure, such as data sharing infrastructure, help to tackle the environmental and social problems cities face?

This session explores how Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) can be a powerful tool to address youth exclusion and gender inequalities in a connected society. PLATFORMA, with the involvement of local authorities, CSOs, and youth actors, will showcase solutions for inclusive digital spaces and empower local action against online violence, discrimination, and democratic disengagement.

Planning and implementation of solutions to guarantee safe, accessible and efficient parking for the daily use of bicycles in the city.

The original “smart city” idea, focused on automation, efficiency, and instrumentation, has changed with the growth of AI, machine learning, and pervasive connectivity. In this panel, we will explore what “smart” actually means today, and how we approach the realities of connected environments where systems operate across public and private boundaries, often without centralized control.

AI is reshaping all spheres of our live, including our cities, inside and out. The spotlight is on generative AI, which can generate original output – text, images, videos. What is its impact in the public sector? As the level closest to citizens, and as providers of many services, cities and regions can champion the responsible use of GenAI in Europe. In this session, Living-in.EU invites cities to share their experience in using GenAI.

A full-day workshop exploring the role of GTFS and NeTEX data specifications in the European context. Co-hosted by MobilityData and NAPCORE, the event will feature expert presentations, real-world use cases, and collaborative sessions to strengthen interoperability, support compliance, improve quality of service, and foster a shared vision for sustainable mobility data across Europe.

Urban logistics is a growing challenge as competition for space in cities becomes more and more pressing. This session dives into innovations (eg. New logistics concepts, automation, etc.) that can make freight and last-mile delivery more sustainable. Expect to hear about best practices and examples of how cities and companies are collaborating to solve these issues. How can sustainable logistics practices and improved fleet management reduce the carbon footprint of freight and delivery services? What impact do logistics innovations have?

Innovative approach to urban mobility planning, considering the different modes and purposes of trip.

Eurocities and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) co-organise this session to explore how Urban Digital Twins are moving from pilots to strategic tools for smarter cities. The event will gather city leaders, researchers, and practitioners from smart city ecosystems to discuss lessons learned, governance challenges, and how to ensure that data-informed urban governance remains human-centred, ethical, and accountable.

"The workshop aims to support cities delegations in finding concrete solutions for the most pressing issues in their cities and moving their smart city agenda forward, by facilitating a dynamic exchange and interaction between the two cities and with relevant experts.  Format: three-hour workshop (by invitation only) for two delegations and other interested participants who will actively engage in peer-to-peer discussion facilitated by experts"

The U4SSC is the UN’s premier platform for shaping the cities of the future, people-centered, digitally inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable. With support from 20 UN entities, U4SSC empowers local leaders to share, learn, and lead transformative change. This special session will present the latest U4SSC deliverables and explore emerging trends shaping the cities of the future. Full Programme: https://u4ssc.itu.int/special-session-on-u4ssc/

This joint session by RECI and Red Innpulso will showcase urban innovation and digitalization experiences with real impact on cities. It will feature a dialogue on public-private collaboration and future challenges, with participation from institutional representatives and municipal experts leading transformative projects in smart governance, mobility, green transition, and digital public services, highlighting both impacts and lessons learned.

The celebration of the 5th Spain-India Forum, a high-level institutional and diplomatic dialogue bringing together governmental, business, academic, and technological representatives from the sectors of both countries, is being organised by the Spain-India Council Foundation in collaboration with Barcelona City Council and Fira de Barcelona, on the occasion of the Smart City World Congress.

This dynamic panel explores how governance and financial levers can accelerate the shift to a circular built environment. Drawing on insights from across the construction value chain, it will highlight strategies like waste prevention and secondary material markets, and examine how EU policies such as Construction Products Regulation and Green Public Procurement along with skills and capacity-building, can drive systemic change.

Cities face a growing gap in housing needs, aging infrastructure, and persistent social inequalities. As affordability declines, innovative approaches to building and urban development are essential. This session will focus on centering equity in urban development by reimagining construction methods, housing policies, and design strategies to create sustainable, resilient, equitable, and accessible homes for all.

This session explores the integration of Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) into existing public mobility systems, aiming to advance seamless, sustainable, and inclusive urban transport. As cities grapple with congestion, emissions, and accessibility challenges, SAVs offer a transformative opportunity to complement traditional public transit and optimize urban mobility networks.

A meeting between international elected representatives, exchanging about Cybersecurity projects for public policies, and how it can contribute to the mission of public entities

Future of Cities in Ukraine” session will explore into how smart technologies enable Ukrainian cities to build back stronger and better. The primary goal of this event is to establish a comprehensive platform for the exchange of expertise, facilitation of collaboration on forward-thinking projects, and amplification of international awareness concerning the critical needs of Ukrainian cities in the implementation of smart technology initiatives.

To reserve a place at this event, please let us know: FoU@deloittece.com

A rapid-fire showcase of start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

The results from the first phase of the "Transport Cultural" project will be presented during the session. Transport Cultural aims to promote the autonomy of people in vulnerable situations or at risk of social exclusion, facilitating their access to culture through on-demand transport. The project has been led by In Move and RETURN, with the support of other shareholders, including Cinesi, App & Town, Bable, Apropa Cultura, and Tandem Social.

Invisible Pollution: Tackling Non-Exhaust Emissions in Urban Mobility sheds light on the often-overlooked problem of particles from brakes, tyres, and road wear. It explores potential policy measures and technological solutions to reduce these emissions and improve urban air quality.

This session explores how Living Labs enable cities to test and scale inclusive, citizen-centric, co-created digital solutions in real-life environments. Through a moderated panel discussion, participants gain insight into practical examples from city-led and city-based initiatives, highlighting the steps taken to ensure digital innovation supports, and doesn’t overlook, the needs of communities, including those considered vulnerable.

How can cities guarantee the best living conditions for their citizens? In what ways can urban planning strategies promote equitable access to resources public amenities for all citizens?

Next-generation technologies are redefining how cities understand, plan and anticipate change. From digital modeling to predictive insights powered by data, urban leaders are gaining new tools to manage smarter, safer, and more responsive environments. This session will explore how innovators and public institutions are applying these breakthroughs to guide urban evolution, turning data into actionable strategies.

Five years remain to achieve the Paris Agreement goals—what progress has been made, and what still needs to be done? Following the global stocktake at COP29, how are cities planning mid- and long-term strategies to advance climate action?

How have digital tools improved construction accuracy and reduced costs? What challenges and best practices shape successful digital transformation in the industry?

This roundtable will focus on fostering dialogue between the representatives of Central and Eastern European (CEE) cities. By encouraging mutual learning and strengthening regional networks, the roundtable seeks to enhance the strategic capacity of CEE cities and amplify their voices in broader European and international stages.

How is the convergence of enabling technologies with sustainability bringing new depth to the green transformation of our cities? This session will explore how smart solutions, such as IoT, AI, renewable energy systems, and cleantech, are redefining what the future of resilient urban living can look like. As cities strive to become more sustainable, tech innovators are stepping up to accelerate the transition toward a more resilient and environmentally responsible future.

Autonomous technologies are rapidly advancing, with the potential to revolutionise public transport. From buses to rail, this panel will examine how automation, AI, and connected systems are redefining the future of public transport. To what extent can autonomous and connected vehicle technologies enhance the efficiency, safety, and accessibility of public transport systems? What needs to change for their widespread adoption?

How are the latest technological innovations transforming urban safety and resilience? What strategies could foster cybersecurity innovation while maintaining public trust?