SMART CITY EXPO

A relaxed moment to have a drink and mingle with other attendees at the venue’s main entrance after the World Smart City Awards gala.

This event will explore how the principles and enablers of the International Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities, which span from shared prosperity, to data and smart cities services, governance, and regulation, etc., can be applied to foster access to adequate housing and basic services in cities globally.

This session will showcase the Arab European Cities Dialogue (AECD) as a platform for fostering collaboration and partnerships between cities in the Arab and European regions. Building on its debut in Riyadh, the session seeks to maintain momentum and set the stage for the next edition in Madrid in 2027. It will highlight the importance of urban diplomacy and the role of dialogue on urban innovation in addressing shared challenges.

This session will examine how disinformation challenges democratic processes at the local level, analyzing recent campaigns that have disrupted local governance and exploring technological and policy-based countermeasures. We'll discuss collaborative frameworks between government, civil society, and technology providers to establish actionable strategies for building digital resilience in urban communities while preserving open information ecosystems essential to democratic participation.

As global tensions and inequalities deepen, the role of cities as spaces for opportunity becomes essential. By embracing forward-thinking policies and a strong focus on wellbeing, governments are advancing towards fostering cities where individuals and communities can truly thrive. Smart cities, guided by inclusive governance and the responsible use of emerging technologies, can guarantee access to essential resources and become powerful engines for prosperity and fulfilling urban life.

This session will feature a video message from Mr. Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms of the European Commission, addressing the EU Agenda for Cities.

How are the cities raising their voice on the Global atmosphere? In an unstable world, can cities take part in the fight to preserve democratic values?

Cities play a vital role on the global stage, not only as home to the majority of society’s stakeholders but also as hubs for inclusive dialogue and grassroots engagement and empowerment. This roundtable will examine how cities are amplifying their voices to defend democratic values while fostering collaboration and coordinated efforts across all levels of governance and sectors.

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?

Inclusive urban strategies are reshaping how cities design spaces that meet the needs of all residents. In this session, representatives from Montreal and Sunderland will share their cities’ journeys toward greater inclusivity, highlighting efforts to enhance accessibility, wellbeing, and community life. The session will explore similarities and differences in the cities’ strategies, shedding light on how thoughtful planning, collaboration, and community engagement drive more inclusive and livable urban environments.

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? The discussion will delve into the measures that ensure inclusive public spaces and uphold everyone’s right to urban life, looking at the strategies influencing urban design to foster safer, more accessible, and sustainable environments.

How does digital transformation enhance citizen participation while ensuring data transparency and security? How can we guide behavior in the digital world and secure our digital rights?

With 47 projects supported with €181 million in funding, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) puts 5G technology at the service of the most innovative smart cities: we drive digital transformation, improve public services, and enhance quality of life for citizens across the European Union.  

How does digital transformation will enhance citizen participation while ensuring data transparency and security? How can we guide behavior in the digital world and secure our digital rights? This roundtable will discuss how local governments are protecting citizen’s digital rights and identities in a connected world while ensuring privacy, fostering digital trust and countering disinformation.

Cities are at the forefront of balancing economic growth, sustainability and digital transformation. Innovation hubs and forward-looking governance strategies are becoming essential to foster prosperity and resilience. This session will bring together urban leaders and innovators to explain how cities are embracing digitalization and new models of governance to accelerate sustainable development, drive innovation and ensure long-term economic vitality.

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?

AI's rapid growth creates unprecedented challenges: data centers face significant challenges related to water and energy resources, creating opportunities for infrastructure innovation. Veolia addresses this through strategic collaborations—providing sustainable solutions to tech leaders while leveraging their AI capabilities to optimize Veolia’s environmental services. This drives regional resilience and sustainable digital transformation.

Cities are facing the realities of climate change, and the 2030 Agenda offers a shared framework for action and accountability. This session explores how urban leaders translate global goals into local strategies, integrating climate resilience, innovation, and inclusive planning. It will highlight how governance, collaboration, and long-term vision turn sustainability commitments into measurable urban transformation.

With just five years left to meet the Paris Agreement goals, the climate crisis continues to intensify. TheCOP29’s global stocktake reveals uneven progress. Cities play a pivotal role in advancing climate action by bridging global governance, climate finance and mitigation priorities. This session will discuss the progress made thus far and explore the remaining steps needed for urban strategies to transform climate commitments into concrete results.

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.

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

As cities face evolving threats, how can technology enhance safety without compromising trust or inclusion? From cybersecurity to public space protection, innovation must align with human values. Explore how resilient, equitable strategies can secure digital and physical worlds for all citizens.

This conversation explores how AI, data integration, and emerging technologies are transforming city management—from predictive safety and digital housing aid to smart mobility and infrastructure. U.S. mayors will share lessons and priorities for scalable, inclusive solutions that strengthen efficiency, equity, and resilience.

What are the potential, limitations, and challenges of embedding this disruptive technology in day-to-day city life? What can be expected of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

The future of cities is experiential, blending technology, entertainment, sports, and urban life into seamless, connected ecosystems. In this keynote, Julio de Salvo, Chief Solution Officer for MENA & APAC at Globant, explores how AI, data, and design create frictionless experiences that redefine living, playing, and connecting. Showcasing Globant’s work at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, attendees will see how human-centered innovation enhances personalization, connectivity, and engagement. The session highlights how smart cities are evolving to be adaptive, sustainable, and emotionally intelligent, setting new global standards for experience-driven urban design.

Cities around the globe are piloting and adopting new solutions powered by agentic AI and LLM’s to enhance internal operations, scale impact, and improve the livelihood of citizens. From reducing traffic and cutting carbon emissions, to bringing greater creativity to the classroom and providing real time assistants to public transit across a multitude of languages - there are a lot of exciting ways these emerging technologies can help cities.

What’s next for AI as it reshapes our world? From generative models to smart devices and LLMs, AI is evolving fast—offering immense promise and raising complex questions. This session explores the true frontiers of AI, balancing innovation with awareness, and looking ahead to how this powerful technology might redefine our future.

In today’s interconnected world, Europe’s reliance on external computing infrastructure creates economic, security, and trust risks. Sovereign compute technologies offer a strategic solution through open, transparent, and verifiable systems, strengthening innovation, digital resilience, and preserving European values and innovation from external influence.

Cities face complex security challenges across both physical and digital spaces. As technologies like AI integrate into urban life, issues such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and public space safety demand creative, human-centered solutions. Thoughtful approaches to urban security, rooted in trust, ethics, and equity, are essential to maintain public confidence and ensure safe, inclusive cities. How can cities rethink security to protect people without compromising their rights?

What role do new energy models play in shaping the urban fabric and dynamics of cities as they strive toward decarbonization? What alternative energy sources are real clean solutions for the increasing power demand?

Stockholm has set very ambitious goals - to become climate positive by 2030 and fossil-free by 2040. The city’s energy transition has been steadily advancing since 1990. Achieving these targets requires phasing out all fossil fuels and developing innovative ways to capture carbon from the atmosphere. One major initiative is the development of a full-scale Bio-Carbon Capture and Storage system. In parallel, Stockholm is contributing to the ASCEND project, creating Positive Clean Energy Districts that combine energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, decarbonized mobility, and active citizen engagement.

As cities strive toward decarbonization, the energy revolution use is reshaping urban life. What role do decentralized energy models, smart grids and renewables play in meeting rising power demands while enhancing energy efficiency? From energy sources to storage, this session will introduce what innovative energy systems cities are adopting to meet cities’ needs and power a more sustainable urban future.

As cities worldwide race to become “smart,” we face a vital question: Are we optimizing for technology, or for human flourishing? In this visionary keynote, Kate O’Neill—Tech Humanist and advisor to organizations from the City of Amsterdam to Google to the United Nations—explores how cities can move beyond novelty to create meaningful human experiences at scale.

Through real-world case studies and cross-sector insights, Kate demonstrates how city leaders can make technology choices that bridge the digital divide, foster inclusive communities, and deliver value for all citizens.

India is not only a key player in the new global order but also an emerging leader in sustainable, digital, and scalable urban solutions. This session will explore how urban transformation has become a tool of soft power and strategic projection, positioning India as a strong partner for European countries in areas such as AI, water management, sustainable mobility, and digital governance. A high-level panel will discuss how Spain and India can strengthen their ties through cities as platforms for diplomacy, technology, and development.

Join us in celebrating the most innovative and impactful initiatives shaping the future of urban living. The World Smart City Awards recognize pioneering projects, visionary leaders, and transformative strategies that are driving progress in cities around the globe. This ceremony is a tribute to excellence, creativity, and collaboration in building smarter, more sustainable urban environments.

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.

This session showcases how cities are leveraging space data and GEO tools for climate resilience and smarter infrastructure planning. Join city leaders, space industry experts, and GEO-AI practitioners as we explore real-world case studies and discuss turning data into actionable strategies for resilient urban growth. We'll delve into risk assessment, scenario modeling, and the vital role of technology for better urban planning.

Europe’s cities lead the just and green transition with their exemplary action. This session will explore how cities can lead the way in sustainable development by integrating clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive policies. It will also highlight the roles of urban initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors, the Green City Accord, the Smart Cities Marketplace, and the Horizon Europe Missions in advancing urban transformation.

From digital twin ecosystems and AI-driven planning platforms to parcel intelligence, radar sensors, immersive installations, and sustainable foundations, these startups are reshaping how we design, monitor, and build cities. Explore technologies that streamline approvals, optimize infrastructure, engage citizens, and enable innovative, resilient, and eco-friendly urban futures.

From AI-powered video intelligence and predictive analytics to decentralized IoT platforms, 3D digital twins, and 3D spatial audio navigation, these startups redefine how we monitor, secure, and interact with the built environment. Discover technologies that connect devices, transform data into actionable insights, and create immersive, hands-free experiences.

‘Nexus’ is the coordination of a set of indoor drones that symbolize unity and synergy among them. The power of teamwork, collaboration, and collective effort enables individuals, when united, to achieve great challenges and accomplishments. It tells a wonderful story that conveys ‘together, it’s possible’ and that ‘together, we can reach places one alone could never imagine.

Duration: 6 minutes. A project by Flock Drone Art.

‘Nexus’ is the coordination of a set of indoor drones that symbolize unity and synergy among them. The power of teamwork, collaboration, and collective effort enables individuals, when united, to achieve great challenges and accomplishments. It tells a wonderful story that conveys ‘together, it’s possible’ and that ‘together, we can reach places one alone could never imagine.

Duration: 6 minutes. A project by Flock Drone Art.

‘Nexus’ is the coordination of a set of indoor drones that symbolize unity and synergy among them. The power of teamwork, collaboration, and collective effort enables individuals, when united, to achieve great challenges and accomplishments. It tells a wonderful story that conveys ‘together, it’s possible’ and that ‘together, we can reach places one alone could never imagine.

Duration: 6 minutes. A project by Flock Drone Art.