STAGE SESSIONS

An open exchange of ideas on how cities can become more liveable, resilient and inclusive. Through informal conversations with practitioners and innovators from different sectors, this session explores emerging approaches to urban challenges, from mobility and public space to digital services and citizen participation. Format and speakers to be announced.

As cities move from pilot projects to city‑wide smart water deployments, many discover that proprietary connectivity and data models lock them into single vendors and constrain innovation. This panel will bring together a city/utility leader, meter and platform vendors, and the Open Mobile Alliance to discuss how standards‑based connectivity can unlock scalable, future‑proof water management.

One year after presenting a shared European CitiVerse vision at SCEWC 25, the four EU co-funded projects return to showcase real results from pilot cities across Europe. Through live demonstrations, practical use cases and lessons learned, the session explores how immersive digital infrastructure can create public value for citizens, cities and regions.

Citizens’ assemblies and deliberative processes can strengthen democratic efficacy by ensuring that citizens’ voices, concerns, and perspectives are meaningfully considered. A key challenge remains: how can citizen participation move beyond small, one-off exercises to become a continuous and scalable component of modern governance? The ASCIF Side-Event, “Scaling Democratic Engagement: Keeping Every Citizen in the Loop,”

This space will address the current state of progress of the data spaces that will help drive a data economy thanks to the advancement of digitization of local authorities

Can youth ideas help shape the future of our cities? This inspiring session brings together global city leaders and brilliant youth voices from the C40's Students Reinventing Cities competition. Through a dynamic roundtable, discover practical, groundbreaking approaches to tackling urban climate challenges and innovation. Join us to unlock powerful collaboration strategies that translate youth-led ideas into real-world urban transformation.

Mediterranean cities increasingly face the impacts of climate change, from extreme heat and water stress to growing pressure on infrastructure and public spaces. The session explores how cities can scale adaptation through nature-based solutions, innovative governance approaches and new financing mechanisms. Drawing on concrete experiences from the Mediterranean, speakers will share practical pathways to more resilient urban environments.

Cities cause 70% of global emissions but only control a fraction directly. To meet climate targets, they must collaborate with the private sector. Hosted by GCoM, this panel explores the City Business Climate Alliance (CBCA) framework by C40 and GCoM. Mayors and business leaders will share how to align corporate targets with municipal climate action plans to unlock accelerated action.

The session aims to bring together city representatives and technical partners/tool providers to accelerate the adoption of digital twin applications at the city level, filling the gap between the potential of what is offered and the actual uptake by local administrations and decision-makers. The session will leverage the engagement of municipalities within city networks and other initiatives with the support and expertise of technical partners.

This session presents the MICAD Toolkit, a practical guide for local and metropolitan authorities to design inclusive climate and digital transition roadmaps. Through key insights and examples, it shows how to move beyond smart city solutions towards coordinated, participatory and metropolitan-scale transformation.

What does, and should, smart lighting serve ultimately? Urban lighting is evolving into a strategic service supporting energy efficiency, sustainability, resilience and smarter city management.
With industry experts, cities will explore how to move beyond technology-driven approaches to offer more human-centred lighting strategies through connected systems, digital twins, integrating green spaces for sustainable nighttime environments for all.

Communities worldwide are investing heavily in AI, digital infrastructure and smart city technologies. But similar investments do not guarantee similar outcomes, as maximizing return requires more than technology alone. Explore how effective governance, cross-sector collaboration, workforce development and long-term strategy combine to transform technology investments into lasting economic growth, resilience and improved quality of life.

This session will explore global startup trends, emerging innovation hotspots, investment flows and ecosystem benchmarking. Drawing on StartupBlink’s international rankings and research, it will examine what makes urban innovation ecosystems competitive and resilient, and where new opportunities are emerging. The panel will bring together cities, innovation agencies, public-sector organisations and leading startup ecosystems.

What if startups didn't have to pitch first? Hosted by Choose Paris Region, Reverse Pitch flips the traditional format. Instead of startups pitching to corporates, ten innovation leaders from major companies, public institutions and the Paris Region innovation ecosystem pitch their open innovation opportunities directly to startups and scale-ups.

A space where projects, corporates, and investors can have smooth conversations about solutions and innovative technologies that can help drive the world toward sustainability goals on the 2050 agenda.

Five finalists. One winner. Twenty minutes that could change what gets built in your city next.

The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge Top 5 take the stage for a live fireside panel — introducing their solutions, unpacking the urban challenges they're solving, and sharing what they need to scale. The session closes with the live winner announcement.

This session showcases Barcelona as a living lab for urban mobility innovation through the Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility (BILM). It presents the programme's methodology, highlights key outcomes from completed pilots, and shares progress from ongoing projects shaping a more sustainable, efficient and citizen-centred mobility model.

How can cities create conditions to safely test and validate innovative mobility solutions? This roundtable promoted by Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility brings together city leaders and mobility experts to explore the role of urban sandboxes as tools for experimentation, regulation and public innovation. Participants will share experiences, challenges and insights on enabling innovation while addressing urban needs and policy objectives.

How can young people help shape safer urban mobility? This session will showcase an innovative partnership between Chery, iRAP and RACC to improve school journeys in Barcelona through data-driven road safety interventions and youth participation. Discover how digital tools, community engagement and cross-sector collaboration can create safer, more inclusive and sustainable mobility environments for children and cities alike.

Cities worldwide invest in mobility innovation, yet many solutions remain stuck in pilots. This session explores how Austria has successfully implemented real, scalable urban mobility systems in daily use today. It showcases proven approaches in public transport, multimodal connectivity, first/last mile and shared mobility, focusing on what actually works and why pilots fail to scale.

Airport cities are often isolated, technically advanced entities ideal as test environments for other business districts. Although discussed for decades, market forces have not fully discovered their potential, and airports often develop urban environments without being aware of it. This stream aims to highlight the opportunities and challenges of airport city development and to foster dialogue with other neighbourhood developments.

As AVs deploy on European streets, local governments have a lot to learn. European cities need new tools for policy, data sharing, curb management, and oversight. This panel brings together global perspectives from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Waymo, Veluto, and the Open Mobility Foundation, exploring how cities can move from reactive to proactive stewardship, connecting U.S. experience with European regulatory realities and fast "followship".

How can cities effectively reduce transport-related air and noise pollution? This session explores complementary, data-driven solutions already being deployed across Europe. Discover how collaboration across the urban mobility ecosystem is helping cities turn environmental data into smarter policies, cleaner air and healthier urban environments.

Europe’s most innovative cities are redefining how people and goods move in increasingly complex urban environments. In this session promoted by Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility, representatives from leading European cities will exchange strategies, success stories and key learnings on fostering innovation ecosystems, deploying new mobility solutions and building more sustainable, resilient and accessible urban mobility systems. Together, they will reflect on the trends shaping the future of mobility across Europe.

Limited charging infrastructure slows the adoption of electric vehicles, while weak demand discourages investment in new charging points. This chicken-and-egg dilemma is also for logistics vehicles, which depend on accessible public charging infrastructure alongside dedicated depot charging. This session explores public-private approaches, incentives, and business models to accelerate charging deployment and support zero-emission freight.

Who owns mobility data, who can access it and how can it be shared responsibly? This session explores the challenges of data governance, interoperability, trust and incentives, bringing together perspectives from across the mobility ecosystem. Discover how stronger collaboration can unlock the value of data while supporting innovation, better services and more effective transport planning.

How can cities use data to act on interconnected risks? This session explores how science, advanced analytics, Digital Twins and UN-Habitat’s City Resilience Interactive Profiling Tool (CRPiT) can support resilience diagnosis, scenario planning and prioritization, with concrete applications from UN-Habitat, Aretian and the Barcelona Metropolitan Region.

Explore how robotics, AI and robot-avatar technologies are transforming industries, cities and society, while accelerating innovation through collaboration between startups and public institutions. Featuring insights from Japan and Catalonia, the session will conclude with elevator pitches from three Catalan startups showcasing innovative solutions with global market potential.

Privacy, connectivity and non-discrimination are no longer optional features of city life, they are foundational rights that deserve the same status in city governance as roads or water. This session makes the political case for embedding digital rights at the heart of municipal strategy, and illustrates what that commitment looks like in practice.

A panel of mayors from Canada, USA and the EU discuss common urban challenges and the value and efficiency of sharing solutions between municipalities.

Europe faces two interconnected challenges: the climate emergency and the housing crisis. This session explores how affordable housing can become a key driver of urban decarbonization through public policies, innovative delivery models, circular construction and cross-sector collaboration. Rather than focusing on individual buildings, the discussion will address the mechanisms that make systemic change possible.

What would our cities look like if women's voices shaped every tech decision? This session unites European Mayors and Women in Tech® Global to explore the real-world impact of women in urban governance, digital entrepreneurship, and smart city innovation. Honest, inspiring, and forward-looking, a conversation that challenges cities to do more and shows them how.

Cities, citizens and investors all want a thriving, sustainable future. What is missing are the conditions that make acting on that care possible. Drawing on the Lisbon Council’s Sustainable Cities Lab, this session explores how cooperation, investment, citizen engagement and cross-sector alliances can help build sustainable cities people trust, use and love

Cities' Challenges brings together cities and public authorities seeking innovative solutions to urban challenges with companies and startups that can help shape the cities of the future through technology, collaboration, and innovation.

Step into the exhilarating world of Urban Shark Tank, where bold innovators from companies dive into the depths of creative presentations of use cases to captivate a panel of cities committed to climate-smart solutions. Witness the fusion of entrepreneurship, creativity, and sustainability as groundbreaking companies present their visionary ideas, looking for support and collaboration of forward-thinking urban leaders in cities.  

A high‑level conversation on how the BSC AI Factory and leading public‑sector organisations are enabling Europe’s first wave of real AI deployment. Experts and territorial leaders will address challenges in skills, procurement, data governance and secure environments, and show how HPC, scientific expertise and multidisciplinary teams help move from EU ambition to practical implementation to strengthen administrations and improve public services.

European cities and regions have tested digital twins, AI, data spaces and immersive urban technologies through many pilots.

The next challenge is adoption at scale. This session presents how the LDT CitiVERSE EDIC is moving from fragmented initiatives to concrete services, shared infrastructure and adoption pathways that help cities and regions implement interoperable, reusable and sovereign smart city capabilities.

This session explores how smart city initiatives move from pilot to scalable solutions in emerging cities, drawing on JICA’s experience in Siem Reap, Cambodia and beyond. Through an interactive dialogue among public authorities, development partners, and private sector, it highlights practical approaches to roadmap, PPP-based implementation, and data-driven governance. Participants gain insights into scalable solutions and collaboration models.

Conversación de alto nivel sobre la colaboración entre startups, scaleups y gobiernos como vía para acelerar la innovación pública. ¿qQué se necesita para que una startup pueda colaborar de forma efectiva con una administración pública y generar impacto real?

Centrándonos en las condiciones de confianza, validación, compra pública, escalabilidad y acompañamiento que permiten que una solución innovadora encuentre encaje en el sector público.

When buses, rail, micromobility, freight and cars share one network, technical integration outpaces institutional coordination. This session confronts the governance question: who holds decision rights, how data and authority are shared across operators and cities, and what keeps networks resilient when disruptions cross modal and jurisdictional boundaries. And how do we incorporate users in a fair and effective way?

Moderated by AECOC, this session will explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of urban freight distribution. Bringing together representatives from both the public and private sectors, the discussion will address how collaboration, innovation and effective policies can help create more efficient, sustainable and resilient urban logistics systems.

To achieve Vision Zero, protecting vulnerable road users from commercial vehicles is a critical priority. This panel explores integrating heavy vehicle safety into urban policies via advanced safety technologies and corporate procurement. We highlight Euro NCAP ratings and FIA safety tools to mandate accountability and transform fleets into a force for safer cities.

European cities face growing challenges around congestion, electrification, urban logistics, and digital mobility. Drawing on the EPA Manifesto 2025–2030, this session brings together city leaders and mobility experts to explore how better integration of transport, energy, logistics, and data can support more sustainable, connected, and resilient cities.

From research and development to the streets: discover five market-ready urban mobility innovations developed through the CIVITAS initiative. Through rapid pitches and discussion, innovators will showcase practical, scalable tools that cities and transport authorities can deploy to create more sustainable, efficient and resilient mobility systems.

Cyclelogistics is emerging as one of the most promising solutions for transforming urban freight and last-mile delivery. By shifting part of deliveries from vans to cargobikes, cities can reduce CO₂ emissions, improve air quality, ease congestion, noise as well release public space. It also offers a highly efficient way to move goods through dense urban areas by accessing to pedestrianised streets and local commercial areas faster than vans.

How can research drive real-world impact in designing healthier urban environments? This session explores how collaboration between academia, cities and industry is turning research into practice. Featuring examples from the EIT Urban Mobility PhD Programme, the session highlights successful partnerships between research and public and/or private actors that are helping create healthier, more liveable cities for all.

Ridership and expectations keep rising, but not budgets. Most transport authorities are under pressure, with fewer staff and shrinking resources. This session showcases four proven approaches already improving tram and rail operations across Europe. Discover practical solutions that are making services safer, maintenance smarter and operations more efficient, with lessons that cities, operators and industry can put into practice.

The curbside is one of the city's most valuable assets. How can data, AI and better governance unlock its full potential? This session explores dynamic curbside management, showcasing how real-time data, cross-sector collaboration and innovative design can create safer, more efficient public spaces while balancing the needs of people, logistics and mobility.

This session will share practical innovative smart community lessons from Australia and New Zealand, showing how cities, regions and communities are using data, technology and partnerships to respond to place-based challenges including resilience, mobility, inclusion, infrastructure, climate adaptation and community trust - including with indigenous communities.

Digital twins are transforming how cities plan and manage urban development. This session brings together cities, researchers and technology providers to explore how digital twins, Earth Observation and advanced urban analytics can support better decision-making and address urban challenges. Real-world examples will demonstrate how data-driven tools are helping cities move from pilot projects to operational deployment and measurable impact.

While AI offers powerful opportunities to improve prevention, decision-making, and operational efficiency, it also raises important questions about transparency, accountability, data protection, and fundamental rights. This session will explore how local authorities can responsibly use AI, navigate the implications of the EU AI Act, and ensure that innovation supports democratic values and public trust.

Cities face growing pressure from climate change, rapid urbanization, and technological change, while urban identity remains overlooked. This session explores how identity can act as a catalyst for inclusive and resilient cities through governance, participatory design, and place-based approaches, highlighting the role of women leaders in shaping human-centered urban futures.

As cities increasingly adopt “smart” solutions, the role of communities in shaping these innovations becomes essential. This panel discusses how Living Labs support smart cities through participation, co-creation, local knowledge, and collective intelligence. Through real experiences and examples, speakers will share how people-centred innovation can help cities become not only more digital, but also more inclusive and resilient in the long-term.

The Women’s New European Bauhaus is an official partner of the NEB working for new urban settings and lifestyles that promote well-being, beauty and equity, experimenting with research, circularity, sustainable mobility, innovative cohabitation, care, and technological innovation. It identifies effective methodologies for radical changes towards a sustainable way of life, through spreading knowledge and practices of women's active citizenship

Terra50 is a global initiative led by Smart City Expo World Congress and Tomorrow.City to identify, validate and showcase 50 urban climate solutions with proven impact and strong replication potential. Through expert review, research and AI-supported analysis, Terra50 highlights innovative projects that help cities reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and improve quality of life, inspiring adoption and scaling worldwide.

Cities are ground zero for tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, but also hubs of innovation. This session showcases how cities are deploying smart, data-driven and integrated solutions to turn interconnected crises into opportunities for transformation, resilience, and better urban living.

This session brings together space agencies, cities and companies from Japan and Europe to explore how satellite data can enable smarter, more livable, and well-being-oriented cities. It highlights practical use cases, key challenges, and future visions while fostering international collaboration.

The public finals of the international Spanish-Czech Challenge HackaTEEN 2026 competition. A total of 10 teams from the Czech Republic and Spain will present their proposed solutions to real-world challenges facing modern cities to the audience at the SCEWC. The session will offer a unique insight into how young people envision the future of smart cities and will culminate in the announcement of the winners and an awards ceremony.

SCEWC is launching a new Call for Research Papers to continue bridging state-of-the-art AI research with the smart city ecosystem. Best & selected papers will be featured in a dedicated session. Selection criteria: CITIES, AI (of any kind), Min TRL5 (min a proof of concept done). Excluded any commercial product as main topic.

Can Smart Cities use LLMs to increase interoperability and reduce software integration costs? Yes! The results of this hackathon show: two teams used messy data from Porto Digital, underpinning real policy challenges, to gain hands-on experience in designing deterministic agentic data pipelines. This session shares what worked, what didn't, what public-sector AI needs to be trustworthy, and how it can be scaled globally through OASC’s MIMs.

The “Open Mobility Ecosystem” is like the Internet of
Mobility. The Internet for all and by all. But to make this work, we need to agree
and collaborate on the framework of OME.

What makes people actually choose sustainable mobility? This session brings together European city leaders from Amsterdam, Munich, Madrid and Espoo to show how incentives, curbside governance, Urban Mobility Labs and user-centred innovation can turn climate-friendly transport from a good intention into the easiest and most attractive everyday option.

Cities are investing in drones, 5G and AI for public safety — but moving from pilot to operational reality is harder than it looks. Drawing on the EU-funded 5G4LIVES project, this session shares field experience from Riga, where 5G-connected drones were tested for urban search-and-rescue, and Turin, where the technology faced complex hillside terrain and civil protection scenarios — and what any city needs before this becomes routine.

This IEECP session will feature a quiz session designed to challenge your knowledge on local energy and climate action. We bridge the gap between complex EU policies and practical implementation, testing your expertise on building decarbonisation, data accessibility for deep renovation, heat pump business models, financing innovations, and regional resilience. Learn how our projects are already helping authorities and citizens act today.

This session explores how cities can use user experience, mobility planning and behaviour change to make walking and cycling the preferred choice for everyday travel. Drawing on examples from NetZeroCities, DUT Partnership, New European Bauhaus and the EIT Urban Mobility Innovation Programme, it showcases complementary approaches on reducing car dependency, supporting modal shift and creating healthier, more liveable and climate-neutral cities.