SMART CITY EXPO

When used for city services, do advanced technologies guarantee data protection and facilitate digital trust? How are governments responding to the consequences of implementing new technologies in urban living? This session will reflect on the evolving relationships between citizens and technology, discuss the evolution of threats like cyberattacks, fake news, and digital bias, and debate regulation in the digital age.

Groundbreaking ideas and visionary plans need finance to become reality. Cities must find financial partners and alternative economic models to achieve sustainable goals, perform community projects, and foster local growth. What options do cities have to finance public projects when national or regional budgets fall short? How crucial is cross-sector collaboration for financing? How can we unlock local investments to shift to clean and equitable economies?

Can cities lead the global fight against climate change? Urban centers, heavily impacted by the climate emergency, hold the power to implement specialized policies and actions to address this urgent issue. These initiatives, affecting a significant portion of the world's population, could drive substantial progress in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting a sustainable future. By leveraging their unique position, cities can spearhead global efforts to combat climate change and ensure long-term environmental resilience.

Building resilient and smart cities requires integrating nature into urban ecosystems, with trees playing a pivotal role. Trees enhance air quality and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Their shade lowers surface temperatures and fosters healthier communities. By prioritizing urban forests, cities can create resilient and liveable environments to face future challenges. This session will discuss Plant-for-the-Planet’s Green Belt project in Granada, a new ecosystem of native species for the city.

How do cities ensure the protection of human rights for all residents? What measures can decision-makers implement to address the diverse aspects of human security within their governance frameworks? This roundtable will discuss how local administrations are protecting citizens’ rights through public policies that promote equality, social justice, and overall well-being ensuring access to healthcare, education, and political participation.

The effects of the climate emergency are disrupting our urban lifestyles. How can cities integrate environmental considerations into urban development to create more resilient, livable, and sustainable public spaces? How do green spaces in cities contribute to improving the quality of life for residents, fostering community engagement, ensuring accessibility and safety, and enhancing mental and physical well-being?

How are cities managing data analytics to prepare urban areas and citizens for future challenges? Can cities not only analyze data but also predict future dynamics to guarantee resilience and plan in the long term? This session delves into how cities can focus on data collection, storage, and management and use this information to predict performances and dynamics, guaranteeing better resilience and governance.

Increasing environmental pressures are changing the collection of natural resources, and circular practices are an efficient, green solution. These practices provide food security, water management, and waste reduction. What innovative strategies promote circularity in urban resource management? How can this approach address environmental, social, and economic challenges?

The future of inclusive city living relies on leveraging the latest technological tools to enhance affordability, inclusivity, and access in urban areas. Cities are increasingly embracing diversity, ensuring fairness, and fostering social cohesion through tech-driven solutions. However, as the urban landscape evolves, challenges like the digital divide and systemic inequalities persist. Can technology successfully bridge these gaps and create truly inclusive cities?

EU cities are key in advancing climate adaptation, reaching net-zero goals, and enhancing industry competitiveness. They are vital for the Green Deal’s 55% emission reduction target by 2030. This session focuses on accelerating cities' sustainable transformation, deploying new net-zero technologies, and creating a supportive environment by exploring action plans and strategies to make climate neutrality appealing, competitive, and accessible.

The session will highlight the role of cities in fostering human rights in the digital era and promoting a human-centered digital transformation. A first dialogue will expose how and why cities are relevant to addressing digital rights challenges. It will be followed by a solution dialogue, showcasing different projects from cities to uphold digital rights in urban spaces.

The session will explore the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence in sustainable urban development, focusing on its capacity to enhance public services, improve urban sustainability, and localize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will bring together experts, policymakers, and academia to discuss AI's role in shaping future cities.

This colloquium will explore the digital strategies and tools driving innovation in cities. During the session, best practices will be analyzed, and the implementation of advanced technologies for urban transformation will be shared. Additionally, emerging trends in digitalization will be discussed, focusing on how they can improve the quality of life for citizens, promote sustainability, and increase the efficiency of public services.

Cities are increasingly experiencing the direct and indirect consequences of the climate emergency. Simultaneously, they are hubs of innovation that can enhance their resilience and foster healthier, more sustainable environments through sustainable urban planning strategies. By integrating green spaces, eco-friendly infrastructure, and renewable energy, cities are reducing carbon footprints and promoting biodiversity. How can they further leverage these strategies to combat climate change?

As Artificial Intelligence advances rapidly, how can it help transform cities as an economic and social driver? How is AI already proving to help cities in their sustainable development advancements, and what future opportunities will this technology offer? This session will explore AI’s potential in decision-making while addressing how cities around the world are successfully managing any associated ethical concerns and risks.

The latest technological advances are revolutionizing our lives. How can we use eco-innovation to make cities more energy-efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly? This session will analyze how cutting-edge technology enhances urban green spaces and explore the challenges and solutions innovators and administrations face in creating more technological and sustainable cities.

Cities are embracing the transformative potential of cutting-edge technology. Innovations in AI, IoT, data analysis, and connectivity are already transforming urban areas into smarter, more efficient, and more inclusive environments. The key to success lies in leveraging these technologies to empower thriving cities, creating innovative, resilient, and citizen-centric urban hubs. How can urban leaders implement these technologies seamlessly into the day-to-day of cities to take advantage of all their potential?

What are the key benefits of integrating digital twin technology into smart city initiatives? How are digital twins revolutionizing urban planning and decision-making through real-time monitoring and prediction? This session will explore how digital twins have become a crucial tool, anticipating urban scenarios and facilitating the creation of more adaptive and sustainable built environments for their citizens, and predicting what it will bring in the future.

Clean energy sources provide safer, more plentiful, and environmentally friendly solutions for decarbonization. Beyond the latest innovations proposed daily for this transition, it is important to explore how the urban fabric is implementing these measures and the effects they have on the dynamics of cities.

City governments must strive to leave no one behind. As global inequalities intensify, cities have the potential to become sanctuaries where all citizens are given equal opportunities. This starts with forward-thinking, bold, and decisive policy planning and implementation. By harnessing the power of community engagement, accessible technologies, and sustainable development, cities can evolve to meet their residents' diverse needs and foster a sense of belonging for all citizens.

Can new technologies help build resilient, secure, and forward-thinking urban environments? How can local leaders spearhead this technological revolution? Strategic governance is essential for seamlessly integrating cutting-edge tech into city life while ensuring robust security frameworks. As policymakers are pivotal in fostering innovation, safeguarding digital infrastructure, and protecting citizen data, this high-level roundtable will debate how effective governance can create innovative, secure, and vibrant cities for the future.

This event will launch the DeCiDE project, a collaborative effort to enhance democratic, inclusive urban governance. By doing so the project promotes cities as a better place to live by ensuring human rights through new participatory solutions.
This project aims to develop a monitoring tool for human rights in cities. Academics,local administrators, and civil society organizations from 10 different cities will co-develop this innovative tool.

How are cities adjusting to evolving urban dynamics to meet the needs of their residents effectively? What strategies can cities adopt to guarantee equitable access to essential resources for all their citizens? The session will delve into the measures being put into place by local governments to ensure access to urban design necessities, discussing the policies that are globally shaping more inclusive, sustainable, and secure cities.

In a constantly changing world, cities are adapting their strategic plans to prepare for the future. However, how governments respond to citizens' direct concerns will truly redefine agile governance. In this session, we will explore how GovTech solutions guarantee efficiency and effectiveness in addressing both urban challenges and cities' needs while incorporating other leaders in the digital transformation to make it happen.

This roundtable will discuss the fundamental challenge facing cities today: how to reap the benefits of digital transformation and ensure it delivers for everyone, fostering social inclusion and integrating the environmental aspect. City representatives will bring their examples and perspectives and discuss how international cooperation can support cities in playing their part to achieve the twin transition and Sustainable Development Goals.

Explore the dynamic interplay of collaboration and innovation in this panel, where leading experts dissect the role of Public-Private Partnerships in propelling smart city technologies and sustainable urban development into the next era.

The Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission aims for 100 cities to become climate neutral by 2030, inspiring all other cities to follow suit by 2050. Since the Mission started in 2021, dozens of cities have built innovative climate plans, making bold commitments and rethinking their approach to climate action. Discover their journey!

Dive into the dynamic world of Urban Shark Tank, where innovative companies present bold, climate-smart use cases to a panel of city leaders. The stakes are high as these "sharks" probe deeply, asking tough questions about the replicability of each use case. Can these solutions be successfully implemented across diverse urban landscapes? The most adaptable and scalable cases will earn the sharks' support and win prizes from the audience!

This panel session will explore the experiences of cities and technical partners, discussing the challenges of deploying new technologies or governance structures at the neighborhood scale. Participants from the UP2030 project (Horizon Europe), will address integration hurdles and social acceptance issues. The session will also examine city-wide upscaling opportunities, highlighting strategies for overcoming barriers and fostering transitions.

A connected place is where more than just people, infrastructure, economy and planet come together. It’s also where the digital world, new modes of transport and mobility, and exciting new networks for trade and exchange coincide.

The Panel Discussion presented by the European Social Network will focus on how the use of AI will impact the social service sector.

Besides discussing the opportunities and challenges connected to the use of AI, the session will provide the audience with a concrete practice.

What are the new developments cities are using to enhance digital services? How are they ensuring a higher speed, accessibility, and efficiency in delivering top-notch city services? As city agencies take the lead in the use of digital technologies to better serve residents, businesses, visitors, and all who depend on urban services, this roundtable will unravel the skills and infrastructures reshaping advanced digital services.

Almost 10 years after the Paris Agreement, citizens are increasingly struggling with the effects of a constantly changing climate, experiencing unprecedented high temperatures and an elevated risk of disasters. Despite this, the role cities play in addressing the climate crisis demonstrates how local efforts can drive meaningful results on a global scale. In this session, we will explore the adaptation strategies and best practices cities implement to achieve climate goals.

The intersection of enabling technologies and sustainability is revolutionizing how environmental challenges are addressed. Innovations such as IoT, AI, and renewable energy systems are enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and making our overall existence more sustainable. As societies become more aware of the urgent need to adopt sustainable practices, tech leaders are pioneering the transition to a greener, more sustainable future for our planet.

45-minute workshop where four cities will share their initiatives, interests, experiences and needs in terms of digitalisation, citizens engagement, living labs and smart cities. Furthermore, an overview of the gatherings of smart cities and communities’ interests, current opportunities and upcoming developments coming from the analysis of the 2023-2024 Piattaforma Città working groups, including more than 80 Italian cities will be presented.

What obstacles arise in urban environments that hinder digital equality and inclusion, and how can cities address them? In what ways are local governments promoting digital equity and social justice to ensure equal access to technology? This roundtable will explore the innovative strategies that cities are employing to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all residents have equitable access to technology, digital literacy, and the opportunities they facilitate.

The preservation of a world based on democratic values, where the quality of life and equality in rights are guaranteed, is a mission that requires the active participation of cities and a joint effort from their stakeholders across all levels of collaboration. How are we empowering civil society to help move our cities forward? What innovative ideas are cities developing to foster citizen engagement, particularly among the youth?

A climate neutral EU can only be achieved with a strong involvement of cities and regions. Here, we bring together high-level representatives of sub-national authorities sharing their experience with proven scalable innovative planning and financing solutions to give local action the spotlight in the achievement of Europe's energy and climate goals.

At this session Forética will conduct live interviews with the leading companies of the Sustainable Cities 2030 initiative. Each of them will tackle the topic of green infrastructure from a different angle.