Smart City Expo and Tomorrow Editions Abroad: A Global Conversation Throughout the Year

Smart City Expo is an ongoing conversation, with different editions taking place in different cities around the world throughout the year. The ideas, conversations, meetings and business opportunities happening in Barcelona this week will continue and expand with abroad editions that will take root in their own local contexts. Thanks to the various partners who commit to being part of the global SCE movement, our impact on the progress of cities and the quality of urban life is deepening every year, as more and more editions become members of this growing family of events. This session will bring together representatives from the editions that will take place in the coming year to learn from their expectations and results of hosting the event in their cities, and how their own Smart City Expo edition can support their most impactful projects these cities are pursuing.

Beyond Access: Emerging Tech for Inclusive City Living

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?

This session will feature the participation of our global partners Saudi Data and AI Authority, NVIDIA Corporation

Trasforming Rome. Meet the Mayor Gualtieri

Join us for a distinguished dialogue with Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, as he shares insights into the city’s ambitions transformation ahead of the Jubilee celebrations. Discover how new infrastructure projects, soon to be completed, are set to redefine Rome, while cutting-edge technology, like an AI virtual assistant, drives innovation and citizen engagement. Mayor Gualtieri will also discuss his recent partnership with Barcelona to push for European support in social housing, illustrating how major cities are shaping Europe’s social future.

An awakening call for public transport in Europe

Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services, and Housing, along with André Sobczak, Secretary-General of Eurocities, will present the “European Declaration for Sustainable and Attractive Public Transport in Cities.” They’ll be accompanied by the Deputy Mayors for mobility of the cities of Dublin and Milano, and the Spokesperson of the European Union Committee of the UITP. Co-signed by representatives from major European cities and public transport organizations, the declaration reaffirms a strong commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient public transport systems across Europe, addressing challenges such as climate change, social cohesion, and affordability, while urging policymakers to support the sector’s transition to zero-emission mobility.

The Power of Ecosystems: Solving Urban Mobility Challenges Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

Efficient collaboration across sectors is key to unlock the potential of mobility innovations. In this session, speakers will exchange about the impact of ecosystems in deploying the technologies needed to address mobility challenges. The panel will reflect on the roles and responsibilities of private and public decision-makers in rolling out successful innovation ecosystems.

How can innovation ecosystems solve our mobility challenges? What are the roles and responsibilities of decision-makers within, and towards, these ecosystems?

This session will feature the participation of our global partner Madinah Region Development Authority.

Ensuring Mobility for All: Putting Citizens at the Core

This keynote delves into the evolving concept of ‘transport poverty,’ emphasizing the crucial role of citizen-centred mobility planning and management. With insights from a detailed analysis of household transport spending in Spain (2018-2023), it will demonstrate how inclusive transport systems can enhance access for all, benefiting society as a whole—not just vulnerable groups—through smarter, user-driven decision-making.