Edlam Abera Yemeru

Building resilient cities requires new approaches that connect infrastructure investment, energy systems, and long-term urban development strategies. This session will explore how cities and industry leaders can collaborate to accelerate the delivery of future-ready infrastructure while balancing economic growth, sustainability, and operational efficiency. From investment models and energy transition pathways to public–private partnerships that enable scalable solutions. Strengthening coordination across sectors will be essential to creating resilient, investable, and economically sustainable urban ecosystems.

Cities are moving from digital ambition to real-world impact. This session explores how AI and digital technologies can support inclusive, sustainable and resilient urban development through practical city experiences and implementation pathways. It will show how people-centred principles can become scalable strategies and solutions, while gathering insights for the U4SSC People-Centred Smart Cities Toolbox to help cities leave no one behind.

Artificial intelligence is redefining the future of cities and communities. The convergence of AI, digital twins, spatial intelligence, robotics, and the AI-enabled Citiverse is creating a new generation of places that are increasingly intelligent, adaptive, and autonomous. As local and regional governments face growing challenges from housing and urban planning to climate resilience, mobility, and public service delivery, the opportunity is to harness these technologies to build more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous communities. Realizing this vision requires international interoperable standards, forward-looking governance, sustainable digital infrastructure, and global collaboration to ensure that innovation delivers lasting public value and improves quality of life for all.