Washington Fajardo

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.

Land supply is consistently identified as the primary structural bottleneck for housing delivery, especially in cities where demand, affordability pressures, and planning constraints converge. The session will examine the tools cities use to activate land for housing, addressing how land can be identified, planned, governed, and mobilised through public action, regulatory frameworks, and strategic coordination. It will also consider the role of public land, zoning, land value capture, and inter-institutional cooperation in creating housing opportunities that support affordability, urban quality, social value, and long-term public interest.

This panel explores how digital urban prototypes can move from one-off pilots to projects that are ready to finance, scale and deliver real impact. Led by the IDB Group, the session brings together IDB Cities LAB and the City of Vitória, Brazil, to discuss how public and private capital can share risk and return, align investment with urban priorities, and turn bold ideas into deployable solutions.

By 2030, data centers will account for 8.6% of global energy demand. As capacity triples in Europe and sprawl accelerates in North America, cities face unprecedented pressure on land and resources. This session addresses how strategic land-use policy and zoning can transition these facilities from isolated, resource-heavy sites into integrated, dense, and climate-aligned urban infrastructure.

Digital transformation requires networks and partnerships that help cities turn ambition into implementation. Moderated by IDB Cities LAB, this interactive discussion brings together representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Cities and Spain’s Smart Cities Network (RECI) to explore how national programs and city networks accelerate innovation, strengthen local capacities, and scale knowledge exchange.