ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES: Exploring the Future of Smart City Technology at SCEWC26

Shaping the digital backbone of tomorrow's cities

Cities are navigating a new layer of complexity: AI systems are already making decisions, connectivity networks are being stress-tested, and digital platforms are becoming the nervous system of urban life. The question for city leaders is no longer whether to embrace intelligent technology, it is how to deploy it responsibly, equitably and at scale.

Unlock real-world solutions for smarter, more responsive urban systems

Learn why smart city technology is the engine of urban transformation

Access premier networking to gain valuable connections and partnerships

2025 Industry Partners Leading the Way in the Sector

Highlights from Enabling Technologies Discussions

Agentic AI, Autonomous Systems & Deep Learning

Sovereign AI & Data-driven Governance

Cloud Computing, Edge Computing & Data Storage

IoT Sensing, Cybersecurity & Emergency Response

Connectivity, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 & Smart Networks

Digital Twins, City Platforms & Cognitive Cities

2025 IN FIGURES

A new milestone in urban innovation

1000

ATTENDEES

500

EXHIBITORS

SPEAKERS

CITIES

COUNTRIES

Join the Enabling Technologies Program at the Smart City Expo 2026

KEY ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE DEBATE

Agentic AI

Agentic AI
From algorithms that suggest to systems that decide and execute. What autonomous AI agents are already doing in the real world, and what it means for cities.

With a focus on: Agentic AI, Algorithms, Autonomous Systems, Deep Learning, LLM, VLM.

AI for Better Cities

From data to decisions

AI for Better Cities
How city governments are embedding AI into their operations – for prediction, resource allocation and sustainable urban development. Real deployments, real outcomes.

With a focus on: City Platforms, Data-Driven Governance, Data Management, Sovereign AI, Predictive Analytics.

AI Next Frontiers

The limits and the leap

AI Next Frontiers
Mapping AI’s boundaries – and what comes next. An honest look at current constraints and the emerging technologies that could overcome them.

With a focus on: Deep Learning, Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, Data Storage, Latency.

Public Safety

Sensing, predicting, responding

Public Safety
How real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and connected infrastructure are redefining urban safety and resilience – and the cybersecurity challenges they bring.

With a focus on: IoT Sensing, Predictive Safety, Emergency Response, Cybersecurity, Urban Resilience

Urban Connectivity

From 5G and beyond

Urban Connectivity
Where do cities actually stand on 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and smart networks? An honest assessment of current deployment and the connectivity gaps that still need solving.

With a focus on: Connectivity, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Smart Networks, Edge Computing.

Urban Digital Platforms

Cities that learn

Urban Digital Platforms
Digital twins, simulation environments and integrated city platforms are turning urban complexity into something manageable and predictable. The building blocks of tomorrow are already here.

With a focus on: Digital Twins, City Platforms, Cognitive Cities, Digital Modeling, Data Analytics.

All You Need to Know About the Enabling Technologies Program

2025 CONGRESS

SPEAKERS ON STAGE

Some of the experts who took the stage at SCEWC25 include:

Kate O’Neill
—

Tech Humanist. Founder and CEO of KO Insights, and Author

Ulpiano Suarez
—

President, CIDEU

Raquel Flexa
—

Deputy Secretary for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities, City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mani Dhingra
—

Digital Twin Programme Lead, Smart Dublin

Marina Zanchi
—

Director of The European Health & Digital Executive Agency, European Commission

Genta Hajri
—

Digital Innovation Delivery Lead, Londong Office of Technology & Innovation

2025 EXPO

Some of the Enabling Technologies organizations that exhibited in the 2025 Exhibition Area include:

AERF, S.L.
AERTIC
aiOla
ANTERAL
AVANTI R&D, INC.
CERAGON NETWORKS
CVC
DTN
EDISONE
EJTECH
FORECR
GEOACTIO
i2CAT, the Internet Research Centre
ICT CLUSTER
IKOTEK USA, INC.
INOVAR
INOWISE
INTESA SANPAOLO INNOVATION CENTER
IOTSENS
IRIDALABS
ISID
LIBELIUM
LSLiDAR
MILESIGHT
MIOTY ALLIANCE
NANO SENSORICS
NEURALLABS
NOMMON
OGOV SYSTEM
OPEN MOBILE ALLIANCE
PANORAMA ANTENNAS
PROTOFY
REMOTICOM
RINA
SIGNOTEC E-SIGNATURE SOLUTIONS
SITEP
TISC
Wavecontrol
WDNA
WUHAN X-DYNAMICS CO., LTD.

2025 PARTICIPANTS

ATTENDEE PROFILES

Discover some of the roles specializing in enabling technologies that were present at the 2025 edition.

Chief Communication Officer
Chief Digital Officer
Chief Innovation Officer
Director of AI Strategy
Director of Big Data and Analytics
Director of Blockchain Solutions
Director of Cloud Data and Security
Director of Digital Transformation
Director of IOT Solutions
Director of Research in Data Science
Director of Software Development
Engineer
Head of Development and Innovation
Head of IT / IT Director
Project Manager
R&D and Innovation Director

PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES

A selection of public sector representatives who took part in SCEWC25.

Secretary of Modernization, Innovation, and Digital Transformation

Provincia de Entre Ríos

Argentina

Chief Information Officer

City of New Orleans

United States of America

Director of the Department of Information and Communication Systems

City of Geneva

Switzerland

Head of Department of Smart City Development

Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization

Slovakia

Deputy Mayor of Digital Transformation & Smart City Municipality

Riyadh Region Municipality

Saudi Arabia

General Director

Ministry of Digital Affairs
Poland

Chief AI Officer

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

United Kingdom

Deputy Myor Smart City, AI and Innovation

Comune di Firenze

Italy

Head of the City of Montreal's Urban Innovation Lab

City of Montreal’s Urban Innovation Lab
Canada

Superintendent of Modernization and Innovation

Government of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Deputy Director General for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Cabinet Office

Government of Japan

Japan

Head of Flemish Digital Strategy

Digital Flanders

Belgium

Chief Innovation Officer-Director for the BIT Habitat Foundation-City

Barcelona City Council

Spain

Head of R and D and Innovation Branch

Metropolitan Municipality of Bursa

Turkey

President

National Institute of Development Administration – NIDA

Thailand

Head of Department Digital Strategies and AI

Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection

Germany

Chief Digital Officer

City of Celje

Slovenia

Councillor and Chair of the Digital Committee

City of Reykjavik

Iceland

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

A selection from the extensive program of Breakout Sessions related to this track that took place at SCEWC25.

State-of-the-Art AI for Smarter Cities: A Global Research Showcase

Join us for a dynamic session where researchers from different countries unveil their latest scientific contributions on state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence for cities. Discover how cutting-edge academic insights are driving urban transformation – from generative AI to digital twin simulators – and shaping more efficient, resilient, and inclusive cities. All papers will be published in the indexed SAUC Journal.

Urban Digital Twins: what is at stake for European cities?

This stage session, co-organised by Eurocities and the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, will facilitate an open discussion between city representatives on the potential of digital twins to enhance local policies in European cities.

Building an AI-enabled Smart City Toolkit

This session will focus use cases of AI specifically tailored to operational needs of Cities. It begins with a session on "Building an AI-enabled Smart City Toolkit." The session will demonstrate the practical use of AI for prioritizing investments as part of the Smart City Toolkit. The remaining time will delve deeper into how AI can be leveraged to enhance service delivery in Cities.

The Digital Foundations Enabling Smart Cities in LMICs

Rapid urban growth in LMICs is outpacing the capacity of cities to deliver essential services. Digital technologies offer a critical pathway to make urban systems more accessible, affordable, inclusive, and resilient. This session explores the enabling technologies underpinning smart city development in LMICs, highlighting the evolving role of mobile operators in driving scale, innovation, and impact across core services.

Increasing the uptake of AI for Smarter Cities: From Pilots to Impact at Scale

AI has transformative potential for cities, but scaling from pilots to impactful, city-wide deployments remains a challenge. This TEF Citcom.ai workshop brings together cities and tech providers to explore collaboration strategies. Through case studies and insights from the European TEF for Smart Cities, participants will learn to overcome adoption barriers and scale AI for societal impact.