Governance & Economy: Driving Inclusive Cities at Smart City Expo World Congress 2025
Making Urban Government Open, Participatory and Accountable
Advancing smart city developments while pushing the boundaries of technology and handling the double-edged sword of data collection requires a careful and deliberate equilibrium involving good governance and cooperation, as well as new partnerships and business models. What are the tools local governments can use to enable products and services with a comprehensive approach to data governance and privacy concerns? What are the financial mechanisms allowing this progress?
Explore digital public services, open data and ethical tech for better decision-making
Gain fresh insights into civic innovation, regulation, and inclusive policymaking
Access premier networking to establish valuable connections and partnerships
2025 Industry Partners Leading the Way in the Sector
Highlights from Governance & Economy Discussions at SCEWC25
Digital government and seamless public services
Citizen participation and co-creation platforms
AI regulation, data ethics and algorithmic transparency
Open government, anti-corruption and institutional trust
Collaborative policymaking and digital rights
2025 IN FIGURES
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY!
ATTENDEES
CITIES
Join the Governance & Economy Program at the Smart City Expo 2025
KEY ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE DEBATE
GovTech
How are governments up to date with technological innovations to improve public services and government efficiency?
Are governments into the digital transformation to make their services more accessible, and userfriendly?
Key topics: Advanced Digital Services, e-Government, Data Governance, Agile Services, APP Solutions, Automation, Digital Participation
Collaborative Missions
How are the cities raising their voice on the global atmosphere?
In an unstable world, can cities take part in the fight to preserve democratic values?
Key topics: Agile governance, Alliances, Collaborations, City-to-City Cooperation, Public-private Partnership, Democracy, Citizens’ Engagement
Finance and Investment
How can we finance projects to reach sustainable goals?
How important is it to work on cross-sector collaboration to go forward on financing?
Key topics: Climate Finance, Financing Tools, Fintech, Global Funds, Investment Models
Sustainable Economic Growth
How do the cities envision their economic future?
How are governments forecasting their sustainable growth? How are they working on looking for new economic drivers?
Key topics: Talent Attraction, Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Innovation Hubs, Digital economy, Local Economy, Diversification
All You Need to Know About the Governance & Economy Program
2025 CONGRESS
SPEAKERS ON STAGE
Some of the experts who took the stage at SCEWC25 include:
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Mayor, City of Kuala Lumpur
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Digital Office Director, Madrid City Council, Spain
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Head of Urban Policy and Strategies, Ministry of Regional Development of Czech Republic
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Secretary General, Metropolis
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Cities LAB Coordinator, Inter-American Development Bank
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Founding Executive Director, Partnership for Innovation (Georgia Tech)
2025 EXPO
Some of the Governments pavilions & Economy organizations that exhibited in the 2025 Exhibition Area include:
- ACM-ASSOCIACIO CATALANA DE MUNICIPIS
- AGENCE WALLONNE A L’EXPORTATION ET AUX INVESTISSEMENTS ETRANGERS
- AGENCIA ARGENTINA DE INVERSIONES Y COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL
- AJUNTAMENT DE BARCELONA
- AJUNTAMENT DE L’HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT
- AMB – ÀREA METROPOLITANA DE BARCELONA
- AMBATO
- AYUNTAMIENTO DE MADRID
- AYUNTAMIENTO DE SAGÜNTO
- BARRANQUILLA
- BUSINESS TAMPERE
- CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT
- CONSORCI DE LA ZONA FRANCA
- CURITIBA
- DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA
- DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
- ENTERPRISE GREECE
- FEMP-FEDERACION DE MUNICIPIOS Y PROVINCIAS
- GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA-DEPARTAMENT DE TERRITORI
- GMINA MIASTO RZESZÓW
- GOVERNMENT OF CATALONIA
- HLAVNI MESTO PRAHA
- HUNGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
- ICEX
- IDS – INSTITUTE FOR DESIGN STRATEGIES
- INNOVATION AGENCY LITHUANIA
- MEXICO PAVILION
- MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
- MINISTRY OF INVESTMENTS, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATIZATION OF T
- PORTO DIGITAL
- PUEBLA
- RECI – RED ESPAÑOLA DE CIUDADES INTELIGENTES
- SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO
- SPRAVA INFORMACNICH TECHNOLOGII MESTA PLZNE, PRISPEVKOVA ORGANIZACE
- SPRAVA INFORMACNICH TECHNOLOGII MESTA PLZNE, PRISPEVKOVA ORGANIZACE
- STATUTARNI MESTO BRNO
- UPC- UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA
- VLAAMS AGENTSCHAP VOOR INTERNATIONAAL ONDERNEMEN
- XARXA ACCESS CAT
2025 PARTICIPANTS
ATTENDEE PROFILES
Discover some of the Governance sector roles that were present at the 2025 edition.
- Chief Operating Officer
- City Manager
- Councillor
- Diplomat
- Head of Institutional Relations
- Mayor
- Minister
- President
- Secretary General
- Vice Mayor
- Chief Financial Officer
- Director of International Affairs Office
- Head of Department of Economy and Urban Development
- Head of International Cooperation
PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES
A selection of public sector representatives who took part in SCEWC25.
Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Development and Cooperation
Metropolis GZM
Poland
Head of Department Economics and Trade
Sofia Municipality
Bulgaria
Head of Department Economics and Trade
City of Leuven
Belgium
Secretary of Economic Development
State of Sao Paulo
Brazil
Chief of Investment Division
Guangzhou Municipal Development & Reform Commission
China
Director of Economic, Cultural, and Digital Development
Metropole du Grand Paris
France
Deputy Head Division for European Funding
City of Hamburg
Germany
Head of Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support
Region of Central Macedonia
Greece
Director for EU Funding
Dipartimento Pianificazione strategica – Roma capitale
Italy
Director, Innovation Promotion Department, Economic Affairs Bureau
Nagoya City Government
Japan
Director
IYEM (Innovation and Business Competitiveness)
Mexico
Head of Economy and Tourism Division
Tourist Office of Braga
Portugal
Director of Economic Development and Commerce
City of San Juan
Puerto Rico
Head of Public and Private Domain Administration Service
Municipality of Galați
Romania
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
A selection from the extensive program of Breakout Sessions related to this track that took place at SCEWC25.
Democratic Innovation in European Cities
The Rise of Private Smart Cities: Promise, Practice, and Public Impact
The 5UP Approach - Urban Planning for Systemic Climate Action
How to create a greener urban economy? Stories from URBACT cities
KNOWLEDGE PILLS
EXPLORE ALL SMART CITY EXPO TOPICS
