Governance & Economy: Driving Inclusive Cities at Smart City Expo World Congress 2026
Making Urban Government Open, Participatory and Accountable
Cities are rethinking how they operate, collaborate and grow. Digital public institutions, stronger cross‑sector alliances, innovative financing models and dynamic local economies are redefining what urban progress looks like — and how it can be sustained.
Explore digital public services, open data and ethical tech for better decision-making
Gain fresh insights into GovTech, collaborative innovation, and strategic economic drivers
Access premier networking to establish valuable connections and partnerships
2025 Industry Partners Leading the Way in the Sector
Highlights from Governance & Economy Discussions
Data Strategies, Open Government & Data Integration
City-to-city Cooperation & Public-private Partnerships
Sovereign AI, Data Ethics & Citizen Engagement
Investing Models, Financing Schemes, Global Funds & FinTech
Local Economic Development, Talent Attraction & Innovation Hubs
2025 IN FIGURES
A new milestone in urban Innovation
1000
ATTENDEES
500
EXHIBITORS
50
SPEAKERS
50
CITIES
20
COUNTRIES
Join the Governance & Economy Program at the Smart City Expo 2026
KEY ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE DEBATE
GovTech
Government in the digital age
GovTech
Governments are using data, AI and automation to modernize institutions, deliver better public services and transform the way they operate – from the inside out.
With a focus on: Data Strategies, Open Government, AI, Automation, Government Workflow, Data Integration.
Governments are using data, AI and automation to modernize institutions, deliver better public services and transform the way they operate – from the inside out.
With a focus on: Data Strategies, Open Government, AI, Automation, Government Workflow, Data Integration.
Collaborative Innovation
Stronger together
Collaborative Innovation
No city solves alone. Cross-sector alliances, city-to-city cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships are emerging as the most effective response to shared urban challenges.
With a focus on: City-to-City Cooperation, Multi-Stakeholder, Public-Private Partnerships, Innovation Ecosystems, Citizen Engagement, Alliances.
No city solves alone. Cross-sector alliances, city-to-city cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships are emerging as the most effective response to shared urban challenges.
With a focus on: City-to-City Cooperation, Multi-Stakeholder, Public-Private Partnerships, Innovation Ecosystems, Citizen Engagement, Alliances.
Finance and Investment
Funding the urban future
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
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
Urban Economic Drivers
What makes cities grow
Urban Economic Drivers
Tourism, commerce, talent, startups, knowledge industries: the forces shaping urban competitiveness. How are cities attracting what they need to thrive in a changing global economy?
With a focus on: Local Economic Development, Creative Cities, Talent Attraction, Startups, Innovation Hubs.
Tourism, commerce, talent, startups, knowledge industries: the forces shaping urban competitiveness. How are cities attracting what they need to thrive in a changing global economy?
With a focus on: Local Economic Development, Creative Cities, Talent Attraction, Startups, Innovation Hubs.
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:
Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif
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Mayor, City of Kuala Lumpur
Fernando de Pablo MartÃn
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Digital Office Director, Madrid City Council, Spain
Vera-Karin Brazova
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Head of Urban Policy and Strategies, Ministry of Regional Development of Czech Republic
Jordi Vaquer
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Secretary General, Metropolis
Washington Fajardo
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Cities LAB Coordinator, Inter-American Development Bank
Debra Lam
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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 SAGÃœNTO
- 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.
Minister of Economic Affairs
State of Saxony
Germany
Director of Economic, Cultural, and Digital Development
Metropole du Grand Paris
France
Head of Department Economics and Trade
City of Leuven
Belgium
Director, Innovation Promotion Department, Economic Affairs Bureau
Nagoya City Government
Japan
Head of Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support
Region of Central Macedonia
Greece
Director for EU Funding
Dipartimento Pianificazione strategica – Roma capitale
Italy
Director of Economic Development and Commerce
City of San Juan
Puerto Rico
Secretary of Economy and Tourism
City of Puebla
Mexico
Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce
The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce
Puerto Rico
Alderwoman, Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services
City of Cape Town
South Africa
Minister of Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism
Government of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Alderman for Economic Affairs, Living Environment & Digitalization
Gemeente ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Netherlands
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
Beyond the event, our digital platform shares the latest content relating to what’s going on in the governance sector all year round
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