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
What You’ll Learn About Governance & Economy
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
READY FOR OUR 14TH EDITION – ONE FOR THE RECORDS!
ATTENDEES
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 will take the stage at SCEWC25.
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Mayor, City of Kuala Lumpur
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Deputy Mayor for Finance, Operations & Innovation, City of Los Angeles
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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)
HIGHLIGHTED SESSIONS
Delve into key issues with world-renowned opinion leaders.
07 NOV
09 NOV
CO-CREATED SESSIONS
Spanish Cities Leading the Testing of Urban Advances
08 NOV | 09:30 | Green Room
Co-created with
Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes & Red Innpulso
More info
International Guidelines on People-Centered Smart Cities for a New Urban Era
08 NOV | 09:30 | Tomorrow.Building Room
Co-created with
UN Habitat
More info
Barcelona Declaration: European Cities for European Policymaking and Democracy
08 NOV | 12:45 | Auditorium
Co-created with
Eurocities
More info
Managing Smart City Governance – A playbook for Local and Regional Governments
08 NOV | 16:45 | Red Room
Co-created with
UN Habitat
More info
Risk and Resilience Governance: Sub-national Government Is the Glue
08 NOV | 17:05 | Red Room
Co-created with
UN Habitat
More info
Human Rights in the Digital Era: Lessons From Cities in Europe and Latin America
09 NOV | 09:45 | Red Room
Co-created with
UN Habitat
More info
2025 EXPO
Some of the Governments pavilions & Economy organizations that will be exhibiting in this year’s 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 will be 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 the public sector representatives who will take part in SCEWC25.
Deputy Mayor
Sofia Municipality
Bulgaria
Head of the Department of the City Brand, Economic Cooperation and Tourism
City of Rzeszow
Poland
Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Development and Cooperation
Metropolis GZM
Poland
Head of Department
Metropolis GZM
Poland
Head of Strategy and Investor Relations Department
Lublin City Office
Poland
Deputy Mayor
City of Rome
Italy
Chief Advisor
Local Government Denmark
Denmark
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
A selection of the extensive program of 2025 Breakout Sessions related to this track.
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
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SMART CITY EXPO 2025
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