The Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona last week was a remarkable gathering of key players in the smart city sector, boasting representation from 800 cities across 140 countries and drawing an impressive 25,300 attendees to the three-day event. The ICC proudly participated in several sessions, further enhancing the impact and significance of this landmark occasion in the world of smart cities.
A portion of this contribution to the Expo was the participation in a collaborative session where the ICC joined forces with the Smart Cities Marketplace, Net Zero Cities, and the Covenant of Mayors to explore effective strategies for fostering collaboration between various projects focused on urban sustainability and innovation.
This interactive session allowed participants to break out into smaller discussion groups where they engaged in meaningful conversations about potential synergies between the different projects and brainstorm new ideas and approaches that could be implemented across the multiple initiatives. Thanks to the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between participants, there were several valuable takeaways from the session including a comprehensive blueprint outlining the synergies and differences between the approaches to innovative governance tools, such as Local Green Deals (LGDs). Following the observation of the similarities between methodologies, a comparative analysis of each project’s respective LGD content will also be conducted to provide greater clarity and guidance for cities moving forward.
The ICC was also present at the European Commission booth throughout the three days of the Expo where ICC representatives actively engaged in conversations with a wide array of businesses and cities, including several that are already participating in the ICC programme. There was keen interest from businesses in joining the ICC, whilst such enthusiasm is supported, businesses cannot join the programme alone. Instead, the focus of the current edition of the ICC emphasises the importance of collaboration between local businesses and cities. This partnership plays a vital role in driving the development of Local Green deals and innovating solutions within the communities involved in the Challenge. To facilitate these collaborations, businesses are strongly encouraged to establish connections with their local cities and regions.
Finally, the ICC participated in a session titled "Collaborations Moving Cities Forward" which highlighted the importance of city collaborations, especially with local private actors, in driving sustainable development. Dana Eleftheriadou, Head of the Cities and Proximity Team, DG GROW, European Commission, presented the ICC and how it brings together 80 cities from 18 countries to foster collaboration and peer learning. It was also emphasised that achieving the European Green Deal will simply not be possible without having cities on board; it can only be operationalised by making tangible, practical action at the local level. In the ICC, we make this concrete through Local Green Deals, an innovative governance tool to forge partnerships towards twin transition objectives. Throughout the panel, participants also discussed the importance of knowledge sharing networks and citizen engagement in driving change. By sharing best practices and working together, cities can accelerate the transition towards greener, smarter, and more inclusive urban environments.
The Smart City Expo in Barcelona successfully attracted attendees from across the globe and the ICC was pleased to play a role in the event. The ICC’s involvement facilitated valuable interactions among diverse stakeholders, fostering cooperation and knowledge sharing. The ICC Team looks forward to continuing the conversation and meeting the full range of ICC cities at the upcoming ICC Strategy City Lab on 23 and 24 November.