Community-Centred Urban Spaces: Smart City Expo World Congress 2025
Published 14 November 2025
By 2050, a projected seven in 10 people worldwide will live in cities (World Bank, 2025), up from 58% in 2024 (PRB, 2024). During the Smart City Expo World Congress (4-6 November, Barcelona) city officials, urban planners and tech brands congregated to discuss how tech can uplift communities, support business and improve living standards for tomorrow’s urbanites.
Tech Enables New Insights for Smart Cities
Future Mobility with Purpose & Vision
Cities Brace for Climate Impacts
Although we’ve covered tech-led urbanism since our 2018 Spotlight Trend Smart Cities, failed projects and digital scepticism have led some to abandon the concept. Nevertheless, speakers at Smart City Expo were optimistic about using urban tech – especially when tools put citizen interest, safety and cybersecurity first.
Although we’ve covered tech-led urbanism since our 2018 Spotlight Trend Smart Cities, failed projects and digital scepticism have led some to abandon the concept. Nevertheless, speakers at Smart City Expo were optimistic about using urban tech – especially when tools put citizen interest, safety and cybersecurity first.
Shaping the future of mobility demands foresight, but urban transport planning often trails behind fast-moving technological advances. At Smart City, speakers and exhibitors explored strategies to close this gap and build resilient, future-ready transport systems. From responsive, energy-smart street lighting to infrastructure for autonomous vehicles (AVs), forward-thinking cities are reimagining movement patterns.
Speakers emphasised that truly resilient, future-ready cities must tackle climate change alongside economic growth and social wellbeing. Around the world, cities are strengthening their climate resilience, employing solutions ranging from simple, practical fixes (like keeping drainage systems clear) to cutting-edge technological innovations (such as AI-backed flood monitors).
Community-Centred Urban Spaces: Smart City Expo World Congress 2025
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