The Smart Cities Marketplace once again took the lead in organising the European Commission’s presence at the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) 2024, the world’s foremost event dedicated to urban innovation and sustainable city development. With over 1,150 exhibitors, 25,771 attendees, and representation from 850 cities across 130 countries, this year’s congress provided an unparalleled platform to advance discussions on achieving climate-neutral, smart, and inclusive cities.
The Marketplace was pivotal in coordinating a European Commission booth featuring 21 EU-supported projects and initiatives spanning DG ENER, DG CNECT, DG REGIO, and other Directorates-General. The booth became a hub for engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and showcasing practical solutions, including energy transition projects, financing mechanisms, and citizen-centred approaches to urban innovation. The booth hosted 16 sessions with 45 speakers and welcomed 20 international delegations, including those from Japan, Korea, and Brazil.
Dynamic Sessions and Discussions
The Smart Cities Marketplace and its partners facilitated various impactful sessions and dialogues throughout the three days. These included:
- Driving Urban Sustainability: Achieving net-zero the just way, a congress session emphasising the critical role of cities in tackling climate change through innovative energy governance, social inclusion, and the European Green Deal. Speakers from Barcelona and Porto shared best practices in citizen engagement and multi-level governance, inspiring participants to embrace transnational collaboration.
- Innovative Financing Options and Private Capital for Energy Transition in Cities, an agora session exploring non-traditional funding solutions for cities. This discussion addressed barriers to securing private investment, with insights from consultations on public authorities’ attitudes towards alternative financing sources.
- Smart City Transformation: Advisory and Matchmaking Services for Cities, a booth session led by the Marketplace, NetZeroCities, and the Covenant of Mayors. This interactive session introduced the tailored support offered to cities, including legal, technical, and financial guidance, highlighting success stories such as Bydgoszcz's journey toward implementation through combined EU and national funding mechanisms.
- Turning the Tide: Achieving Europe’s Energy and Climate Goals Through Local Action, an agora session focusing on the interplay between governance levels and the principle of subsidiarity. Representatives from Krizevc, VITO NEXUS, and the Belgian government explored ways to simplify cooperation for smoother urban transitions.
These sessions highlighted the Marketplace’s expertise and fostered meaningful connections between cities, private sector actors, and EU initiatives.
Networking and Matchmaking
The Marketplace’s matchmaking activities successfully facilitated 45 individual stakeholder meetings and targeted collaboration sessions. The initiative fostered partnerships with cities like Zaragoza, Valencia, and Leuven, paving the way for new projects focused on energy transition and climate resilience. A formal collaboration agreement between the Smart Cities Marketplace and NetZeroCities was also announced, strengthening synergies and ensuring cohesive support for Mission Label Cities.
The European Commission booth welcomed 20 international delegations, including representatives from Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Japan, Korea, and Brazil. These engagements demonstrated the global relevance of the EU’s urban strategies and reaffirmed the importance of international partnerships in addressing shared challenges.
Partnering with Initiatives
The Smart Cities Marketplace emerged as a central figure in promoting integrated services for cities. Its services in the Climate Contract Hub of NetZeroCities mark a significant step forward in streamlining support for cities transitioning to sustainability. Additionally, its close collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors underpins plans for an upcoming open call to support signatory cities with tailored advice and financing access.
Looking ahead, the Marketplace will focus on expanding its advisory services, deepening collaboration with other EU initiatives to further align with emerging European Commission priorities, including the Citizen Energy Package.
The 2024 Smart City Expo World Congress was a testament to the EU’s commitment to empowering cities as key players in achieving climate neutrality and resilience. The Smart Cities Marketplace continues to drive sustainable and inclusive urban transformation across Europe and beyond by facilitating collaboration, showcasing innovative solutions, and addressing critical urban challenges.
Find more detailed information in the following news items
Geospatial Tools for Cities Focus Group at SCEWC 2024 | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC 2024 - Innovative Financing Options for Energy Transition in Cities | Smart Cities Marketplace