The Smart City Expo World Congress (4-6 November 2025) in a nutshell:
- 1.190 Exhibitors
- 27.104 Attendees
- 143 Countries
- 592 Speakers
EU for resilient green cities stand in a nutshell
- The European Commission hosted presence featured a 150m2 booth and a collection of 26 partners, platforms, initiatives and projects,
- 6 Conference sessions with 31 speakers,
- 26 booth sessions with over 70 speakers,
- 5 international delegations have been welcomed at the EC booth,
- Participation rate of 40-50 at the EC booth and 60-70 at each Conference session
- Continuous traffic from/to the booth and specifically in the two matchmaking areas,
- 2 matchmaking areas, one for IURC (engagement with around 200 stakeholders) and one for the Global Covenant of Mayors (with more than 60 matchmaking meetings),
- Large partner area for all 26 EC partners for their specific networking activities and to exchange with their stakeholders.
The European Commission organised a joint presence of 26 European and international urban initiatives and projects under the heading “EU for resilient green cities” at this year’s Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), again showcasing Europe’s commitment to resilient, inclusive, and smart urban transformation. The Commission’s expo stand (Hall 2, D101) served as a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and showcasing cutting-edge solutions in energy, mobility, digitalisation, and citizen engagement. Each of the 26 partners contributed to the programme at the booth and to Conference sessions.
The 26 initiatives and projects represented at the European Commission’s booth were:
Smart Cities Marketplace (coordinator), ARV - Climate Positive Circular Communities, ASCEND, ATELIER, CINEA, CIVITAS, CLIMABOROUGH, Driving Urban Transitions Partnership, ENHANCE, European Green Capital / European Green Leaf Awards and Green City Accord initiative, European Urban Initiative, European City Facility, EU Capital of Smart Tourism Award or European Capital & Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital), Global Covenant of Mayors & Covenant of Mayors Europe, HADEA (CEF-Digital) - 5GSC (5G for Smart Communities), Smart Energy Cluster with the InEExS and GINNGER projects, IURC International Urban Regional Cooperation, NetZeroCities, NEUTRALPATH, oPEN Lab, PNO Innovation – Multimodal smart city mobility and logistics in a synchronised approach, RESPONSE, streamSAVE+, UP2030
Delegations visiting the EC Stand
- Brazilian Delegation
- Inauguration Delegation - Ministers, Councillors, and the Mayor of Barcelona
- Japan Delegation
- UNITAC (UN-HABITAT) / United Nations Innovation and Technology Accelerator for Cities Delegation
- Spanish Delegation
- Digital Catalonia Alliance
Policy-related information & Main Takeaways
The projects demonstrated how key policy priorities—such as the Citizen Energy Package under the EU Clean Energy for All Europeans framework and the Affordable Housing Plan aligned with national social inclusion and energy efficiency strategies—are already being translated into practical initiatives. These projects contribute to policy objectives on renewable energy community participation, energy poverty reduction, and sustainable urban development.
At the same time, national and regional policies are being adapted based on project results, providing evidence for refining energy transition measures, housing renovation schemes, and community empowerment frameworks. Lessons learned are informing updates to national climate and energy plans (NECPs) and housing regulations, ensuring that citizen-led approaches and affordability principles are embedded in future policy design.
Citizen and community engagement were central themes, with numerous sessions showcasing how participation drives effective urban transformation. EU-funded projects demonstrated that involving residents early and meaningfully fosters trust, behavioural change, and long-term commitment to sustainability goals. Across discussions, from citizen-centric energy management to inclusive innovation, cities illustrated how co-designing solutions with citizens leads to fairer, more resilient, and locally grounded outcomes. The emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and benefit-sharing underscored a clear message: Europe’s transition to climate-neutral cities depends on empowering people as active partners rather than passive beneficiaries.
At the Expo, the EU highlighted its commitment to ensuring that the green and digital transitions are fair, inclusive, and socially balanced. The principle of the Just Transition was reflected across many initiatives showcased under the “EU for Resilient Green Cities” banner, emphasising support for regions and communities most affected by the shift to climate neutrality. EU-funded projects demonstrated how targeted investments, capacity building, and participatory governance help cities align climate action with social equity. By integrating energy, housing, and mobility measures with skills development and community empowerment, the EU Just Transition framework ensures that no one is left behind in Europe’s path towards a greener, more resilient future.
Please also have a look at the following articles:
The Smart Cities Marketplace at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: Accelerating Urban Sustainability through Integrated Approaches | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: Inclusive Innovation | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: From Energy to Mobility | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: Sustainable Urban Futures | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: Future-Proofing Cities | Smart Cities Marketplace
SCEWC: Pioneering urban energy efficiency | Smart Cities Marketplace