The Smart Cities Marketplace made an impact at the Cities Mission Conference 2025, held from 6 to 8 May in Vilnius. As one of 21 featured initiatives, the Marketplace showcased its commitment to accelerating climate-neutral urban transformation across Europe.
Over 900 city leaders, experts, and innovators attended the conference, which spotlighted the progress of the EU’s 112 Mission Cities. SCM stood out with an interactive exhibition stand and two high-profile workshops, drawing more than 100 participants eager to explore financing strategies and smart city solutions.
The SCM stand, located next to the NetZeroCities hub, offered hands-on matchmaking, expert advice, and a creative “Webinar Auction Game,” which invited participants to shape future webinar topics. The winning idea—on the role of philanthropy in urban climate action—will be developed into a dedicated webinar in collaboration with Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and European philanthropic networks.
SCM’s workshops tackled two pressing themes: overcoming financing barriers for climate investment plans and leveraging AI and data to support climate-neutral cities. Cities like Bristol, Munich, Florence, and Paris shared pioneering approaches, from participatory financing to digital twin technologies.
The Marketplace also deepened its collaboration with NZC and other partners, identifying over 40 new matchmaking contacts and gathering best practices for upcoming publications. With strong engagement from cities such as Padova, Eindhoven, and Guimarães, SCM continues to empower municipalities with tools, funding access, and peer learning to drive the green transition.
As the EU pushes toward its 2030 climate goals, the Smart Cities Marketplace remains a vital catalyst for innovation, investment, and collaboration across Europe’s urban landscape.