SmartCitiesWorld in Barcelona

Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 Case Study:

Bringing cities together to overcome urban challenges

The Brief

SmartCitiesWorld set out to deliver a cohesive programme of high-value, in-person events at Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona - one of the world’s leading gatherings for urban innovation. The aim was to convene global city leaders alongside technology providers and solution partners in a trusted, editorially led environment.

The objective was clear: create a neutral platform where cities could openly share their challenges, explore practical solutions, and build meaningful connections with industry. With multiple sponsors participating across the programme, SmartCitiesWorld focused on facilitating genuine engagement and knowledge exchange rather than product-led promotion, strengthening its position as a global convenor for the smart cities community.

The Solution

In 2025, SmartCitiesWorld delivered a series of expertly curated events in Barcelona, each designed to connect city representatives with leading technology organisations in an open, collaborative setting.

Across the week, the programme blended thought leadership, real-world case studies and facilitated discussion. City leaders engaged directly with peers and sponsors on the issues shaping urban development -from climate resilience to data governance, mobility transformation and digital inclusion.

By hosting multiple events under one unified programme, SmartCitiesWorld created sustained engagement and multiple touchpoints, enabling deeper conversations and stronger relationship-building throughout SCEWC. 

Key elements included:

1. A full programme of live SmartCitiesWorld events hosted in Barcelona
2. Participation from city leaders representing regions across the globe
3. Multiple sponsors aligned around shared smart city themes
4. Panel discussions, expert presentations and structured networking sessions
5. A neutral, editorially driven environment focused on learning and collaboration

Sponsors included Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Intel, PNY, ST Engineering and Paradox Engineering.

The Benefits

The 2025 Barcelona programme brought together a global audience of more than 300 senior city decision-makers across a series of highly engaged, in-person sessions.

For cities, the events offered peer-to-peer learning, practical insights into successful smart city strategies, and direct access to leading technology experts.

For sponsors, the programme provided meaningful engagement with a concentrated, senior urban audience—enabling deeper conversations, higher-quality interactions and greater visibility than a standalone event could offer.

By convening cities and industry partners in Europe’s foremost innovation hub, SmartCitiesWorld reinforced its role as a trusted connector within the global smart cities ecosystem—delivering clear value for cities, partners and sponsors alike.

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