Webinars

OnDemand Global Local Executive Panel: From Smart Cities to Sustainable Futures – AI and Local Governance

In this virtual session, panellists will explore innovative approaches to issues such as urban planning, transportation, and public safety, with a specific focus on the role of local governments in implementing AI solutions.

VIRTUAL DEBATE: How will 5G assist a rapidly urbanising world?

How can 5G be used to improve life in cities, and address the urban challenges of mobility, public health, ageing, city-planning, and resilience.

Special Reports

Smart City Expo: think digital, think green, think inclusion

The first day of the online event confirmed that the smart cities sector is well aware of its destination but it’s how it gets there that will be the problem.

Using the fourth space to help cities cope with Covid-19

At SmartCitiesWorld’s inaugural advisory board meeting, Jeff Risom, chief innovation officer at Gehl Architects, explored how the public realm might be managed in the post-pandemic era.

Smart Cities Reports

Podcasts

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 29 - Financing city resilience

Roland White, Global Lead for City Management, Finance and Governance at the World Bank talks us through what it will take to fund resilience at the necessary scale across the world.

Podcast: The central role of cities in the sharing economy, with Chelsea Rustrum

There’s a big opportunity for cities to better harness the sharing economy to achieve municipal goals and give power back to the people, Rustrum says.

Opinions

The future of smart city technologySponsored by Huawei

Imagination and vision is required to enable successful digital transformation in our cities, writes Huawei’s Nadim Abdulrahim.

Overcoming the innovation gap

There is a gap between the aspirations of cities and the true capabilities of smart city technology, writes Anders Lisdorf.

Home | Smart Cities News

Smart Cities News

Isle of Man seeks tech entrepreneurs to transform healthcare

Health and social care02 Dec 2025

Winners will receive extended access to a dynamic network of mentors, potential investors and regulatory guidance enabling them to further develop their solutions.

Saudi Arabia to launch AI Innovation Centre

AI and Machine Learning13 Nov 2025

Joint venture between AI software company SenseTime and King Saud University will serve as a platform for AI use cases and research across multiple sectors.

Dutch tech ecosystem launches international Digital Twin Appstore

Digital twins05 Nov 2025

Launched at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the app store aims to make digital twin tools, services, and datasets easily accessible for cities.

UAE’s first integrated smart work resort launched in Sharjah

AI and Machine Learning05 Nov 2025

The AI-designed smart work resort District 11 project aims to set a new benchmark for urban innovation and economic vitality in Sharjah and the wider UAE.

Urban Transformation Summit spurs action to reimagine cities

News31 Oct 2025

Announcements at the WEF Summit included news of the first cohort for a global coalition dedicated to advancing high-quality, people-centred urban development.

Sunderland expands hub network to boost digital inclusion

Inclusivity31 Oct 2025

The seven new hubs have been established in communities with significant digital needs in the UK city, while five existing hubs have been strengthened.

Autonomous delivery robots to hit the streets of Riverside

Logistics30 Oct 2025

Through the collaboration, Riverside is seeking to establish a model for the “thoughtful integration” of robotics and automation into local infrastructure.

Sunderland: the building of a smart, inclusive and sustainable city

Special Reports30 Oct 2025

Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia explains why smart transformation doesn’t have to be driven by scale or budget – it’s about clarity of vision, strong partnerships and community trust.

Town of Vail to deploy AI solution to make city smarter and safer

AI and Machine Learning29 Oct 2025

By using renewable infrastructure to support AI workloads, the town illustrates how municipalities can deploy AI responsibly without compromising climate goals.

Los Angeles launches free community wifi in Crenshaw Corridor

Inclusivity24 Oct 2025

Pairing wifi technology with existing city infrastructure unlocks a platform for Los Angeles to further develop smart city assets and public service delivery.

Dubai partners with Oracle to build digital capabilities

People and skills21 Oct 2025

The entities will collaborate in the fields of AI and digital innovation to develop joint use cases that contribute to improving business and user experiences.

Manchester outlines vision for a ‘smarter’ city and economy

News16 Oct 2025

The Tech for Good report outlines a vision for a ‘smarter’ city and economy, where human-centric systems and frameworks are embedded in smart city approaches.

Twenty-six cities chosen as finalists in climate action awards

Climate action13 Oct 2025

Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards honour ambitious, impactful, and people-centered climate breakthroughs led by cities and local governments.

Partnership to bring infrastructure intelligence to US public sector

AI and Machine Learning09 Oct 2025

Carahsoft will serve as Purple Transform’s public sector distributor, making its AI-powered infrastructure platform available through its reseller partners.

European mayors to benefit from $50m development programme

People and skills06 Oct 2025

$50m investment establishes LSE European City Leadership Initiative to equip local governments with the capabilities to drive progress and deliver results.

Electric buses will play key transportation role in LA Games

Electric vehicles30 Sep 2025

Partnership with Highland Electric Fleets continues the mayor’s efforts to prepare for the Games and build a greener future that Angelenos will benefit from.

Seattle’s responsible AI plan: what cities should know

AI and Machine Learning25 Sep 2025

Discover how Seattle’s new AI plan sets a new standard for responsible, equitable, and innovative use of artificial intelligence in city government.

Seattle launches responsible AI implementation plan

AI and Machine Learning15 Sep 2025

The new 2025-2026 AI Plan creates trainings, resources, and rules for City employees to leverage advanced technology to better serve residents and businesses.

Bloomberg to stage Cop30 Business and Finance Forum

Climate action10 Sep 2025

To be held in São Paulo ahead of Cop30 in Belém, the forum aims to mobilise capital from public and private sectors in support of the Cop30 Presidency goals.

Statewide strategy event to map future of AI for Arkansas

AI and Machine Learning29 Aug 2025

Arkansas policymakers demonstrate both public and private commitment to ensuring the state is ready to safely harness the power of artificial intelligence.

Johannesburg receives $139m urban infrastructure boost

Economic Development22 Aug 2025

African Development Bank has made its first direct lending to a subnational entity in Africa to help the city improve support water, electricity and waste systems.

Philadelphia calls for climate resilience partners

AI and Machine Learning11 Aug 2025

The Office of Sustainability is seeking community-based organisations to help the city plan for a safe and resilient future in the face of climate impacts.

Calgary expands Affordable Hardware Access programme

Inclusivity31 Jul 2025

Public, private and community programme tackles digital exclusion by providing eligible Calgarians with one of the City’s repurposed technology devices.

$13m in municipal investment funds awarded to 52 US communities

Batteries and renewables25 Jul 2025

CGC and ICLEI USA funding fuels 52 US communities’ push for smart, local clean energy projects – boosting jobs, air quality, and long-term energy security.

Supporting climate action at the local level

Climate action30 Jun 2025

SmartCitiesWorld’s Cities Climate Action Summit showed how cities are leading the way on climate ambition and pushing forward policies that reflect the urgency of the moment.

Fifty cities chosen in 2025 Mayors’ Challenge

News26 Jun 2025

Finalists from 33 countries will receive $50,000 and support to test breakthrough ideas for improving life in cities in the Bloomberg Philanthropies challenge.

Quarter of global population to use shared mobility by 2028

Micromobility23 Jun 2025

Juniper reports that growth will be driven by rapid development of on-demand transportation solutions that encompass micromobility services into the platform.

Ofwat fund spotlights nature’s role in solving water challenges

Water18 Jun 2025

£600m fund invests in projects which sees water companies collaborating with cross-sector innovators to deliver solutions to the water sector’s biggest challenges.

Detroit uses drones to advance energy-efficient public buildings

Municipal buildings10 Jun 2025

Lamarr.AI, Michigan Central and Newlab are launching a drone inspection pilot to identify opportunities for energy-efficient municipal building operations.

1Energy to develop low-carbon heat network in Oxford

Climate action10 Jun 2025

Network will be powered by 20MW of water source heat pump capacity and provide low-carbon heating to a number of Oxford’s historical public sector buildings.

Smart city living lab to be created in Luxembourg

4G and 5G06 Jun 2025

€3.1m SmartSpires initiative will deploy at least three smart towers equipped with 5G, AI, edge and IoT tech to support innovative use cases in the campus.

Milton Keynes to host flagship tech week

News29 May 2025

Events include the Smart City Robotics Competition, where university teams from across Europe will put robotics skills to the test in real-world challenges.

New Zealand cities announce technological initiatives during TechWeek25

News22 May 2025

Christchurch shares news of an online tool that sorts big data to prioritise transport projects while Auckland establishes the Innovation & Technology Alliance.

Water Breakthrough Challenge 5 funding winners announced

Water21 May 2025

The Ofwat Innovation Fund’s Water Breakthrough Challenge awards more than £42m to technological solutions solving major challenges in the water sector.

Celebrating inclusive innovation through the Seoul Smart City PrizeSponsored by WeGO

Special Reports07 May 2025

Discover how the Seoul Smart City Prize is supporting more community-centric, sustainable cities, and how to get involved in the 2025 edition.

Achieving local and global impact through climate action weeks

Video30 Apr 2025

Nick Mabey, Founder of London Climate Action Week (LCAW), tells SmartCitiesWorld about this year’s LCAW themes, how they reflect the climate situation in cities around the world, and the growing role of cities in global climate action.

Closing the urban climate finance gap

Climate action28 Apr 2025

Multilateral Development Banks discussed how to scale climate adaptation investment to most affected countries and cities during the World Bank Spring meetings.

Curiosity Lab partnership to advance Atlanta tech ecosystem

People and skills23 Apr 2025

New partnership with Georgia Tech seeks to amplify hands-on research opportunities and to continue bridging academic learning and industry collaboration.

Infrastructure platform aims to speed development of strategic projects

News22 Apr 2025

Gridora will collaborate with specialist partners and capital providers to advance delivery of strategic infrastructure projects nationally and internationally.