Barcelona, 4–6 November 2025
The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme wrapped up its inspiring Global Thematic Networking Event during the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC25) in Barcelona, bringing together more than 240 delegates from 130+ pilot cities and regions across Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. Over four days, the event showcased how city-to-city and region-to-region partnerships drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience worldwide.
Day 1 – Opening Plenary, Global Thematic Workshops & EU Pavilion
The event opened in the Fira Barcelona Gran Via Convention Center with a full house for the Opening Plenary Session.
The morning began with a live classical performance by musicians Nuria and Marçal, followed by welcoming remarks from:
- Lorena Elvira, Secretary General, Ministry for European Union and Foreign Action, Government of Catalonia
- Oriol Escardibul, Secretary General, Ministry of Research and Universities, Government of Catalonia
- Andreas Röttger, First Counsellor, Head of Asia-Pacific, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Union
After the welcoming speeches, Faii and Pablo introduced a video especially prepared for the IURC activities at the Barcelona thematic networking event. The video featured footage by EU Commission Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reform – Rafaelle Fitto – prepared for the Smart City Expo Barcelona and the IURC event as well as messages by the EU Commission’s IURC management staff, Viktorija Kaidalova and Lutz Köppen..
This was followed by a joint presentation by the IURC project team of the programme’s workplan and outcomes, setting the stage for the three-day collaboration.
The plenary concluded with a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Peter König (University of Applied Sciences Trier), titled “Energy, Mobility and Digital Transition – Cross-Cutting Challenges to IURC.”
The opening session was moderated by Kanyarat Aksorn (Faii), IURC AA Project Assistant, and Pablo Gándara, Team Leader of the IURC Asia & Australasia (AA) programme.
After the opening session, delegates had their first interaction round in the conference center’s common area. This was the perfect place for group pictures and personal introductions, identifying potential peers for further joint pilot actions.
Following the plenary, delegates participated in breakout sessions across IURC’s thematic clusters and special sessions:
- Urban Innovation
- Industrial Modernisation
- Circular Economy
- Clean Energy
- Blue Economy
- Strategic Sectors
- Agri-Food Systems
- Climate Adaptation & Resilience
- Urban Regeneration,
- Mobility & Transport
- Social Cohesion/Affordable Housing
- International Engagement
- Business Engagement
Each session was co-led by IURC city and region representatives, encouraging hands-on collaboration and the development of pilot project ideas.
Interviews were also conducted with pilot cities and stakeholders. This included exchanges with Kuala Lumpur’s Mayor Maimunah Mohd. Sharif, who received the Leadership Award at the World Smart City Awards 2025!
Mayor of Kuala Lumpur
Deputy Mayor of Granada City Council
The day concluded with a networking reception hosted by the Government of Catalonia at the Palau de Pedralbes, offering a relaxed setting for further exchange among delegates and EU officials.
Day 2 – Matchmaking, Business Engagement & Closing Plenary
The second day focused on deepening cooperation. Some delegates convened at the EU Joint Projects Pavilion (Hall 2, Stand D101), co-hosted with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), and joined tours of the Smart City Expo World Congress, organised by IURC, visiting European country and regional pavilions showcasing cutting-edge technologies in energy, mobility, and data-driven governance.
Other delegates joined the targeted project meetings and matchmaking sessions for small-group discussions to refine pilot project concepts, identify key stakeholders, explore funding opportunities, and connect with European innovation partners to advance their cooperation agendas.
The IURC Programme was also showcased at the EU Joint Projects Pavilion, including a dedicated matchmaking area. This location was used for bilateral meetings as well as for interviews and meetings with high-ranking officials. This included a discussion between Kuala Lumpur’s Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Granada’s Deputy Mayor Vito Episcopo. Also, IURC project partners used this space for consultations with the project team.
IURC pilot cities’ and regions’ delegates also took the opportunity to participate in thematic discussions organised by the Smart City Expo and the European Union Joint Projects Pavilion. Representing the IURC pilot region of the Basque Country, Marta Epelde, General Manager of the Build:Inn Construction Cluster, joined the session Future-Proofing Cities: Innovations in Sustainable Infrastructure and Buildings, jointly organised by the IURC AA team with other EU project partners. IURC Delegates also visited the Smart City Expo and learned from European sustainable technologies for urban and regional development.
Back at the conference centre, participants reconvened for the Interactive Session and Closing Plenary, featuring a rapid speed-dating “spotlight” round, where each pilot city and region presented their key stakeholders involved in the IURC, the cooperation goals, and the key reasons to work with them. Funfacts made the interaction particularly engaging!
The IURC team provided feedback on outcomes from the 14 breakout sessions, including thematic clusters, international and business engagement. For example, city leaders and experts joined forces to turn climate adaptation ideas into action through the IURC programme. They proposed green corridors to cool cities, ponds and alerts to manage floods, shared coastal data for informed planning, and stronger zoning with tree planting to curb heat and flood risks. Their shared vision includes combining data, nature, and community engagement to drive real urban resilience. In urban regeneration, European cities — AMB, Cluj Metro, and Debrecen — and Adelaide discussed advancing energy efficiency and green infrastructure. AMB showcased its Fotolineres project using solar pergolas for vehicle-to-grid energy sharing. Adelaide outlined its shift to 100% renewable power by 2027 through wind and solar. Cluj and Debrecen aim to integrate renewables and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). Together, these initiatives promote citywide electrification and cleaner energy use, improving the quality of life for all citizens.
The circular economy cluster united 39 officials from 24 cities to turn circular principles into action. Madrid and Iskandar Malaysia proposed a circular economy lab and digital tools for water reuse. Bologna and Seberang Perai promoted recycling incentives and repair networks for construction waste. Trier and Chennai focused on hydrogen, biogas, and AI for waste recovery, while Milan and Zhengzhou targeted food waste reduction and less plastic in schools and supermarkets. Together, these cities are advancing practical, community-driven circular solutions.
Concerning strategic sectors, cities explored how tourism, events, and nightlife can strengthen local economies and community life through three strategic themes. The City Branding group examined how festivals and events can shape identity, boost economic sectors, and engage citizens through data and co-creation, with cities like Zhengzhou, Warsaw, and Adelaide leading the way. The Sustainable and Smart Tourism group focused on using data and technology to support local culture, manage visitor flows, and promote responsible, participatory tourism, with cities such as Jeonju and Coimbra involved. The Night-Time Economy discussions centred on creating safe, inclusive, and vibrant urban spaces after dark through networks, governance models, and improved mobility and safety, with cities including Braga, Rome, and Buenos Aires contributing. Together, these initiatives highlight how culture, data, and collaboration can redefine tourism for more resilient and connected cities.
These are only some examples of the 14 sessions. The summaries of all sessions will be made available to the IURC pilot cities and regions in due time.
The closing session continued with the IURC team leaders outlining the programme’s next steps (see below). The thematic webinar was then closed by the European Commission’s IURC Programme Managers Viktorija Kaidalova (FPI) and Lutz Köppen (REGIO).
- Thematic Webinars (Sept 2025 – Apr 2026)
- Study Visits in Latin America, Asia/Australasia (June 2026) and Europe (2026–2027)
- Next Regional Networking Events: World Cities Summit, Singapore (14–16 June 2026) and Latin America (TBD)
- Final Results at the EU Week of Regions & Cities, Brussels (Oct 2027)
IURC Programme Manager,
EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
Policy Officer, Directorate-General for
Regional and Urban Policy, EU Commission
Team Leader
IURC Latin America & Caribbean
Team Leader
IURC Asia & Australasia
Day 3 – Site Visits: Innovation in Action
The final day offered immersive field visits showcasing Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem, supported by the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), and the City Council of Barcelona. Delegates split into three thematic tracks:
- Supercomputing & Smart Cities – At the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (MareNostrum 5) and the AI Transfer Network of Catalonia, delegates learned how digital twins and artificial intelligence are shaping future-ready cities. (cancelled due to storm)
- Sustainable Agriculture & Circular Bioeconomy – The Agropolis Research Hub (UPC) and ERA Gavà-Viladecans Environmental Recovery Area showcased integrated solutions in agri-tech, water management, and circular economy practices. (cancelled due to storm)
- Port of Barcelona & Blue Economy – Nearly 40 delegates explored one of the Mediterranean’s largest ports, handling €86.3 billion in cargo and 5.3 million passengers (2023). The visit focused on the Port’s hydrogen and Blue Economy strategy, highlighting its efforts toward decarbonisation through electrification, energy efficiency, and sustainable fuel management.
A Platform for Lasting Cooperation
The IURC Global Thematic Networking @ #SCEWC25 confirmed the EU’s leadership in decentralised international cooperation and the growing importance of subnational partnerships in addressing global challenges.
By combining knowledge exchange, technical collaboration, and peer learning, the IURC continues to empower cities and regions to co-create solutions for climate resilience, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The Barcelona event leaves a lasting mark — a community of leaders united in building smarter, greener, and more connected cities and regions worldwide.