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On February 24, representatives from the IURC Community of Practice on Data-driven and Digital Governance (CoP 9) convened online to advance their upcoming cooperative activities and discuss this year’s study visits. The meeting highlighted concrete plans for city exchanges, emerging pilot actions, and a shared commitment to longer-term collaboration.
Cities Share Study Visit Plans
Osaka (Japan) proposed hosting a study visit focused on public–private collaboration. Barcelona (Spain) expressed particular interest in this theme and suggested that Osaka take the lead in the related activity, citing its strong practical experience.
Kaohsiung (Taiwan) also indicated interest in co-hosting a visit alongside Osaka, noting its use of AI-powered smart traffic control systems and its willingness to both present its progress and learn from other cities.
In parallel, Barcelona presented its plans for an upcoming study visit, including a visit to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and a hands-on workshop session planned for this October. Other cities were warmly invited to participate.
Christchurch Transitions to Observer Role
Christchurch (New Zealand) announced a transition from an active to an observer role within the community, with a focus on climate adaptation and data-driven initiatives. Members welcomed Christchurch’s continued engagement and thanked the city for its contributions.
Aligning with European and International Frameworks
Hamburg (Germany) emphasised that cooperation must be aligned with European, national, and regional frameworks. In particular, reference was made to the EU AI Act and the importance of situating city-level initiatives within broader regulatory contexts.
Discussions also highlighted the need to coordinate with European and ISO standards to avoid duplication and enhance interoperability across cities.
Pilot Actions Gain Clarity
Several pilot actions became more clearly defined during the meeting:
- Technical Manual for Standardising Digital Twins: Possibly led by Barcelona and Hamburg, this initiative aims to develop a technical manual to standardise digital twin practices. It is considered a strong pilot action due to its tangible outcomes.
- Cross-Border Digital Twin Dashboard Prototype: Suggested by Kaohsiung, this project would enable city planners to compare real-time traffic or energy data across cities using harmonised APIs. Kaohsiung indicated that this idea could be realised.
- AI City Service Cross-Validation & Feasibility Mapping: Proposed by Incheon (Republic of Korea), this initiative focuses on cross-validating AI city services between EU and non-EU cities. Incheon noted its experience in sharing protocols with private-sector partners and stated that preparations are underway.
Cities were invited to indicate their interest in participating in these pilot ideas, with further discussions expected after the upcoming study visits.
Toward Long-Term Cooperation
Beyond individual exchanges, participants expressed hope for more sustained cooperation in the future, including the potential signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or Letters of Intent (LoIs) between cities. While such steps may not be immediate, there was clear interest in developing partnerships that extend beyond one-time engagements.
Through this meeting, participants discussed more practical approaches to exchanging experiences and best practices in digital governance for the upcoming study visits, while also laying the groundwork for potential long-term cooperation.
Written by Yejin Lee, Project Associate in CityNet, IURC Korean Helpdesk