Meet the IURC LAC cities working on smart city platforms

Across Europe and Latin America, cities are exploring how smart city platforms can help turn increasingly complex urban data into better decisions, more coordinated services and tangible benefits for citizens.

Through the IURC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, Guadalajara, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Piraeus and Vila Nova de Famalicão collaborate within the Community of Practice on Smart City Platforms. Together, they exchange knowledge and experiences on how to develop and strengthen the digital infrastructure behind smarter urban management — from data integration and interoperability to digital governance and citizen-centred services.

Despite their different scales and urban contexts, the five cities share a common challenge: moving from fragmented data, systems and solutions towards integrated platforms that allow information to flow across municipal departments and support more effective, responsive and resilient city management.

Through peer learning and cooperation, the Community of Practice is exploring different approaches to building these ecosystems, identifying transferable solutions and advancing the role of urban data as a tool for better governance and improved quality of life.

Discover the cities shaping the future of smart city platform cooperation.

Guadalajara | Mexico

🏙️ 5.3 m inhabitants | 🗺️ 2.700,00km² of territory

The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area is one of Mexico’s largest urban regions, focusing on urban innovation, smart mobility and metropolitan governance. The area promotes digital services, integrated transport systems and sustainable urban growth to improve competitiveness, cohesion and quality of life across multiple municipalities.

Rio de Janeiro | Brazil

🏙️ 6.3 m inhabitants | 🗺️ 1.200,00km² of territory

Rio de Janeiro addresses climate adaptation and resilience in a highly complex urban and coastal environment. The city promotes nature-based solutions, flood risk management and climate governance, linking environmental action with social inclusion and urban regeneration.

Barcelona | Spain

🏙️ 1.7 m inhabitants | 🗺️ 101,00km² of territory

Barcelona is a global reference in urban regeneration, climate action and smart city development. The city integrates neighbourhood-based regeneration, social inclusion, low-emission mobility and digital innovation through initiatives such as superblocks, retrofitting of housing estates, climate shelters and data-driven urban management, reinforcing resilience, social inclusion and quality of life.

Piraeus | Greece

🏙️ 160 k inhabitants | 🗺️ 51,00km² of territory

Piraeus, Greece’s main port city, focuses on urban regeneration linked to port activity, waterfront redevelopment and mobility improvements. The city addresses the challenges of logistics, tourism and dense urban fabric through sustainable transport, public space enhancement and economic revitalisation strategies.

Famalicão | Portugal

🏙️ 140 k inhabitants | 🗺️ 201,00km² of territory

Vila Nova de Famalicão is an industrial and entrepreneurial city focused on urban innovation and smart governance. The municipality promotes digital transformation, economic diversification and sustainable industrial development, while strengthening urban services and territorial cohesion through data-driven planning and innovation ecosystems.

About IURC LAC

IURC Latin America and the Caribbean, part of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, connects cities and regions from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe to co-create sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven solutions. Through peer-to-peer exchange and partnerships, the programme contributes to improving citizens’ quality of life while strengthening global cooperation.

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