From Data to Action: Hamburg, Barcelona Metropolitan Region and Christchurch Advance Urban Data Cooperation

From 17–18 September 2026, IURC cities and regions participating in Community of Practice 9 (Data-driven City & Digital Governance) came together in Hamburg. Delegations from Christchurch and the Barcelona Metropolitan Region joined representatives from Hamburg’s State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying, several city ministries, the Senate Chancellery, the District of Hamburg-Altona and HafenCity University Hamburg.

Through presentations, workshops and in-depth discussions, the role of a cross-departmental database (Urban Data Platform) was explored. The widespread availability of reliable data as a basis for political decision-making processes—particularly in light of limited public funds—was recognised as crucial for the much-discussed “breaking down of silos”.

There is no doubt about the positive effects of mutual support. According to the participants, implementation—given the broadly similar starting points on all sides, both technically and administratively—should be realistic when based on very specific use cases.

Political support for cooperation

In her welcoming address, Ms Jaqueline Charlier, State Councillor at the Hamburg Authority for Urban Development and Housing, emphasised the full political backing for the initiative and took the time to participate in a highly constructive expert discussion with the guests, impressing participants with her in-depth specialist knowledge and keen interest in active exchange.

In addition to this strong political signal, Hamburg demonstrated use cases for a central Urban Data Hub through the broad participation of specialist departments in the workshops. From digital twins for action-oriented simulations to citizen participation processes, urban mobility, BIM components, climate change information and measures for heat resilience at local-authority level, the need for reliable data that is readily available within a city was clearly demonstrated.

Workshops, demonstrations & discussions

There was broad agreement that IURC provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation, with joint projects—including opportunities through Horizon Europe and other programmes—offering a practical way to build on the exchange. Ms Julia Peleikis from the Hamburg Senate Chancellery illustrated these possibilities with examples from ongoing projects.

The value of local collaboration with research institutions became clear during a visit to HafenCity University Hamburg. At the CityScienceLab, experimental methods of data analysis and utilisation are being tested in close collaboration with municipal departments and stakeholders in order to operationalise data in a targeted manner. Hamburg demonstrated the effectiveness of this close and trusting collaboration.

Thanks to their high level of professional expertise, the relatively small group was able to engage in in-depth discussions even on the finer details of digitalisation processes. Satellite image analysis, the linking of geodata with open-data platforms, AI agents, AI-supported risk analyses and citizen participation tools were discussed effectively and constructively.

It became clear that delegations composed of experts can generate significant added value, as this enables technical details to be communicated with mutual understanding and potential areas for cooperation to be discussed constructively.

Looking ahead

The site visit demonstrated the diverse applications and practical benefits offered by centralised local data collection and management: data sovereignty, data security, availability and practical “silo-breaking” as prerequisites for well-founded, efficient and effective measures. Local networking among stakeholders, a strong data centre and standardised formats that are widely available across public administrations enable strong citizen participation and bolster trust in political decisions.

Alongside IURC, EU programmes such as Horizon Europe offer highly attractive opportunities for cooperation. All participants are using the visit to Hamburg as an opportunity to jointly develop future, very concrete projects.

Finally, a huge thank you to the City of Hamburg and the State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying for mobilising speakers and venues across all relevant administrative units and for the excellent organisation. The visit not only revisited existing bridges, but also opened up new paths through highly professional exchanges designed to foster sustainable cooperation.