Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities

ACCEND Cohort 2 Info Session
2026-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels) | online
ACCEND, Europe’s deep tech accelerator for Smart Cities, Net Zero Cities and Regenerative Cities, has opened applications for its second cohort.
Following the launch of Cohort 1, which brings together 28 deep tech scaleups from across Europe, ACCEND is now recruiting a new group of high-potential companies ready to expand across borders, access investment and scale within complex European markets.
To support prospective applicants, the ACCEND consortium is hosting an online information session to present the programme, eligibility criteria and application process.
Why attend?
This session will provide:

An overview of the ACCEND programme structure and support offer

Eligibility criteria and target profile (TRL 6–9 deep tech scaleups)

Insights into the application and selection process

Information on tailored scale plans, investor readiness and pilot opportunities

A live Q&A with the ACCEND consortium

ACCEND directly addresses key challenges faced by European scaleups, including fragmented markets, access to growth capital, procurement complexity and securing validation environments.
Participants in the programme benefit from:

Individual diagnostics and tailored scale plans

Dedicated ACCEND Guides

Strategic coaching for European and global expansion

Curated introductions to investors, cities and innovation buyers

Access to real-world testbeds and pilot environments

Procurement navigation support across EU markets

Who should attend?
Deep tech scaleups (TRL 6–9) developing solutions in:

Smart Cities

Net Zero Cities

Regenerative Cities

Companies with international growth ambitions and interest in expanding into European and global markets are particularly encouraged to attend.
Practical Information
Date: 10 March 2026Time: 11:00–12:00 (CET)Format: OnlineApplications deadline for Cohort 2: 8 April 2026
Know more about the info session and register by clicking on this link:

Register Here

Find out more about ACCEND project:

ACCEND Project

Smart City Exchange Forum 2026: Discovering Pathways to Resilient Cities – Tallinn (Estonia), 12-13 March 2026
2026-03-12 - 2026-03-13
Join us on March 12, 2026, at the PROTO Invention Factory in Tallinn or online for the Smart City Exchange Forum 2026!
Cities today face unprecedented challenges from climate extremes and natural disasters to cyber-security threats. Building resilient urban environments and systems is no longer optional: it’s essential for ensuring safety, sustainability, and the well-being of communities.
For the Smart City Exchange Forum 2026 we bring together city leaders, government representatives, researchers, and innovators to explore strategic and practical approaches for strengthening urban resilience.

What to expect?
During the day we will highlight strategies, experiences and case studies showcasing how cities have applied novel solutions, citizen engagement, and effective emergency coordination to overcome crises such as floods, heatwaves, and cyber threats.
Participants will gain actionable insights into:

Climate, digital, and community dimensions of urban resilience.

Crisis response, emergency management, and cybersecurity.

Practical use of digital twins, smart infrastructure, and citizen-driven initiatives.

Cross-sector and cross-border collaboration to make cities safer and more adaptive.

From international experts framing the anatomy of urban resilience to city leaders sharing hands-on experiences, the forum provides a platform to learn, network, and exchange solutions that make cities more resilient, connected, prepared.

How to attend?
Onsite: Engage directly with speakers, other participants, and make the most of networking opportunities with other participants in Tallinn, at wonderful PROTO Invention Factory.
Online: Join virtually and enjoy convenient access to all sessions, especially suited for international attendees. A link will be sent to registered online participants a few days before the Forum.
FREE for participants but registration is required.
Forum will be hosted in English.

March 13 – Tallinn City Visit: Urban Innovation in Practice
A day after the forum, on March 13, participants are invited to an inspiring visit at the local government of the City of Tallinn.
Representatives from Estonian capital city Tallinn and other Estonian cities, will introduce the smart city programmes and experiments done and currently underway in Estonia.
We will also present our smart solutions for cities to discuss possible ways to collaborate.
Participation is free but registration is required. Mark your participation when registering to the Forum main day. Here you can find more information and agenda for the city visit.

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

How Standards Can Pave the Way Towards the Right to Access Information – Online, 24 March 2026
2026-03-24 14:30 - 15:30
Public access to information increasingly depends on how well digital public systems are designed, aligned, and interoperable. While European standards provide a strong reference framework, their impact ultimately depends on how they are implemented within public administrations.
This webinar explores how EU-aligned standards for open data and interoperability are being translated into practice through InDiCo-Global Open Call projects. Drawing on concrete experiences from Mexico and Guatemala, the session will examine how semantic standards, interoperability frameworks, and capacity-building efforts support more transparent, efficient, and inclusive digital government.
The discussion will also reflect on what it takes to move from policy frameworks to operational deployment, and how cooperation between public authorities, standardisation bodies, and implementation actors can support this transition across regions.
Featured Open Call 1 Beneficiaries

Bridging the Gap Between European and Mexican ICT Standards in Open Data
Enhancing Digital Government in Guatemala through European Standards

Agenda:

Welcome and context setting
Scene-setter: From standards to public service delivery
Project results and next steps
Moderated discussion and audience Q&A
Key takeaways and forward look
Closing remarks

REGISTER HERE

TREASoURcE Final Conference – Brussels (Belgium), 14 April 2026
2026-04-14 | Brussels, Belgium, Belgium
Join us in Brussels on 14 April 2026 for the TREASoURcE Final Conference, where we bring together policymakers, industry, researchers, cities and regions, and civil society to accelerate the circular economy from local demonstrations to system-wide adoption.
This full-day event will showcase territorial and regional demonstrations of systemic circular economy solutions in plastics, batteries, and biobased side and waste streams. The programme features cross-cutting plenary sessions on policy, digitalisation, business models, and stakeholder engagement, followed by deep-dives into real-world applications and replication pathways for each key value chain.

Participants will:

Discover the latest results and real-world impact of circular solutions in plastics, batteries, and bio-based streams

Exchange knowledge and best practices with peers from policy, industry, research, and cities

Engage in discussions on policy recommendations and systemic enablers for accelerating circular economy adoption

Explore digital tools and business models that support circularity in diverse contexts

Connect with innovators and stakeholders to foster new collaborations and partnerships

Gain practical insights and inspiration for further uptake and replication of circular solutions in their own regions or sectors

Discover practical solutions, tools, and strategies tailored for policy makers, industry, cities, researchers, and civil society –and take home actionable approaches for your region, sector, or organisation.
The event is free and open to all interested stakeholders, but places are limited – advance registration is required.

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

Living-in.EU Digital Assembly 2026 – Key Technologies for Future-Proof Cities: from Data Spaces to Digital Twins – Sofia (Bulgaria), 15 April 2026
2026-04-15 | Sofia, Bulgaria
Living-in.EU Digital Assembly 2026 – “Key Technologies for Future-Proof Cities: from data spaces to digital twins”
The Living-in.EU Digital Assembly is the political advisory body of the Living-in.EU network. It is co-chaired by Lluïsa Moret Sabidó, Mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat, and Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation and Information Systems of Sofia. This flagship event brings together mayors, regional leaders and key stakeholders to debate the political priorities of the network and to provide strategic orientation in support of the twin green and digital transformation of EU cities and communities.
The 2026 edition will take place under the theme “Key Technologies for Future-Proof Cities: from data spaces to digital twins”. It will explore the data-driven journey of a city, regardless of its size: from identifying its needs and challenges, through mapping dependencies for federated data spaces, to developing and using data platforms and digital twins in urban planning.
Check the programme of the Digital Assembly 2026 here.

REGISTER HERE

Webinar: How Can Data Space InsightsTranslate into Social and Business Value? – Online, 17 April 2026
2026-04-17 11:00 - 12:00
Join this insightful webinar hosted by CitizenCity, a pilot project under the European Data Spaces for Smart Communities initiative.
CitizenCity demonstrates how trusted data sharing can create tangible impact in everyday urban life, while contributing to Europe’s green and digital transition. Through real-world use cases in Eindhoven (the Netherlands), Oulu (Finland), and Álava (Spain), the project highlights how data-driven collaboration can support more sustainable, inclusive, and responsive communities.
During the webinar, “How Can Data Space Insights Translate into Social and Business Value?”, key insights and lessons learned from ongoing implementations will be presented. The session will illustrate how data-driven approaches can be translated into practical social and economic value for cities and regions.
What to expectIn this one-hour session, the speakers will showcase concrete use cases and share experiences from professionals directly involved in designing and applying these innovations:

Mieke van Schaik – Strategic Information Advisor, Municipality of Eindhoven
María Suberbiola Castillo – Innovation Manager, Mobility LAB Vitoria-Gasteiz
Bige Tunçer – Full Professor & Vice Dean, Eindhoven University of Technology

The session will be moderated by Dujuan Yang, Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology.

REGISTER HERE

DS4SSCC Call for Pilots Round 4: Info Session II – Online, 29 April 2026
2026-04-29 09:30 - 11:30
Following the success of the first three rounds, the 4th Call for pilots of the European Data Space for Smart Communities (DS4SSCC) opened on 1st of April! Cities, communities, and innovators across Europe have already been driving forward impactful, data-driven solutions, and a new opportunity is open for those ready to join and build what’s next.
During this round, pilots are recommended to deploy existing data space components and cooperation models, build on successful use cases in your local context, and/or open up network effects by connecting to existing data spaces to gain value from existing data products and/or services.
Application period: 1 April – 31 May 2026
This online Info Session is targeted towards all stakeholders interested in creating data-based services for the benefit of local communities.
This upcoming Info Session, organised on April 29th (10:00–11:30 CET), will focus on matchmaking with potential partners, while also allowing participants to clarify questions and prepare for a successful application submission.
More information on Round 4 is available at https://ds4sscc.eu/cfp-four
If you have any questions please reach out to support@ds4sscc.eu

REGISTER HERE

2nd Citiverse Assembly – Geneva (Switzerland), 12 May 2026
2026-05-12 11:00 - 15:10 | Geneva, Switzerland
Description

Co-organised by ITU, the European Commission and OASC, and supported by StandICT.eu 2029, the 2nd Citiverse Assembly convenes cities, governments, industry, standards bodies, research and academia to strengthen global collaboration on the citiverse. The Assembly will share experiences from ongoing citiverse and local digital twin projects worldwide, present flagship deliverables of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI – Discovering the Citiverse and promote greater alignment across standards and implementation efforts.

The programme will address fragmentation, support people-centred approaches and explore practical pathways for collaborative citiverse standardisation.

Target Audience

Participation is open to the ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, Academia and to any individual from a country that is a member of the ITU and who wishes to contribute to the work. This includes individuals who are also members of international, regional and national organisations. Participation is free of charge.

Venue

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Headquarters

Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

VIEW THE AGENDA AND REGISTER HERE

SPACE4Cities Webinar for cities – Demo Day 1: Discover 5 prototype solutions for infrastructure, mobility and urban operations
2026-05-27 10:00 - 13:00
In this first SPACE4Cities Demo Day session, participants will discover five satellite data prototype solutions designed to help cities move from reactive management to more proactive, data-driven decision-making.
This Demo Day continues the SPACE4Cities capacity-building journey. In previous webinar sessions, cities and regions were introduced to the 20 concept-stage solutions developed in response to shared urban challenges. The project has now moved to the next stage, with 10 selected suppliers developing real prototypes and demonstrations that show more clearly how these solutions could work in practice.
Why attend?
Cities and regions need better tools to monitor critical infrastructure, manage public assets, reduce emissions and improve day-to-day urban operations. This session will be especially relevant for cities and regions working on infrastructure maintenance, urban mobility, asset management, utilities, resilience and operational efficiency.
The session also helps cities and regions prepare for the upcoming replication phase. After the summer, five of the ten prototype solutions will be piloted in the five consortium cities. A replicator call for additional cities will also be launched, giving interested cities and regions the opportunity to engage with selected pilots and become better prepared for future replication activities.
By attending the webinar, cities can gain a better understanding of the prototype solutions and identify the most relevant ones to their own priorities.

READ MORE AND REGISTER HERE

BEGONIA Webinar: Roundtable on Operational Digital Platforms, data spaces, and interoperable energy systems in practice – Online, 28 May 2026
2026-05-28 10:00 - 11:30
Bringing together experts from BEGONIA, INSIEME, ECLIPSE and smartEn, this interactive discussion will explore how interoperable digital infrastructures, data spaces and flexibility services can support cross-border coordination, accelerate Europe’s energy transition, and enable smarter and more connected energy and mobility systems.

REGISTER HERE

SPACE4Cities Webinar for cities – Demo Day 2: Discover 5 prototype solutions for climate resilience, green spaces and public space intelligence
2026-05-28 10:00 - 13:00
In this SPACE4Cities Demo Day session, cities and regions will have the opportunity to discover five prototype solutions that use European space data and technologies, combined with emerging technologies, to support better planning, monitoring and management of urban environments.
This Demo Day builds on SPACE4Cities’ earlier capacity-building activities, where more than 200 participants from over 120 cities and regions explored the first 20 supplier concepts. Since then, the project has progressed from concept stage to prototype stage, with 10 selected suppliers now ready to present live demos of their solutions.
Why attend?
European cities are under increasing pressure to respond to heat, flooding, biodiversity loss, wildfire risk and the growing need for more resilient public spaces. This online session is particularly relevant for cities and regions interested in climate adaptation, green infrastructure, biodiversity, public space management and urban resilience.
The session also helps cities and regions prepare for the upcoming replication phase. After the summer, five of the ten prototype solutions will be piloted in the five consortium cities. A replicator call for additional cities will also be launched, giving interested cities and regions the opportunity to engage with selected pilots and become better prepared for future replication activities.
By attending the webinar, cities can gain a better understanding of the prototype solutions and identify the most relevant ones to their own priorities.

READ MORE AND REGISTER HERE

EU LDT Toolbox Launch – Valencia (Spain), 16-17 June 2026
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-17 | Valencia, Spain, Spain
EU LDT Toolbox is a European open-source infrastructure for interoperable Local Digital Twins — built by a consortium of six partners over three years, tested in real cities, and ready for adoption.
On 16–17 June in Valencia, the consortium will present the consolidated product to LDT CITIVERSE EDIC and the European ecosystem. This marks the beginning of a new phase: from development to adoption, with LDT CITIVERSE EDIC taking a central role in governance and growth. This is not a closing event. It is a launch.

Key highlights:

A New Phase Begins: EU LDT Toolbox moves from project to product, wiht LDT Citiverse EDIC stepping in to drive governance, maintenance and long-term evolution.
Consolidated Solution: A stable architecture, 11 functional tools, a European building database and an active marketplace. All ready to deploy.
Proven Impact: European pilot cities have already implemented EU LDT Toolbox. Their results, lessons and feedback are embedded into the product you see today.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Immersive Tech Week – Rotterdam (Netherlands), 23-25 June 2026
2026-06-23 - 2026-06-25 | Rotterdam, Netherlands
What is Immersive Tech Week: Immersive Tech Week 2026, organised by the VRDays Foundation, is a dynamic celebration and showcase of the latest advancements in immersive technology. This event brings together diverse voices and perspectives from the realms of business, research, art, and the general audience. The festival’s primary goal is to foster a vibrant ecosystem teeming with knowledge, stimulating discussions, and boundless creativity. This collective energy serves as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable technological progress. Our comprehensive festival experience goes beyond conventional conferences.
At the heart of the event are the conferences featuring the brightest minds of the industry and a cutting-edge trade show that unveils the latest technological marvels. Yet, there’s more. Immersive Tech Week boasts dedicated spaces for creators to breathe life into new projects, the Church of VR offers attendees an unparalleled firsthand encounter with the most imaginative and pioneering works in VR and AR. In collaboration with esteemed partners, Immersive Tech Week proudly introduces the IMPULSE funding market. This unique platform is designed to propel emerging talent, empowering the next generation of visionaries to shape the future of immersive technology. Furthermore, attendants will experience the Tradeshow, the Demo Arena, where founders can pitch their technology to strategic partners, the Creator’s Corner for exclusive small workshops highlighting immersive artists, and Breakout Sessions with presentations encompassing all 4 tracks and 6 pillars of the event. Last but not least, the Summer Opportunity Lounge will be a part of the event focused on matchmaking, creating opportunities and getting founders and professionals closer to policy makers, grants and European funds.
Immersive Tech Week is for anyone passionate about the future of XR — from industry professionals and creators to educators, healthcare practitioners, technologists, and those eager to explore how immersive tech can revolutionise their fields. Join us in celebrating a decade of XR innovation and discover what the future holds!

REGISTER HERE

#EngineeringIntelligence: Women driving smart systems – Online, 23 June 2026
2026-06-23 11:00 - 12:00
To mark International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2026, themed Engineering Intelligence, the IEC Academy will host a webinar exploring how smart systems are shaping the future of engineering and technology.
Smart systems integrate sensing, connectivity, data processing, and automated decision-making to create intelligent and adaptive solutions across sectors such as energy systems, smart cities, industrial automation, digital infrastructure, and connected devices. As these technologies become increasingly central to modern infrastructure and industry, international standards and collaboration play a crucial role in ensuring interoperability, safety, and reliability.
The webinar will bring together women engineers from different IEC Technical Committees (TCs) working on areas related to smart systems. Drawing on their expertise in standardization and technology development, the panellists will discuss how smart systems are evolving, the role of standards in enabling them, and the key technical challenges and opportunities ahead. The discussion will also highlight how diverse perspectives contribute to designing robust and future-ready intelligent systems, reflecting the spirit of INWED 2026 #EngineeringIntelligence.

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Operational Digital Platforms beyond Begonia: Lessons learnt & key takeaways for future ODP developments – Online, 25 June 2026
2026-06-25 11:00 - 12:30
Bringing together BEGONIA experts, this interactive session will explore the main lessons learned, recommendations, and key takeaways emerging from the development of the Operational Digital Platform (ODP) concept and the results of the project’s pilot use cases. The discussion will provide valuable insights into governance, deployment challenges, best practices, and future opportunities for ODPs and related digital infrastructures supporting Europe’s digital and energy transitions.
This will be followed by presentations from the INSIEME and ECLIPSE Digital projects and a roundtable discussion exploring common challenges, opportunities, and future directions for interoperable digital infrastructures, data spaces, and cross-border digital solutions in Europe.

REGISTER HERE

Collaboration between European data spaces: Open-source and data space interoperability – Online, 25 June 2026
2026-06-25 16:00 - 17:30
Join the European webinar organised by Visions, dedicated to interoperability between data spaces and the development of collaborative digital ecosystems across Europe.
You will discover how the open-source commons developed within Prometheus-X and the work carried out through the DSIF enable organisations to rapidly launch cross-sector use cases through reusable technology components, interoperable catalogues, and shared orchestration mechanisms.
Through demonstrations and feedback from the healthcare, legal, skills, culture, tourism, agriculture, and smart cities sectors, explore already deployed use cases as well as new collaborations emerging between European data spaces.

REGISTER HERE

Webinar: How can Data Spaces navigate legal complexity through compliance by design? – Online, 30 June 2026
2026-06-30 13:00 - 14:00
As data spaces continue to emerge as a key enabler of data sharing and innovation across Europe, organisations face growing challenges in navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Legal obligations, governance structures, and compliance responsibilities are often shaped by the technical and organisational choices made when designing and operating a data space.

During the webinar, “How Can Data Spaces Navigate Legal Complexity Through Compliance by Design?”, you will explore how legal frameworks can be considered as an integral part of data space design rather than an afterthought. The session will provide insights into the European data ecosystem, the regulatory landscape surrounding data spaces, and practical approaches to privacy and data protection through compliance by design.

What to expect
In this one-hour session, you will gain insights into:

The European Strategy for Data and the role of the European Data Space for Smart Communities ecosystem
The regulatory landscape applicable to data spaces and the challenges of navigating multiple legal frameworks
How technical and organisational design choices influence legal responsibilities and compliance obligations
Privacy, personal data protection, and practical approaches to compliance by design, illustrated through GDPR-related examples

Speakers

Genoveva Gil Garcia – Tech Law Researcher at Serendipity
Colette Cuijpers – Professor of Applied Sciences in Law at the Juridische Hogeschool Avans – Fontys

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Meet the Winners! – These are the SPACE4Cities 5 winning solutions: Webinar for Replicator & Follower cities – Online, 2 July 2026
2026-07-02 13:00 - 15:00
The SPACE4Cities project is finally moving to the exciting Piloting Phase in which the 5 winning solutions will be tested in real life in all 5 Buyers’ Group cities (Athens, Amsterdam, Ghent, Guimarães and Helsinki) in July 2026 – April 2027, as well as 2 Replicator cities, that will be selected via a Replicator Call. To kick off this phase, we’ll organise a webinar, so you can meet the 5 winners and get to learn more about the call for replicators!
Agenda
13:00 Introduction to SPACE4Cities, the selected Top 5 solutions, the pairing of the solutions with the Buyers’ Group cities and the timeline of the pilot phase (Ann Bernaert, District09)
13:15 Top 5 Solutions Revealed – A short introduction on their pilot applications/tools, presenting what it would mean to have their application in piloting in your city (Top 5 Suppliers)
14:30 Replicator city call announcement and information (Alex Gluhak, OASC)
14:50 Q&A

REGISTER HERE
