As cities worldwide accelerate their digital transformation, the urgency to ensure that technological innovation remains inclusive and citizen-centred has never been greater. At the upcoming Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona, ENoLL will host an Agora session highlighting how city-led Living Labs are shaping digital solutions that are equitable, participatory, and responsive to societal needs.
The session will showcase four pioneering city initiatives that are leveraging the Living Lab approach to advance digital inclusion. Each city will present a concrete example of how data spaces and emerging technologies—such as generative AI—are being used to co-create and test digital tools and services in real-life settings. These initiatives aim to improve accessibility, foster engagement, and enhance wellbeing across communities, with a particular focus on supporting marginalised and vulnerable groups at risk of digital exclusion.
From participatory platforms for urban planning to AI-driven solutions tailored for older adults, migrants, or low-income residents, the projects presented will provide practical insights into how inclusivity can be embedded within local innovation agendas. The discussion will also explore key enabling factors such as trust-building, ethical data use, cross-sector collaboration, and citizen engagement strategies.
| Time | Item | Speakers |
| 10:30 – 10:40 | Welcome & setting the stage | Wim de Kinderen – Eindhoven Living Lab. Programme Director European Affairs at Brainport Development and ENoLL President. |
| 10:40 – 11:10 | Panel discussion | Marta Martorell i Camps – Colaboratoris Catalunya. Director of Digital Society Technologies Research Group, i2CAT Foundation, Barcelona, Spain Georgia Ayfandopoulou – Thessaloniki Smart Mobility Living Lab. Research Director of CERTH-HI, Thessaloniki, Greece Jordi Picas i Vilà – Social Digital Lab. Innovation Manager at Suara Cocoperativa, Barcelona, Spain Elena Deambrogio – Torino City Lab. Head of Smart City, Innovation and EC Projects Unit at Municipality of Turin, Italy |
| 11:10 – 11:15 | Conclusions | Wim de Kinderen |
Register via Smart City Expo World Congress official website.
As a Collaborating Organisation, ENoLL offers its members exclusive benefits to the premier global gathering on smart, sustainable cities. To claim these benefits for SCEWC 2025, members can reach out to [email protected].
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