BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — Artificial intelligence took the spotlight at this year’s Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), where more than 850 cities from 140 countries gathered in Barcelona to explore how technology can transform urban life.
Running from Tuesday to Thursday, the event, the largest in its history, brought together 1,200 tech companies and institutions showcasing innovations in sustainable mobility, clean energy, and digital governance.
“Cities are where things happen, the engines of both growth and pollution, but also where the solutions will emerge,” said Ugo Valenti, SCEWC’s managing director. He highlighted the expo’s role as a global bridge, linking cities from China to Latin America and Europe to share solutions to common urban challenges.
This year’s exhibition showcased a wide spectrum of smart technologies, from autonomous buses and electric motorbikes to off-grid wind and solar generators, mobile charging systems, and intelligent street lighting.
“Here you can see everything from lighting to mobility to data platforms,” said Song Hongwei, president of Zhejiang Fonda Technology Co., a developer of smart lighting systems. “It’s a place to meet cities directly and explore real cooperation.”
Li Bo, CEO of Shaanxi Kunxiaorun Intelligent Technology Co., said Chinese clean-energy firms are increasingly active in Europe. “China‘s new energy sector is among the best in the world,” he said. “We’re bringing our technology and products to Europe with local partners.”
Iain Mansell from Connected Places Catapult, organizer of the UK pavilion, called the expo a vital platform for investment and visibility. “You need to be here for people to understand what your region offers,” he said.
Out of 462 projects from 65 countries, Rome was named Smart City of 2025, while Guangzhou received recognition for its green energy initiatives.
The congress also featured 600 talks on topics ranging from infrastructure governance and efficient waste management to the blue economy and innovative housing policies.
