How can cities turn individual climate and energy projects into lasting urban transformation?

For those startups and researchers who are working on solutions to enhance the quality of life and transform our cities and urban environments, the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 is offering two opportunities to get involved in this year’s event in Barcelona. 

The EIT Community New European Bauhaus has launched two funding opportunities for cities and organisations that want to test community-led approaches and deliver urban transformation.

For interested cities and municipalities seeking to transform urban spaces and strengthen their capacity to design, finance and scale up these transformations, the Food and Agriculture Organisation offers an opportunity to join the Green Cities Network, a community of cities committed t

Sustainable Places conference, which will take place on 2-4 December, 2026 in Luxembourg, has launched a call for proposals for thematic auditorium track  in-person workshops, presentations, online workshops, and exhibition booths.

The ASCEND project has been featured in the newly published SSPCR 2025 Book of Abstracts, presenting Munich’s experience with digital tools for stakeholder engagement in the development of Positive and Clean Energy Districts.

The Smart Cities Marketplace has recently published its final publication, "From Small to Large: Best Practices for Local Sustainable Solutions", providing lessons lear

Three and a half years into the ASCEND project, many of our cities are seeing the results of work that started as plans, concepts and partnerships. Buildings are being renovated, solar panels installed, energy communities launched and new districts designed.

When ASCEND launched, the challenge seemed straightforward. Cities would design and deliver Positive Clean Energy Districts - neighbourhoods capable of producing more renewable energy than they consume while improving quality of life for residents.

One of the most interesting discussions at ASCEND's General Assembly in Prague focused on - what is actually changing on the ground? The answers revealed fourteen very different solutions, but they all addressed a common challenge.