ASCEND is heading to Barcelona!
ASCEND is joining other EU-funded projects at the Smart City Expo World Congress taking place at FIRA Barcelona, Spain on November 3-5, 2026 where it will be present at the EU for Resilient Green Cities Pavilion (Hall 2, Stand D121), which is coordinated by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD). Our cities and partners will participate in high-level discussions, thematic roundtables and workshops across the Congress. You can explore our presence in a closer detail below:
Tuesday, 3 November
09:00–18:00 | UTM Global Innovation Summit 2026: Accelerating Urban Transitions
Location: Atrium Viladecans, Barcelona
Organised by the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) of Mission Innovation, the Summit will explore how artificial intelligence and digital innovation can accelerate sustainable urban transformation.
11:00–11:45 | Data-driven Policy and Investment for Cleaner Air
Location: Tomorrow.Mobility, Move Better Stage
ASCEND speaker:
Jaromír Beránek, Deputy Mayor for Transportation, City of Prague, will join representatives from Paris, London and other organisations to discuss how environmental and mobility data can support evidence-based policymaking, reduce urban pollution and improve public health.
16:00–17:00 | Presentations from Munich
Location: Bavarian Pavilion, Hall 2, Stand B121
ASCEND speakers:
Dr. Stefan Synek will explore how Munich is accelerating Positive Clean Energy Districts,
Andreas Bärnreuther will present an innovative approach to citizen participation using Minecraft, and
Julia König will discuss how cities can create value through IoT solutions while managing costs effectively.
Wednesday, 4 November
10:00–11:00 | One District Is a Pilot. A Hundred Is a Policy. How Cities Scale Clean Energy Districts
Location: European Commission EU Pavilion, Hall 2, Stand D121
ASCEND speakers:
Baptiste Mougeot (Lyon Confluence)
Dr. Stefan Synek (City of Munich)
Marek Šmíd (OICT Prague) / Michal Kuzmic (CVUT Prague)
Philippe Fournand (BlueSight)
Laura Dieguez (DKSR)
This panel will bring together representatives from Lyon, Munich and Prague alongside ASCEND project partners to explore how Positive Clean Energy Districts can move beyond individual pilots towards wider implementation.
10:20–11:05 | Innovating in an Era of Uncertainty
Location: Tomorrow.Mobility, Main Stage
ASCEND speaker:
Pierre Oliver, Vice President of Lyon Metropolis for Roads and Mobility, Mayor of the 2nd District of Lyon, President of Lyon Confluence, will join representatives from national governments and EIT Urban Mobility to discuss how mobility innovators are responding to shifting policies, trade dynamics and supply chain disruptions.
11:20–12:05 | Funding Change: The Investment Models Turning Urban Ambition into Reality
Location: SCEWC Congress, Cities X People Stage
ASCEND speaker:
Veronika Cerna, CEO and Founder of TWNTY, will join representatives from the European Commission and cities to explore how cities can mobilise investment to turn urban ambitions into reality. The discussion will examine climate finance, public-private partnerships and innovative investment models that can accelerate sustainable urban transformation.
13:30–15:30 | FIA Closed Session on Urban Road Safety
Location: Tomorrow.Mobility
ASCEND speaker:
Pierre Oliver, Vice President of Lyon Metropolis for Roads and Mobility, Mayor of the 2nd District of Lyon, President of Lyon Confluence, will join representatives from European cities for the FIA closed session focused on urban road safety. The discussion will explore approaches to safer streets and share practical experiences from cities working to improve urban mobility.
14:00–15:00 | Beermat Workshop: Pitch Your Smart City Idea!
Location: Bavarian Pavilion, Hall 2, Stand B121
Organiser: City of Munich
Have an idea, solution or challenge for your city? Submit it on a digital beer mat on Tuesday and join Munich's interactive workshop on Wednesday, where participants can pitch their ideas in just two minutes.
15:30–17:30 | Cities Enabling Strategic Autonomy. From Innovation to Public Value
Location: CC4, Room 4.3
ASCEND speaker:
Veronika Cerna, CEO and Founder of TWNTY will join the session hosted by Barcelona City Council as part of the Cities Programme, that will explore how cities can strengthen their resilience, govern data and artificial intelligence responsibly, and turn technological innovation into public value.
17:05–17:55 | City as a Lab: Real-World Innovation Transforming Urban Areas
Location: SCEWC Congress, AI X Cities Stage
ASCEND speaker:
Markus Mohl, Head of Geoservices and Digital Twin Munich, City of Munich, will join representatives from Paris, Alicante, Brussels, Rosario and Hangzhou, to explore how emerging technologies and AI-driven innovation are transforming urban environments.
Moreover, you can find ASCEND representatives across the following pavilions throughout SCEWC:
EU Pavilion: Hall 2, Stand D121
Bavarian Pavilion: Hall 2, Stand B121
Czech Pavilion: Hall 3, Stand D100
Porto Pavilion: Hall 3, Stand D71
We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona!
Meet ASCEND representatives and cities across the pavilions and discover how Positive Clean Energy Districts are taking shape across Europe.
