Program signpost
STAGE 1
9.30–10.30: EU 2028+: how to succeed in the competition for European funding
An informational briefing on the new European funding framework starting in 2028. How will the rules change, and what must cities, municipalities, and regions prepare for in order to succeed in a significantly more competitive environment?
11.00–12.00: Living labs – how to turn a city or region into a breeding ground for successful innovation
Panel with ENoLL: What is a living lab? How does it work, and how does it help build economic competitiveness? Explore Czech pioneers and their initiatives.
12.30–13.30: PilotInnCities – agile piloting as a recipe for bringing innovation into practice
Small-scale innovation experiments funded by venture capital and supported by expert guidance are opening up new opportunities for collaboration between cities and innovative startups. In the Czech Republic, this has been demonstrated in Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Bystřice, the Benešov area, Prague, Olomouc, Plzeň, and the Central Bohemian Region.
The grand finale of the PilotInnCities project (Interreg Danube) will reflect on 27 agile pilots implemented across six countries in the Danube Region. It will showcase the experience of cities and municipalities that have seen firsthand how such approaches can transform a region.
14.00–15.00: Keep In Touch: YoungLink and wellbeing in schools – how to bring innovation into practice
Schools today are focused on the digitalisation of teaching, but a far more fundamental question is often overlooked: how children actually feel in the classroom. Yet relationships between pupils have a major impact on both learning outcomes and overall wellbeing.
This panel will present the YoungLink solution, which uses data and sociometric methods to map classroom dynamics and help schools and local authorities identify early warning signs such as bullying or social exclusion. The application collects anonymised feedback from pupils and creates a “relationship map” that enables teachers to better understand what is really happening in the classroom.
The discussion will bring together three key perspectives:
- schools using the solution in practice,
- cities and education authorities responsible for the quality of the educational environment,
- technology developers introducing new approaches to prevention and data-driven insights in education.
YoungLink is not only an example of an innovative tool. It also illustrates how innovation can evolve in practice—from initial validation, through recognition in the Smart Cities competition, to pilot implementation in the European PilotInnCities programme, where it was awarded for the best pilot project.
Together, we will explore key questions: How can technology improve the school climate? Where are its limits? And what should cooperation between schools and their founders look like if we want to address problems before they escalate?
15.30–16.30: Digital Tools in the Everyday Practice of Cities and Municipalities
A fast-paced overview of various digital tools that support cities and municipalities in their day-to-day operations.
- Agile pilot PalmApp in the Central Bohemian and Karlovy Vary Regions
- AI chatbots
- Participation Factory with an overview of civic tech tools
- Agdata Smart – strategic framing by Gatum Group
17.00–18.00: HackaTEEN – award ceremony
24 hours of work right in the heart of the URBIS trade fair, dozens of children and young people in action, billions of brain cells in motion… and the result?
Smart ideas for better life in cities that will leave you amazed. Don’t believe it? Then come and see the presentations of the TOP 5 teams from Czech primary and secondary schools, and the announcement of the very best among them—who will go on to represent the Czech Republic at the first international Spanish-Czech Challenge HackaTEEN at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona!
STAGE 2
10.00–11.00: Smart City and Safety – Different Paths, One Goal
Czech cities are currently approaching Smart City development in the area of security in a variety of ways. Some have a strong security foundation but are still looking for pathways to develop “smart” extensions. Others have access to modern technologies but lack a cohesive concept and a clear anchoring of security. And some are systematically working to integrate security technologies with other key Smart City domains such as transport, technical services, IT, and energy.
This discussion, led by experienced experts, will provide space to explore different models and address key questions:
How can security technologies be effectively integrated with other smart city agendas?
How can traditional silos between departments (IT, transport, technical services, security) be broken down to support cross-sector collaboration?
What is the role and importance of municipal technology organisations in this process?
This programme block is intended for representatives of municipal security departments and city police, technology and integration companies, municipal IT organisations, and all specialist municipal units dealing with cross-cutting technologies.
11.30–12.30: Safety, Situational Prevention and Public Order in City Practice
Sponsors: Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, Axis Communications
This panel focuses specifically on security, situational prevention, and public order in municipalities. The entire discussion is based primarily on the practical experiences of municipal police forces and the Czech Police and will highlight approaches that go beyond the traditional “closed” model of operation. We will demonstrate how security technologies are integrated with transportation and crisis management, and how their role is evolving toward that of a modern security partner for the entire city.
- Exclusive real-world data: Milan Fára from the Ministry of the Interior will present, for the first time, key statistics and interesting findings from a nationwide study on the use of security technologies in Czech cities and municipalities.
- What are the latest trends in the use of camera systems for crime prevention and investigation?
- How can cooperation between the municipal police, the Czech Police, and other city departments be effectively established?
- What specific experiences and best practices from the field can inspire your municipality?
The discussion will be based on specific examples and practical experiences from individual cities.
This panel is ideal for chiefs, commanders, and senior officers of municipal police forces, representatives of the Czech Police, staff of municipal security departments, and anyone involved in public order and safety in practice.
13.00–14.00: Protection of soft targets – practical use cases of AI and technologies in security
AI for a safe and smart city – showcasing individual functionalities in real urban environments.
Real-world case study – specific situations handled by police officers in their daily practice.
14.30–16.00: Cyber threats and renewable energy: how to protect a municipality’s energy infrastructure
The development of renewable energy sources brings municipalities not only energy independence and cost savings, but also new security risks. Decentralised energy systems based on thousands of interconnected devices—from rooftop photovoltaics to battery storage systems—create potential entry points for cyberattacks.
You will learn:
- What incidents we know from abroad and what can be expected in the Czech Republic
- Municipal obligations in the field of cybersecurity – what you need to know
- Practical recommendations for local governments – how to identify high-risk projects before implementation, what to ask suppliers, and how to ensure secure operation. Examples of good practice.
- Public procurement as a protection tool – what criteria can be legitimately used when tendering renewable energy projects, and how to define cybersecurity requirements in compliance with legislation.
16.00–17.00: Use of drones in cities and municipalities
How can drones help cities operate more safely, efficiently, and sustainably? This panel discussion will present concrete examples of the use of unmanned technologies in public administration already in operation in the Czech Republic and across Europe—from crisis management and traffic monitoring to environmental protection and support for integrated emergency services.
Representatives of technology companies and the Unmanned Aerial Industry Alliance will share their experience with implementing drones into the everyday practice of local governments. The discussion will also address the use of drones, regulatory frameworks, operational safety, and the future development of drone services for municipalities.
Come and be inspired by how modern technologies can help cities and municipalities respond to today’s challenges and become truly “smart.”
ARCHIMEDES
9.30–12.00: Workshop: Net Zero Cities and Co-financing of Climate Projects
Marketingový dialog pro města: projekty v oblasti klimatu
(cca 9:30–10:30, společně s tématem klimatického financování a nových modelů financování pořádaným MMR)
Jak mluvit o klimatu tak, aby to veřejnost neodradilo, ale naopak zapojilo? Diskuse se zaměří na komunikaci klimatických a transformačních projektů velkých měst v době rostoucí polarizace, tlaku různých zájmových skupin i měnícího se veřejného vnímání environmentálních témat. Hosté a hostky s expertízou z oblasti realizace projektů, marketingu, komunikace a veřejné správy nabídnou své zkušenosti z praxe.
Jak komunikovat potřebnost a zavádění nových opatření směrem k veřejnosti, stakeholderům nebo politické reprezentaci? Věnovat se budeme také tomu, jak zapojovat partnery do projektů, pracovat s hejty a jak komunikovat „eko“ témata atraktivně a srozumitelně.
12.15–13.45: AI and Data for Cities
14.00–15.30: "Smart" Data for Resilient Decisions (Nexus Leeds)
16.00–18.00: RIS3 Roundtable – Piloting and Living Labs
HALL A, MORAVA CONFERENCE HALL
9.30–12.30: UCEEB FSB tool
13.00–16.00: Festival Association
HALL A, BRNO CONFERENCE HALL
10.00–12.30: Leaders in Public Administration
Programme Blocks:
How to Be a Successful Leader in Local Government
How can a well-functioning relationship between political leadership and the municipal office be set up? How can public administration employees be motivated and a large organization be led in a time of increasing demands?
Two prominent figures from Czech local government will share their experience:
Petra Pecková, Governor of the Central Bohemian Region
Dagmar Škodová Parmová, Mayor of the Statutory City of České Budějovice
What Public Administration Can Learn from Top-Level Business
How can people, finances, and city strategy be managed effectively? What can be adopted from modern management, and how can a high work pace be handled without burnout?
Experience will be shared by:
Jaroslav Brandejs, City Secretary of Říčany – long regarded as the best place to live in the Czech Republic