Program signpost
STAGE 1
9.30–10.30: EU 2028+: how to succeed in the competition for European funding
The Czech Republic is preparing for the new framework of European funds after 2027. How will the rules change and what major changes await cities, municipalities, and regions? Where will European resources be directed, and what are the current and future priorities of the European Union and the Czech Republic? How will topics related to the Smart Cities concept and innovation continue to be supported, and through which instruments?
Panel speakers:
- Stanislav Schneidr, Director General, EU Funds and International Relations Section, Ministry of Regional Development (MMR)
- Kateřina Nohelová, Department of Structural Funds and Project Management, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO)
- Kamil Papež, Director, Department of Regional Policy, Ministry of Regional Development (MMR)
- Petr Štěpánek, Director General, Centre for Regional Development
Moderator:
Jasna Sýkorová, FutuRegio Hub, Centre for Regional Development (CRR)
11.00–12.00: Living labs – how to turn a city or region into a breeding ground for successful innovation
The most successful innovation regions in Europe base their development on living labs—open platforms where new technologies and services are tested directly with users through so‑called co‑creation. In the Czech Republic, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe, this concept is still at a very early stage. What conditions need to be met for a living lab to truly function? What obstacles most often hinder its development? And why does it pay off for cities, regions, and companies to build their own environments for experimentation and innovation?
We will explore these questions together with representatives of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL)—the largest international network bringing together living labs worldwide—and Škoda Digital, a key partner of a unique living lab for autonomous trams in Tampere, Finland. Through short pitches, the first Czech initiatives connected under the newly established CZELLAP (Czech Living Lab Platform) will also be introduced.
Representatives of ENoLL will also provide free individual consultations during URBIS.
Confirmed speakers:
- Jiří Liberda, Škoda Digital
- Jakub Hruška, CZELLAP / CzechInvest
- Marie Zezůlková, BVV Living Lab Brno
- Ondřej Mikeš, Brno Living Lab, RECETOX
- Adam Brezáni, PROBIO
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: City and Company as One Team: Anatomy of Successful Cross-Sector Collaboration
Two different worlds. Two distinct languages, ways of thinking, and approaches to problems and opportunities. Finding functional cooperation between the public and private sectors is not easy – and precisely for that reason, we often do not even attempt it. Yet how can we develop our cities, municipalities, and regions if the public sector remains cut off from innovation, ideas, and the dynamism of startups and forward-looking companies? And how can we build a competitive, internationally strong economy if we do not create the conditions for public-sector-focused innovators to enter the market?
This panel will explore two concrete examples where key actors chose to step out of their comfort zones. Pilot projects by YoungLink in Olomouc and Glassiteca in Liberec have shown that cross-sector collaboration can unlock surprising synergies and deliver real impact. You will hear the experiences of both early-stage entrepreneurs and city representatives who jointly experimented within the PilotInnCities project.
We will discuss how concrete innovations can help address issues such as bullying in schools or support the adaptation of urban spaces to climate change. And above all, what other cities, companies, and public institutions can take away from these pilot projects.
Also stop by the PilotInnCities stand and find out how you can obtain your own pilot project worth up to CZK 250,000 directly at URBIS.
15.30–16.45: AI and Data in Public Administration: Smart Inspiration from Practice (Not Only) for Municipalities and Cities
Moderator: Filip Kučera, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Management and Economics
Artificial intelligence, open data, digital twins, and monitoring networks are no longer just topics of sci‑fi visions. They are increasingly appearing in the everyday practice of public administration— in communication with citizens, planning, decision‑making, and territorial management. This discussion block will offer concrete examples and inspiration from municipalities, cities, public institutions, and solution providers.
Programme
15:30 – 15:45 | Keynote Lecture
Tuan Trinh, EIT Digital, 28DIGITAL
A strategic perspective from the European level on digital innovation in public administration
15:45 – 16:45 | Panel Discussion
- Petr Štepánek, Centre for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, Director General
- Martin Rehárik, Municipality of Židovice, Deputy Mayor
- Philipp Korotkov, Agdata Smart
- Johana Burešová, Operátor ICT
- Martin Šinko, City of Žilina
- Filip Prochác, Citymind Solutions
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.
14.30–15.15: Implementation of Cybersecurity in Municipalities: Frequently Asked Questions Answered by National Cyber and Information Security Agency
The presentation will cover cybersecurity requirements for municipalities and regions. You will learn about the current stage of cybersecurity implementation within organizations and gain insight into the most common questions related to individual topics through practical answers and explanations. We will also show you where to find guidelines and recommended procedures, introduce newly prepared support materials, and preview additional resources you can look forward to in the near future. At the end, there will certainly be time for questions from the audience, so do not hesitate to be the first to speak up and prepare a question to help start the discussion.
15.15–16.00: 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
9.30–10:30: Marketing Dialogue for Cities: Climate Projects
How can we talk about climate issues in a way that engages the public rather than discouraging them? Guests with expertise in project implementation, marketing, communication, and public administration will share their practical experience. The discussion will focus on how to communicate the need for and implementation of new measures to the public, stakeholders, and political representatives. We will also explore how to involve partners in projects, deal with online backlash and criticism, and communicate “green” topics in an attractive and accessible way.
Key Speakers:
- Adriana Černá, Digital Strategist, Člověk v tísni
- Petr Krčál, Project Manager, Information Technology Administration of the City of Pilsen
- Eva Škorničková, Public Sector Marketing, LIFE COALA & MiSe Klima
- Soňa Andrášová, Climate Office – Department of Urban Strategies and Analyses, Bratislava City Hall
10.45–12.00: Workshop – Dialogue for Cities: Financing Climate Projects
In the 2028+ programming period, a transformation of funding instruments can be expected, along with a stronger emphasis on co-financing, return on investment, and the involvement of private capital. Municipalities will therefore need to broaden their approach to financing climate measures beyond traditional grants and loans, and actively work with partners and new financial models.
The workshop will provide an overview of best practices in innovative financing of climate policies — from public-private partnerships (PPP) and energy performance contracting (EPC), through long-term power purchase agreements (PPA), to the involvement of development banks and risk-sharing models. In the interactive part, participants will work in groups to design the financing structure of a model project and gain practical understanding of the basic principles of investment structuring, negotiation, and identifying shared interests, so that climate projects can be implemented even under conditions of limited public resources.
Due to limited capacity, registration is recommended: registration form
12.15–13.45: AI: SMART DECISION-MAKING IN PRACTICE
Transforming conversational data into actionable recommendations for city development
Together, we will explore the journey a citizen’s input takes—from a chatbot window to a city councillor’s desk in the form of a well-founded strategic recommendation. Participants will actively engage in the analysis of anonymized conversational data, experiencing how modern algorithms can, in real time, identify current citizen needs, uncover hidden trends, and predict seasonal fluctuations in demand for municipal services.
Who is the workshop for:
Representatives of municipalities, urban development experts, and anyone seeking practical tools for modern public administration.
WHAT THE WORKSHOP OFFERS:
- Conversational data analysis – how modern algorithms identify citizens’ needs, uncover hidden trends, and predict seasonal variations in demand for city services
- A new perspective on chatbots – not just as an information channel, but as a sensitive sensor of the city’s atmosphere
- Working with an AI advisor – an interactive simulation where participants practice proposing priority measures and supporting them with arguments using generative AI
- Combining human judgment and machine intelligence – how this synergy improves everyday decision-making in public administration
- Ethics and data protection – the entire process adheres to the highest standards of data handling and privacy protection
14.00–15.30: "Smart" Data for Resilient Decisions
This fast‑paced 90‑minute workshop equips city leaders and executives from large organisations with the clarity and confidence needed to make smarter, more resilient data‑driven decisions, especially when considering AI implementation. Participants learn how to distinguish between linear systems, where AI delivers real value, and complex systems, where automation can cause harm or waste resources.
Through practical exercises, they explore the data fallacies, importance of domain expertise, human in versus human on the loop and infrastructure required for effective AI adoption, while gaining a clear framework for recognising when AI is appropriate, when it’s not, and what must be in place before moving forward. Perfect for senior decision makers navigating increasing pressure to “use AI” without compromising outcomes, or organisational readiness.
16.00–18.00: Innovation Ecosystem for the 21st Century I: Living Labs and Cities as Engines of Competitiveness
What determines whether a region succeeds in the 21st century – or starts falling behind? This two-part workshop at URBIS will offer inspiration from leaders of the European innovation scene alongside an interactive discussion focused on the development of smart specialization and modern regional innovation ecosystems.
The first part of the workshop will focus on the principles of living labs and the role of cities as platforms for innovation, experimentation, and economic development. Insights will be shared by Wim de Kinderen, President of the European Network of Living Labs and Program Director for European Affairs at Brainport Eindhoven, and Monna Salmi, an expert on regional innovation ecosystems and collaborative governance from Tampere, Finland.
The workshop will be held in English with professional facilitation provided by Participation Factory.
Who is it for: the Czech RIS3 network, regional representatives, researchers, and everyone actively working with innovation ecosystems.
Capacity is limited.
Registration: https://forms.gle/ugsJSnHxQ5Qkqfny7
HALL A, MORAVA CONFERENCE HALL
9.00–12.00: UCEEB Workshop: Quality Public Construction
How can municipalities procure public contracts in a way that results in genuinely high-quality public buildings and spaces? The programme will introduce a process-oriented approach to public procurement, practical experience from municipalities, and tools for evaluating building quality and the resilience of public spaces.
Each session block will also include short discussions. Intended primarily for mayors, public procurement authorities, investment officers, and engaged members of the public.
The event is free of charge as part of URBIS.
Registration: https://cesmod.cz/ws-kvalitni-verejna-vystavba-3-6-2026-urbis/
Moderator: Michal Kuzmič
SCHEDULE
09:00 – 09:30
BLOCK 1: COMPREHENSIVE QUALITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
How to approach it systematically? A methodological framework for small architectural competitions.
Speakers: Jan Růžička, Yvette Vašourková + discussion
09:30 – 10:20
BLOCK 2: PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Buštěhrad, Postřekov, Hodslavice
Speakers: Jan Růžička, Petr Anderle + discussion
10:20 – 10:30 BREAK
10:30 – 11:10
BLOCK 3: A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT
How to improve and evaluate building quality.
Speaker: Jakub Diviš + discussion
11:10 – 12:00
BLOCK 4: RESILIENT PUBLIC SPACE
Methods for evaluating the resilience of urban areas.
Speakers: Barbora Hejtmánková, Yvette Vašourková + discussion
VENUE
URBIS, Brno Exhibition Centre, Morava Conference Hall
13.00–16.30: Energy Community Hackathon
Contribute your experience to the development of Czech community energy: Energy Community Hackathon at URBIS The Smart Cities Meetup.
Energy communities in the Czech Republic are still a relatively new initiative, despite the record-high volumes of shared electricity. They face challenges that, in the Czech context, have not yet been systematically described.
Come and help turn your practical experience from operating energy communities into action at the hackathon of the Union of Community Energy at the URBIS trade fair. The aim of the hackathon is to map the needs of energy communities for their further development, identify proven solutions to existing problems, and explore pathways for their wider adoption.
The hackathon is a follow-up to the “Energy Communities LIVE” series.
16.30–17.30: From distrust to cooperation: How to involve citizens in energy projects
Poland has recorded an increase of more than 900% in energy communities over the past two years. Instead of just a handful, there are now more than 700 operating in Poland. The key to this success is primarily effective communication, trust-building, and overcoming initial scepticism.
The workshop will present three approaches to successfully introducing the idea of community energy in municipalities and among citizens, and will illustrate them with two practical examples from different contexts.
Learn how to respond to fears about financial risks, how to properly argue why the principle of “a neighbour explaining to a neighbour” is more effective than any expert lecture, and why the most important step is to find an ally directly within the community. Discover which tools have worked and which approaches should be avoided. The workshop will be held in English and is a result of the LIFE COMET project.
Moderator/speaker: Sebastian Bykuć
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
13.00–15.00: Festivals as a driver of the economy, image, communities, and innovation in cities and regions
The conference is organised by the Association of Music Festivals (FESTAS) in cooperation with Tomáš Avrat (Místo jako značka). It will focus on how to approach large music events as a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership between cities, regions, and organisers — from the reputation and attractiveness of a place, through economic impacts, sustainability, and tourism, to the development of local communities.
From ad hoc support to long-term cooperation
The aim of the meeting is to shift cooperation between public administration and festival organisers from occasional support and individual requests to a clearly defined model. This model is based on a shared vision, clear roles and expectations, predictable rules, open communication, and active work with the impacts of events on the surrounding area. Participants will gain practical inspiration on what makes sense to set up, measure, and communicate so that large events can function sustainably over the long term and maintain the support of local residents.
Who the conference is for
The event is primarily intended for:
representatives of cities and municipalities (leadership, strategic development, marketing, communication, culture, tourism), regions and regional organisations (destination management organisations, development and innovation agencies), destination and development organisations, Local Action Groups (MAS) and other territorial development partners, promoters, organisers, and partners of music festivals and large open-air events (production, operations, communication, sustainability, safety).
What you will learn and take away
A framework for understanding large music events as a long-term partnership between a city/region and organisers
A “taste” of key topics: impact measurement, innovation, involvement of local businesses and residents, education, and community engagement
Practical examples from cities, regions, and organisers — what works, what doesn’t, and why
Practical information
When: Wednesday, 3 June, 13:00–17:00
Duration: 4 hours
Language: Czech
Admission: free (registration required in advance: https://www.bvv.cz/urbis/festas#registrace-na-konferenci)
Where: Brno Hall
15.30–17.30: Autonomous mobility – roundtable discussion with international guests
The roundtable organized by the Ministry of Transport will connect Czech and international experts in a discussion on the future of autonomous mobility, the development of urban infrastructure, and experience from concrete projects. The first part will offer a perspective on autonomous mobility and examples from Finland and Portugal. The second part will focus on the perspective of Czech cities and showcase specific projects. The event will include short expert presentations as well as a live discussion.