Brno will be a centre of innovation for smart cities for three days

URBIS will offer practical demonstrations, inspiring examples, expert discussions and project funding opportunities. The accompanying programme will address topics such as energy self-sufficiency, citizen engagement, the use of data and artificial intelligence in public administration, climate change, smart mobility and digital communications. Participants will gain new insights, share experiences and expand their network.

The URBIS trade fair and conference are supported by several ministries and dozens of other institutions. This cooperation makes them a unique platform for education of local governments, for exchange and sharing of information between them and for communication between local governments and the academic and commercial sector. Above all, URBIS is a venue for the presentation of smart city innovations and for making this knowledge available to municipalities of all sizes.

Trade fair and conferences

This year's URBIS is located in halls A1 and A2 and in the surrounding open areas. Visitors will find over 90 companies and institutions at the fair. The main programme centre is the Rotunda Hall. The other 3 programme centres (Agora) are located on the exhibition area. The conference programme will feature nearly 150 speakers, some of whom will be from abroad - for example from Spain, Germany, Norway, the USA or the UK. The opening ceremony will be attended, among others, by the Minister of Regional Development Petr Kulhánek and the Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček.

The programme will also take place in open areas (demonstrations of the use of drones in urban environments, autonomous mobility, sustainable last mile delivery methods). Urbis also includes the Archimedes Community Centre, which is located at the Brno Exhibition Centre near Hall A.

Main conference programme

Strategic opening and keynote with global guest

The conference will kick off on 10 June with an opening ceremony featuring strategic perspectives and challenges facing European cities. The special guest will be Ugo Valenti, Director of Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the world's largest platform dedicated to smart cities.

Cities as drivers of innovation and cohesion

The opening day will feature two key discussions on the role of cities - large and small - as agents of change and innovation. In the first part, a roundtable will bring together mayors of statutory cities and the Minister of Industry and Trade, Lukáš Vlček, to focus on the competitiveness of cities and the sharing of good practice. In the second part, representatives of smaller cities will join the discussion with the Minister for Regional Development Petr Kulhánek, where the main topic will be regional cohesion and smart solutions in the local context.

Community energy, AI and social innovation in practice

Czech cities are rapidly learning to use new tools - from community energy to artificial intelligence. URBIS 2025 will present successful projects, inspiration from abroad and concrete lessons that can be applied elsewhere. In addition, the Centre for Regional Development will show how AI can be used in the management of European funds.

Second generation and seniors as active co-creators of the city

The programme on 11 June will offer an important perspective: children and young people as drivers of public space. The discussions will be complemented by examples from schools, cities and intergenerational projects that show how to give young people a voice and responsibility.

In contrast, but with equal importance, the topic of longevity and quality of life for the elderly will be raised - that is, how to build cities that are accessible and functional for everyone.

Civic tech, Bauhaus and collaboration for climate neutrality

The next session will focus on multi-level collaboration between cities, banks, universities and the private sector on the path to climate neutrality. The New European Bauhaus Project (NEB-STAR) will show how beauty, sustainability and innovation can be combined. The theme of Civic Tech - digital tools to promote participation and citizen engagement - will also be featured, including a perspective from war-affected Ukraine.

Digital city management and “evidence-based” decision-making

The final day (12 June) will bring a futuristic but practical look at managing cities using digital twins, sensors and AI. Guests from Bavaria will also present new opportunities in the field of digital local energy.

A panel on the use of AI in public administration will also benefit those without a technical background - the aim is to show where to start and how AI can improve services and communication with citizens. The day will conclude with a discussion on ‘evidence-based’ decision-making, i.e. how to work with data instead of impressions - and how to make better decisions for citizens with it.

International guests and accompanying events

This year's Urbis will also welcome many international guests. Delegations from Bavaria, Hungary, the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova will have their own stands. Other international guests (e.g. from the USA) will come to Urbis as members of trade missions. Other foreign guests register as individual visitors. Most of the conference programme is therefore interpreted into English.

Urbis also includes several other events bringing together representatives of public administration, such as a meeting of the Chamber of Statutory Cities, a joint meeting of the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic, the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic and the Association of Local Authorities of the Czech Republic, the Smart City in Practice and South Moravian Region at the Crossroads conferences, and the Clean Mobility Conference. Students can participate in the Urbis Challenge HackaTEEN event.

The exhibition centre is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, on Wednesdays until 4 pm. Visitors to the conference and fair can register in advance. Representatives of local governments and the academic sector have free admission to Urbis.