URBIS Joins Forces with Barcelona. The Brno Exhibition Centre Aims for the Global Innovation Map
November 4, 2025 / 12:20 PM
During the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the company BVV Trade Fairs Brno. signed a memorandum of cooperation with the prestigious trade fair organizer Fira Barcelona, which hosts the world’s most important event for smart cities. The partnership connects the Central European URBIS fair with the global Smart City Expo platform and opens new opportunities for the European innovation ecosystem.
An Alliance for the Future of Cities
The agreement confirms a shared vision: connecting experts, cities, universities, and technology leaders who are transforming urban life. The partnership will bring knowledge sharing, support for international projects, and the development of “living laboratories” where innovations are tested directly in real-world environments.
“For URBIS, this is a major milestone. Thanks to the cooperation with Fira Barcelona, Brno is becoming part of the world league of smart cities. We gain direct access to the best ideas, technologies, and partners shaping the future of urbanism,” said Jan Kubata, CEO of BVV Trade Fairs Brno.
The memorandum outlines a cooperation framework that includes mutual promotion, involvement in programme activities, and professional support for exhibitors. Representatives of both trade fair organizations agreed that the partnership will boost access to new business opportunities for both sides. The collaboration will help connect European actors who share the goal of creating sustainable and technologically advanced cities.
“Urban transformation is a key challenge of the 21st century, affecting all countries around the world. URBIS, strengthened by this new strategic partnership, gives the Czech Republic a tool not only to stay among relevant players in this field, but to become a driver of change and an innovation leader in Central and Eastern Europe,” said Miroslav Scheiner, the Commissioner for Smart Cities at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to reputable estimates, the global Smart City market will grow up to fourfold in the next decade. Beyond the shared responsibility, it also represents an extraordinary business opportunity.
The Brno Exhibition Centre as a European “Living Lab”
In recent years, the Brno Exhibition Centre has been transforming into a living laboratory where new technologies in mobility, energy, digitalisation, and smart infrastructure are tested. Collaborations with universities and tech companies are giving rise to projects with the potential to transform public space and everyday life. “Our goal is not only to showcase innovations, but above all to test and develop them in real conditions. Thanks to the new private 5G network that will be launched in 2026, we will open an innovative space for testing autonomous transport, smart energy management, and smart buildings,” Kubata added.
URBIS 2026: Ambition to Become the Central European Barcelona
At the Spanish fair, BVV Tade Fairs Brno also presented the basic concept of URBIS 2026, which aims to become the “Central European Barcelona” for Smart Cities and innovation. The upcoming edition will offer a unique combination of exhibitions, conferences, networking events, and practical demonstrations of technologies. URBIS annually attracts hundreds of experts and municipal representatives from more than 30 countries. The fair enjoys long-term support from key ministries, the City of Brno, the South Moravian Region, municipal associations, and innovation agencies such as CzechInvest, CzechTrade, JIC, and JINAG. Together, they are building a platform that strengthens Europe’s innovation potential and helps cities grow smart and sustainably.
