{"id":2296,"date":"2026-02-13T15:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T15:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/?page_id=2296"},"modified":"2026-05-25T08:03:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T08:03:05","slug":"2nd-citiverse-assembly","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/2nd-citiverse-assembly\/","title":{"rendered":"2nd Citiverse Assembly"},"content":{"rendered":"    <div class=\"ituContainer grid\">\n        <div data-span=\"12\">\n                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">    <section>\n        <div class=\"ituContainer grid\">\n                                                <div data-span=\"9\">\n                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2111\" height=\"1187\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2383\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.778705636743215;width:904px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner.png 2111w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner-767x431.png 767w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-05-12-2nd-Citiverse-Assembly-Final-Banner-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2111px) 100vw, 2111px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Co-organized by ITU, the European Commission, OASC and UNICC, and supported by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstandict.eu%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cchiara.kirsten.co%40itu.int%7C5738a68897ee430d8a9208de7468b577%7C23e464d704e64b87913c24bd89219fd3%7C0%7C0%7C639076190230519618%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ZOD%2BwJ%2FR6EKLwjem3i6rUoO88Kodhq98RoDiBgokOR0%3D&amp;reserved=0\">StandICT.eu 2029<\/a>, the 2nd Citiverse Assembly convened cities, governments, industry, standards bodies, research, and academia to strengthen global collaboration on the citiverse. The Assembly shared experiences from ongoing citiverse and local digital twin projects worldwide, presented flagship deliverables of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\">Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013 <em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/a>, and promoted greater alignment across standards and implementation efforts.<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The programme addressed fragmentation, supported people-centred approaches, and explored practical pathways for collaborative citiverse standardization.<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Target Audience<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participation was open to the ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, Academia, and to any individual from a country that is a member of the ITU and who wishes to contribute to the work. This included individuals who are also members of international,\u00a0regional,\u00a0and national organizations. Participation was free of charge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Venue<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Room C, Montbrillant Building, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Headquarters<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Place des Nations,&nbsp;1211 Geneva&nbsp;20,&nbsp;Switzerland&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/epublications\/en\/publication\/collaboration-on-global-standards-for-the-ai-enabled-citiverse\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\">Outcome document<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>            <\/div>\n                                                <div data-span=\"1\">\n                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>            <\/div>\n                                                <div data-span=\"2\">\n                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6bc3c5e71eda5cccd4a1061c4339e9bd is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-786e38497bd5fc3a9b6cfa5e1301e481 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Co-organized by:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"162\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2312\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.9419853889127632;width:82px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS.png 2400w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS-1024x369.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS-768x276.png 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS-1536x553.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LOGO-CE_EN_RGB_HORIZONTAL_POS-2048x737.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/OASC_Vertical-2-black.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2305\" style=\"width:149px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UNICC_standard.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2380\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.9302439024390244;width:80px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UNICC_standard.png 400w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UNICC_standard-279x300.png 279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c4d2b9fe4a95213471e222a13d2864d8 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-b58ccbaa2a925f17071651c0bbc29f4d wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Supported by:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"318\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Square.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2307\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.2578756621131866;width:96px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"625\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3009_Virtual-Worlds-Initiative_Logo-01.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2141\" style=\"width:117px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3009_Virtual-Worlds-Initiative_Logo-01.png 625w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3009_Virtual-Worlds-Initiative_Logo-01-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3009_Virtual-Worlds-Initiative_Logo-01-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3009_Virtual-Worlds-Initiative_Logo-01-600x600.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8338157688fa5b23036435d12d718e6b\">Programme <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61ebd583a0a7f7f5a1a06f9b2e4b444d is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11.00 \u2013 11:10 Opening Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Seizo Onoe<\/strong>, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Sameer Chauhan<\/strong>, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Helen K\u00f6pman<\/strong>, Deputy Head of Unit, AI for Societal Good, AI Office, European Commission&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Karl-Filip Coenegrachts<\/strong>, Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Open &amp; Agile Smart Cities &amp; Communities (OASC)<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-516d43b50e9945570f485f1323858178 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11.10 \u2013 12:00 <strong>Citiverse Projects: A Global Snapshot<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This session provided an opportunity to get an overview of ongoing key projects on local digital twins and the citiverse worldwide, led by research institutions, industry, academia, and cities.&nbsp;It highlighted how use cases could help define the required&nbsp;building blocks&nbsp;for citiverse development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> <strong>Silvana Muscella<\/strong>, Strategic Advisor, StandICT.eu 2029 &amp; CEO, Trust-IT Services<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Speakers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Maria Giuffrida<\/strong>, Senior Research Analyst, StandICT.eu 2029 and TerraDT [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Maria-Giuffrida.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Maria-Giuffrida.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Kyoung Jae Sun<\/strong>, Senior Researcher, Standards Research Division, ETRI [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Kyoung-Jae-Sun.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Kyoung-Jae-Sun.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Corn\u00e9 Helmons<\/strong>, Advisor Digital Twin, GeoBIM and Standardisation Municipality of Rotterdam, The Netherlands [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Corne-Helmons.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Corne-Helmons.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Jan Wester<\/strong>, Director, European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDIC) on Local Digital Twins and&nbsp;CitiVERSE [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Jan-Wester.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Jan-Wester.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Questions &amp; Ans\u200bwers\u200b<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e99491bb206231f85c816f0425b1e93f is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>12:00-12:50 <strong>From Fragmentation to Interoperability in the Citiverse<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This session discussed ongoing standardization efforts and explored ways to address fragmentation in citiverse development, with a view to advancing coherent, interoperable global standards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moderator: \u200bMartin Brynskov<\/strong>, Founding Board Director and Standardisation Lead, OASC [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Martin-Brynskov.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Martin-Brynskov.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Speakers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Hyoung Jun Kim<\/strong>, Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 \u201cIoT, digital twins, and smart sustainable cities and communities<strong>\u201d<\/strong> [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Hyoung-Jun-Kim.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Hyoung-Jun-Kim.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Torbj\u00f6rn Lahrin,<\/strong> ISO\/IEC JTC1 CG2 \u201cStrategic Coordination Group on Metaverse\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Torbjorn-Lahrin.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Torbjorn-Lahrin.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Christoph Runde, <\/strong>Chair, Technical Working Group on Virtual Worlds, StandICT.eu [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Christoph-Runde.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-12-Christoph-Runde.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Questions &amp; Ans\u200bwers\u200b<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e2bc25cf218e3ffba4d3c83154b33d5c is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>12:50-13:00<\/strong><\/strong> Keynote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Okan Geray,<\/strong> Chair, Steering Committee, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;Discovering the Citiverse [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Updated-template-Towards-an-AI-Enabled-Citiverse-Okan-cristina.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Updated-template-Towards-an-AI-Enabled-Citiverse-Okan-cristina.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d7b0fb1469e42e379d7ba43a0dcfeb2c is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7c64672f34a7d592c823813e1fbb1617 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>13:00 \u2013 14:00 Lunch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46d132c20914555471c7c5d7066505bf is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>14:00- 14:30 <strong>The Citiverse in Action: From Vision to Delivery<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This session presented the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\">Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013 <em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/a> and selected flagship deliverables. By aligning strategic vision, technical foundations, and accessibility by design, it demonstrated how the Initiative was accelerating interoperability and real-world adoption of the Citiverse worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moderator:<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Paula Llobet Vilarrasa<\/strong>, Vice-chair, Executive Committee, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Speakers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Anish Sethi<\/strong>, Co-Chair of Pillar 2 of the Global&nbsp;Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Teppo Rantanen<\/strong>, Leader of the Strategic Guidance Track, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em> [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-05-12-Teppo-Rantanen-rev.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-05-12-Teppo-Rantanen-rev.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>] <\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Christina Yan Zhang<\/strong>, Leader of Evaluation and Assessment Track, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em> [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-05-12-Christina-Yan-Zhang-rev-1.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-05-12-Christina-Yan-Zhang-rev-1.pdf\">Presentation<\/a>] <\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Questions &amp; Ans\u200bwers\u200b<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-96081fb2dd63c459864a5ab9c539eb7c is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>14:30 \u2013 15:00 <strong>Connecting Efforts: Pathways to Collaborative Citiverse Standardization<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This session explored how closer alignment of standards efforts and stronger links between projects and initiatives could support cities in adopting interoperable, people-centred Citiverse solutions. It considered priority areas for joint action, including collaborative standards development and cooperation mechanisms to support global standardization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moderators: Helen K\u00f6pman<\/strong>, Deputy Head of Unit, AI for Societal Good, AI Office, European Commission and <strong>Cristina Bueti<\/strong>, ITU Focal Point on AI-powered Virtual Worlds&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-021bcc4c708b1154b50a7324ff225cce is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>15:00-15:10 <strong>Closing Ceremony<\/strong><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Helen K\u00f6pman<\/strong>, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Karl-Filip Coenegrachts<\/strong>, Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Open &amp; Agile Smart Cities &amp; Communities (OASC)<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Cristina Bueti<\/strong>, ITU Focal Point on AI-powered Virtual Worlds&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Related Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/md\/T25-TSB-CIR-0119\/en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/md\/T25-TSB-CIR-0119\/en\">Invitation letter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\">Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/\">ITU activities on metaverse and virtual worlds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/studygroups\/2025-2028\/20\/Pages\/default.aspx\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/studygroups\/2025-2028\/20\/Pages\/default.aspx\">ITU-T Study Group 20: IoT, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact: <a href=\"mailto:digitaltransformation@itu.int\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cristina Bueti<\/a> (ITU)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dba391219c90c5792a4335e884d0c052\">Biographies<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"brynskov\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2326 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2fac1d83-a821-457a-ac01-a59e58b85312.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Martin&nbsp; Brynskov<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Founding Board Director and Standardisation Lead, OASC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin Brynskov, PhD (CS), is an academic and digital standardisation expert at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, also leading standards efforts at the Brussels-based Open &amp; Agile Cities &amp; Communities (OASC) global network, of which he is the former and founding Chair. His research explores how machines and people \u2013 and everything in between \u2013 perceive, conceptualise, reason about and act in the worlds they co-inhabit, as individuals, as organisations and as communities\/systems of all sizes. He refers to this as Interaction Technologies unfolding in a Place-Based Computing paradigm. Dr Brynskov co-chairs the Danish Standards Committee S-491 on Data Management and Data Spaces through which he co-leads the efforts in Europe to produce harmonised standards for data spaces (CEN-CLC\/JTC 25\/WG 2) and represents Denmark in the United Nations standards work for IoT, Digital Twins and Sustainable Smart Cities and Communities at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T\/SG 20).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"bueti\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1963 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Cristina Bueti<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITU Focal Point on AI-powered Virtual Worlds<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI-powered Virtual Worlds. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 \u201cInternet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities\u201d and serves as TSB\/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women\u2019s Day 2016, she was named as one of the ten Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication and emerging technology issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"Coenegrachts\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2418 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-2048x2048.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Headshot_SameerChauhan-600x600.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>Sameer Chauhan<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. Chauhan was appointed Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre on 1 December 2019 by the United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres.<br>The Director is the Chief Executive and has the responsibility to lead all aspects of UNICC\u2019s strategy and operations to facilitate the provision of services to more than 100 Clients and Partner Organizations, to establish the UNICC strategy, to develop a biennial business plan and budget, and to implement the approved plan.<br>With the advice and backing of the MC, Mr. Chauhan has effectively led a strategic transformation of UNICC since he assumed his post. This has enabled UNICC to become the preferred strategic digital partner for the whole UN system and has empowered the organization to successfully build capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, AI, data, quantum encryption and cloud computing, as well as in key business areas like treasury, finance, and HR.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"Coenegrachts\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"992\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg-1024x992.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2181 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg-1024x992.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg-300x291.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg-768x744.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg-1536x1488.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/headshot.jpg.jpeg 1765w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Karl-Filip Coenegrachts<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Open &amp; Agile Smart Cities &amp; Communities (OASC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Karl-Filip is Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director of Open &amp; Agile Smart Cities &amp; Communities, an international network of 190+ local and regional authorities supporting its members in their digital transformation journey with a strong focus on interoperability.<br>He is also Head of the Data, Governance and Communities Unit at the imec research group SMIT of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (imec-SMIT, VUB). The main focus of the work of his unit is on governance and business aspects of urban digital transformation and urban innovation, including data spaces, local digital twins and personal data management. Currently, he also serves as Senior Policy Advisor Smart Cities, Data Spaces, Local Digital Twins and CitiVerse at FARI, the AI for the Common Good Institute in Brussels.<br>Before joining SMIT, he served in government for 24 years, working at the local level as Chief Strategy Officer of the City of Ghent and at the Belgian FPS Justice on digital policies and digital transformation programmes. He holds a master of laws degree, specialized in European and International Law.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"geray\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Okan-Geray-scaled-2-e1691505458692-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-334 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>Okan Geray<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chair, Steering Committee, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Okan Geray has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and advisory roles across various industries. He has consulted for a number of organizations in Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. He worked at A.T. Kearney global management consulting firm for 6 years and was a member of the Global Telecommunications and Higher Technology core team before he joined Dubai Government in 2002. He has worked as the Strategic Planning Advisor in Dubai eGovernment, Dubai Smart Government, Smart Dubai Office and recently Dubai Digital Authority. His responsibilities include Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance Management and Policy Making among others.<br>Dr. Geray is the U4SSC Chair (U4SSC is a UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat and supported by other 16 UN bodies, that help support the development of institutional policies and strategies which encourage the use of digital technologies to facilitate digital transformation and ease the transition to smart sustainable cities). He is leading several thematic groups globally for U4SSC namely \u201cGuidelines on Strategies for Circular Cities\u201d, \u201cCity Science Application Framework\u201d, \u201cAI in Cities\u201d, \u201cEnabling People-Centered Cities through Digital Transformation\u201d, and \u201cDigital Wellbeing\u201d.<br>Dr. Geray is the Co-Rapporteur of the ITU Study Group 20, Question 7 on \u201cEvaluation and assessment of Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities\u201d. He is a member of the IEC-ISO-ITU Joint Smart Cities Task Force (J-SCTF). He is Co-Chairing the Working Group \u201cEconomic, regulatory &amp; competition aspects\u201d in the ITU Focus Group on metaverse (FG-MV). He was also the Co-Chair of the \u201cData Economy Impact, Commercialization and Monetization\u201d Working Group, part of the ITU Focus Group on Data Processing and Management.<br>Dr. Geray holds a double major B. Sc. degree in Industrial and Computer Engineering from Bosphorus University in Istanbul Turkey, an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in the US. He has published several journal and conference papers and was an adjunct lecturer in management for 15 years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"giuffrida\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"306\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e6318696-86ab-45f8-866f-b210eecb4cc9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2327 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e6318696-86ab-45f8-866f-b210eecb4cc9.png 250w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e6318696-86ab-45f8-866f-b210eecb4cc9-245x300.png 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maria Giuffrida<\/strong><br>Project Coordinator, StandICT.eu 2029<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maria Giuffrida is a Senior Research Analyst at Trust-IT Services, where she supports EU-funded research and innovation actions with a focus on communication, dissemination, stakeholder engagement and impact-driven community building in the areas of ICT, standardisation and open science.he coordinates&nbsp;StandICT.eu 2029, the fourth edition of the European initiative that funds and supports expert contributions to ICT standardisation, and contributes to shaping its outreach, sustainability, and ecosystem engagement activities. Maria also leads communication, dissemination and engagement activities for&nbsp;TerraDT.eu, supporting visibility and stakeholder mobilisation around Destination Earth-related digital twin developments, including the production of key communication and engagement outputs. Across her broader portfolio, she works with multiple European projects to translate technical results into clear narratives and practical engagement pathways, connecting research outputs with relevant industrial communities, policy discussions and multiplier networks. She holds an MSc in International Management from Bocconi University and a PhD in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (Italy). Before joining Trust-IT, she gained academic research experience in digital innovation, including applications to supply chain management and logistics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"giuffrida\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1b8478a7-00b6-4409-b4de-77900c72a845.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2425 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1b8478a7-00b6-4409-b4de-77900c72a845.png 250w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1b8478a7-00b6-4409-b4de-77900c72a845-223x300.png 223w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Corn\u00e9 Helmons<\/strong><br>Advisor Digital Twin, GeoBIM and Standardisation Municipality of Rotterdam, The Netherlands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corn\u00e9 Helmons is a strategic advisor and innovator specialising in urban Digital Twins, open standards, and interoperable data ecosystems. He operates at the intersection of digital technology, governance, and societal challenges, supporting cities and European consortia in the design, implementation, and scaling of trustworthy digital infrastructures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He plays a leading role in DT\u2011aCoGo (Digital Twins as a Common Good), where the Open Urban Platform functions as a shared dataspace enabling Digital Twin applications. Within this initiative, Corn\u00e9 contributes to the development of reusable and replicable implementation \u201crecipes\u201d that support cities in building and growing sustainable Digital Twin ecosystems, aligned with European data\u2011sharing, interoperability, and openness principles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, he serves as coordinator of the Sandbox Alliance, a network of cities within the EDIC LDT Citiverse, focused on the joint development of common standards, interoperable solutions, and real\u2011world implementations. Through this role, he supports alignment across local, national, and European initiatives and facilitates collaboration and knowledge transfer between cities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corn\u00e9 is widely recognised for his ability to bridge policy objectives and technical execution, translating complex digital concepts into actionable solutions with clear public value and measurable societal impact.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"kim\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Dr.-Hyoung-Jun-Kim-206x300-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2361 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Hyoung Jun Kim<\/strong><\/strong><br>Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 \u201cIoT, digital twins, and smart sustainable cities and communities\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Hyoung Jun Kim is a Research Fellow at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he has served since 1988, including as Senior Vice President leading the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory. With 37 years of experience, he has contributed across multiple divisions of ETRI and currently serves as Chair of ITU-T Study Group 20 and the APT Standardization Program (ASTAP). He has held numerous leadership roles in ITU, including Vice-Chair of SG20 and SG13, Working Party Chair, and Rapporteur since 2004.<br>Dr Kim has submitted over 450 standardization proposals, published 150+ papers, holds 100+ patents, and transferred 20 technologies to industry. His achievements have earned him three Presidential Citations of the Republic of Korea (2003, 2009, 2023) and multiple international recognitions, including ITU-T Certificates of Appreciation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"kim\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2420 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSC_8023_F1-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Torbj\u00f6rn Lahrin<\/strong><\/strong><br>ISO\/IEC JTC1 CG2 \u201cStrategic Coordination Group on Metaverse\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Torbj\u00f6rn Lahrin is deeply engaged in international standardization for IoT, Digital Twins, Smart Cities, Virtual Worlds. He is convenor for ISO\/IEC JTC1\/CG2 \u2013 Strategic Coordination Group on Metaverse (including CitiVerse) and co convenor of a Joint Working Group between JTC1 and SyC Smart Cities laying foundation for an international Local Digital Twin reference architecture + providing recommendations to other committees.&nbsp; Within ISO\/IEC JTC1\/SC41, he is Project Editor for IoT reference architecture (ISO\/IEC 30141) and convenor of advisory group AG21, responsible for IoT and Digital Twin standardization related to Smart Cities and Utilities. In Sweden Torbj\u00f6rn leads Working Group Standards &amp; Platforms, a think tank focusing on interoperability, dataspaces, IoT, Digital Twins + commercial platforms for these technologies. Torbj\u00f6rn is chair of W3C Nordic Chapter Smart City \/ Web of Things Community Group. He is also technical lead for a larger initiative in Sweden where about 50 cities + 80 public owned companies invest in IoT jointly. He has extensive experience applying standards in large-scale national and international initiatives. Torbj\u00f6rn contributes to Europe as member of Advisory Board for the EU project DeployEMDS, supporting development of a European mobility data space + work regarding virtual worlds, MIMs (Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms) and similar initiatives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"Kopman\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"262\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-143825.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2340 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-143825.png 262w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-143825-246x300.png 246w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Helen K\u00f6pman<\/strong><\/strong><br>Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Helen K\u00f6pman is Deputy Head of Unit for AI for Societal Good, at DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) at the European Commission in Brussels. The unit is developing and showcasing AI-driven digital twins, delivering tangible solutions for efficient and sustainable operation of cities and communities, and is responsible for the Citiverse &#8211; European Digital Infrastructure Consortium. It is also implementing the international engagement of the AI Office in delivering AI solutions for the public good. Prior to this position she was leading development of innovation across digital policies and programmes in DG Connect, with particular focus on EU support to deployment of blockchain technologies and on scaling up of European deep tech startups. She has also been managing EC supported research and innovation in ICT applied to mobility including electric and automated driving and supported International Scientific Cooperation. She has a M.Sc. in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, from the University of Link\u00f6ping, Sweden. Ms K\u00f6pman joined the European Commission in 2003 following thorough industrial experience in the management of ICT systems integration and service development in several international companies. Her core interest is to support ICT based European tech companies to reach their full market potential with product and services that benefits the citizens.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"Muscella\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2362 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Silvana-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Silvana Muscella<br><\/strong>Strategic Advisor, StandICT.eu 2029 &amp; CEO, Trust-IT Services<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silvana Muscella is a European entrepreneur and ICT strategic coordinator with over 25 years of experience in digital innovation, standardisation, and open science. Silvana leads on some&nbsp; major international initiatives focused on the European research agenda &#8211; in ICT areas such as Cybersecurity, ICT Standards, EOSC-European Open Science Cloud.&nbsp;She is&nbsp;CEO &amp; Founder of&nbsp;Trust-IT Services, a research and digitally-led SME specialising in digital marketing and communication for ICT and co-Founder of&nbsp;COMMpla, a software house delivering multichannel solutions. She was the prime author &amp; designer of the StandICT.eu flagship standardisation CSA project funded by the EC back in 2017. Her strategic vision entails being actively involved in navigating geopolitics and innovation strategy to foster &#8220;European digital champions&#8221; in innovations in ICT tech adoption. She has served as&nbsp;an external expert evaluator and reviewer for the&nbsp;European Commission&nbsp;since 2003.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"onoe\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Seizo_Onoe-web-e1712654879307.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-337 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Seizo_Onoe-web-e1712654879307.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Seizo_Onoe-web-e1712654879307-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Seizo Onoe<\/strong><br>Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Known in the industry as \u201cthe father of LTE\u201d (Long-Term Evolution mobile broadband), he now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone. Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for NTT Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO\u2019s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology. From 2012 to 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO\u2019s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&amp;D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO\u2019s R&amp;D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company\u2019s Radio Network Development Department. Mr Onoe holds a Master\u2019s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"chuauhan\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"992\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teppo-Rantanen-1-1024x992.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2180 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teppo-Rantanen-1-1024x992.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teppo-Rantanen-1-300x291.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teppo-Rantanen-1-768x744.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teppo-Rantanen-1.jpg 1241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Teppo Rantanen<\/strong><\/strong><br>Leader of the Strategic Guidance Track, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Teppo Rantanen, Director for competitiveness and innovation at the City of Tampere, is responsible for several city-wide development programs, with a particular focus on smart city themes [such as the Data-Driven City for Citizens initiative], that shape the strategic economic policy of the city. He leads Tampere through collaboration in extensive international networks toward a metaverse city with a human-centric perspective. From 2002 to 2014 Teppo served as Deloitte Finland\u2019s Chief Executive Officer and from 2014 to 2016 in London as a member of Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Leadership Team. He is currently sitting on the board of Business Finland.<br>Teppo and his team from the City of Tampere were receiving the World Smart City Award in the Enabling Technologies category at Smart City Expo World Congress taking place in Barcelona in 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"collard\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"933\" height=\"921\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Christoph-Runde-VDC-portrait_v01.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2338 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Christoph-Runde-VDC-portrait_v01.jpg 933w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Christoph-Runde-VDC-portrait_v01-300x296.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Christoph-Runde-VDC-portrait_v01-768x758.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 933px) 100vw, 933px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Christoph Runde<\/strong><br>Chair, Technical Working Group on Virtual Worlds, StandICT.eu<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christoph Runde has amassed more than 25 years of industry experience and is a leading figure in the field of professional virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems and applications. After beginning his career at Porsche, he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) in 1999, where he spearheaded the institute&#8217;s endeavours in the domain of VR\/AR. In 2006, he completed his doctorate with a thesis on the topic of &#8220;Conception and industrial implementation of virtual reality as a digital factory component&#8221;. From 2007, he developed the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) into one of the largest and most successful cluster initiatives for VR\/AR in Europe. Under Christoph&#8217;s leadership, the VDC was honoured with the European Cluster Management Excellence Label GOLD (2013, 2016, 2019, 2021) and numerous awards for its innovation and service quality. Christoph&#8217;s expertise is highly sought after by government agencies and venture capital funds, which he supports as an advisor. In addition to his role as Managing Director of VDC, Christoph is Vice President Industry of the European eXtended Reality Association (EuroXR). In 2017, Christoph was awarded an honorary professorship by Heilbronn University. Christoph is chairing the &#8220;eXtended Reality and Metaverse&#8221; working group at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), the &#8220;Standards Registry Working Group&#8221; at the Metaverse Standards Forum, and the Technical Working Group (TWG) &#8220;Virtual Worlds&#8221; within standICT.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"coenegrachts\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Anish-Sethi.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2218 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Anish-Sethi.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Anish-Sethi-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Anish Sethi<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Co-Chair of Pillar 2 of the Global&nbsp;Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. Anish Sethi was appointed Chief of Digital Solutions Centre in October 2022. Mr. Sethi was previously appointed Chief, Clients and Projects Division in October 2020 and was already serving as Chief, Clients and Projects Division since October 2018. In this role, he was responsible for professional services at UNICC, including oversight of new services and products as well as development of strategic partnerships with technology and international development organizations. He led the Business Relationship Management function, which manages, strengthens and grows UNICC\u2019s Client base. He also headed the Project Delivery unit responsible for managing and delivering all Client and UNICC projects, including all consulting engagements. Mr. Sethi is the administrative head of the UNICC New York office.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"coenegrachts\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"484\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sun.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2325 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sun.png 484w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sun-224x300.png 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kyoung Jae Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senior Researcher, Standards Research Division, ETRI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kyoungjae Sun is a senior researcher at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Republic of Korea, where he works in the Standard Research Division. He received his Ph.D. from Soongsil University, Korea. He is actively engaged in international standardization activities within ITU-T and ISO. In ITU-T, he currently serves as an Associate Rapporteur of Question 10 of ITU-T Study Group 20, which addresses IoT solutions for effective energy management in smart sustainable cities and communities. He also serves as an Associate Rapporteur of Question 12 of ITU-T Study Group 5, which focuses on climate action and adaptation to climate change through sustainable and resilient telecommunications\/ICTs, including emerging technologies. He served as the editor of ITU-T Recommendation H.862.8, \u201cRequirements and framework of occupational health service platform,\u201d and currently serves as an editor of the draft Recommendation ITU-T Y.citiverse-reqts, \u201cRequirements of citiverse platform for smart sustainable cities and communities.\u201d Within ISO, he contributes to the development of standards on digital twins for manufacturing. His current research focuses on digital twins, digital health, and the citiverse.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"coenegrachts\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-scaled-e1750768764245-300x300-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2421 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-scaled-e1750768764245-300x300-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-scaled-e1750768764245-300x300-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Paula Llobet Vilarrasa<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vice-chair, Executive Committee, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paula Llobet was born in Valencia on December 27, 1977, and she studied at Colegio Domus and Colegio Esclavas de Valencia.<br>From a very young age Paula Llobet has had a great vocation for public service and a special concern for helping those most in need. That has led me to be a cooperator in Africa and Latin America for several years.<br>Studying is another of her great passions. Paula Llobet has a degree in Business Administration and Management, a degree in Law from the University of Valencia and a degree in Political Sciences and Administration from the Miguel Hern\u00e1ndez University of Elche and a Postgraduate Degree in International Cooperation.<br>Paula Llobet has 17 years of professional experience in the design and management of public policies. Expert in community financing and coordination of local and transnational networks.<br>The areas in which Paula Llobet has developed her professional career are several, from social welfare, citizen participation, development cooperation, environmental sustainability, R&amp;D&amp;I, health, to urban development and smart cities, strategic planning and management of local, national and European projects.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"collard\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"280\" height=\"324\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Wester.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2329 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Wester.png 280w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Wester-259x300.png 259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jan Wester<\/strong><br>Director, European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDIC) on Local Digital Twins and CitiVERSE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. Wester is a board level executive with a vast experience in developing and managing complex public-private multistakeholder programs. At the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs he held several positions and was responsible for the Dutch national policy on digital transformation. In 2008 Mr. Wester was appointed principal strategist at TNO (National Applied Research Institute). Recently Mr. Wester was appointed director of the LDT CitiVERSE EDIC. A Pan-European organisation with 15 EU member states, dedicated to: create a common European infrastructure for Networked Local Digital Twins, on the crossroads of Geo Data, AI and Virtual Worlds, with the ambition of building the European \u201cCitiverse\u201d; enhance Capacity building through a common set of advanced products, services and facilities, validated from practice, that harmonize implementation by cities and regions of member states; creating economies of scope and scale through the advancement of interoperability, replicability and portability based on international open standards, European Values, fuelling European Digital Sovereignty.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\" id=\"collard\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/profile-Christina-Yan-Zhang-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2341 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/profile-Christina-Yan-Zhang-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/profile-Christina-Yan-Zhang-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/profile-Christina-Yan-Zhang-768x460.png 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/profile-Christina-Yan-Zhang.png 1248w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Christina Yan Zhang<br><\/strong>Leader of Evaluation and Assessment Track, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013&nbsp;<em>Discovering the Citiverse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christina is a pioneer in the metaverse. She started her master on the topic in 2006 develop universities&#8217; global strategies. In 2012, she completed a PhD using digital twin for the AEC Industry. She worked for QS, the world university rankings as China Director. Starting from scratch, she grew the UK-headquartered firm\u2019s success in China. In 2016, China\u2019s Vice Premier highlighted the use of QS rankings, with the rankings impacting 5 years \u00a3750bn funding to 3005 universities. She has sat on 20+ committees for UNESCO, World Bank, EU. She contributed to the establishment of Commonwealth Students Association, representing 2bn youth from 56 countries. She was ITU\u2019s Co-chair of TaskGroup on Pre-standardisation for the CitiVerse and authored 1st UN approved report on \u201cPeople-Centered CitiVerse,\u201d introducing 8 levels to develop a people-centered, planet-friendly digital future, leading to global standards. She is Leader of Evaluation and Assessment Track, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds \u2013 Discovering the Citiverse. She sits on Advisory Council for Centre for Science Futures of International Science Council, the world&#8217;s largest science body of 250 national\/international academies of sciences; and advisory board on the AI economy for The Economist Impact. She is featured with Jeffrey Sachs as Cover People on Digital Equity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\" style=\"color:#ddd\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biographies Martin&nbsp; Brynskov Founding Board Director and Standardisation Lead, OASC Martin Brynskov, PhD (CS), is an academic and digital standardisation expert at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, also leading standards efforts at the Brussels-based Open &amp; Agile Cities &amp; Communities (OASC) global network, of which he is the former and founding Chair. His research [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"parent":1175,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2296","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2296\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}