Agenda

The rapid evolution of digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), digital public infrastructures, and data-driven governance, is transforming cities worldwide. While these innovations offer significant opportunities to improve sustainability, resilience, mobility, and public services, they also raise importatn challanges related to inclusion, cybersecurity, digital trust, and equitable access. Without participatory governance, smart city strategies risk reproducing existing social and gender inequalities rather than reducing them.

This interative session will explore how co-design methodologies and multi-stakeholder collaboration can foster inclusive, safe, and human-centred smart cities. Bringing together representatives from academia, engineering, industry, civil society, and international organizations, representative from academia, engineering, industry, civil society, and international organizations, the discussion will examine how citizens, particularly women, youth, vulnerable communities, and underrepresented groups, can actively partecipate in designing digital urban ecosystems tha are secure, accessible, and responsive to local needs. The session directly contributes to the implementation of the WSIS Action lines, particularly C1, C4, C7, and C10, while advancing SDGs 5, 9, 11, and 17.

The session will present successfull international experiences demonstrating the value of collaborative innovation. Case studies will include gender-responsiv AI initiatives promoted through the WomenVAI network; communite-based digital inclusion and capacity-building programmes implemented by EDWIN in Nigeria; citizen engagement and sustainable digital innovation developed by Farmer Charlie (United Kingdom); and smart environmental management solutions from SUEZ Group. Academic research from the University of Bari Aldo Moro and Cracow University of Technology will illustrate participatory methodologies for designing secure and inclusive urban environments, while contributions from the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Swiss Engineering will highlight the importance of ethical engineering, technical standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration in building trustworthy smart cities. Together, these examples demonstrate that successful smart iniziatives depend not only on technological innovation but also on inclusive governance, citizen trust, and cross-sector partnerships.

Looking towards the WISIS+20 Review and WSIS Beyond 2025 Vision, the session will promote a people-centred approach to digital transformation in which technological innovation is guided by human rights, gender equality, transparency, cybersecurity, and meaningful public participation. Participants will discuss policy recommndations and practical strategies to strengthen collaboration among governments, academia, industry, civil society, and local communities in shaping resilient digital cities. By sharing concrete experiences and lessons learned across different areas, the session aims to contributre to a global dialogue on inclusive digital governance and to support the development of smart cities that are not only techonologically advances, abut also equitable, secure, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.