What was the Czech participation at Smart City Expo in Barcelona like?

Record-breaking, impressive, proud—and once again successful! We bring you a summary of the Czech presentation at the world’s largest event dedicated to smart cities.

The Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, held at the beginning of November, once again demonstrated how cities, municipalities, and regions can be transformed through innovative solutions and approaches—making their day-to-day operations more efficient, improving residents’ quality of life, strengthening local economies, and building resilient communities. At the same time, the event aims to bring the functioning of settlements and their impact on the planet back within safe and sustainable limits.

After the close of the 14th edition of SCEWC, organizers from Fira Barcelona reported more than 27,000 visitors, nearly 1,200 exhibitors, and 600 speakers from 143 countries. Among them was the Czech Republic, which participated in the trade fair for only the second time; nevertheless, its national pavilion ranked among the main attractions for visitors. Moreover, the Czech delegation received the Green Exhibitor Award, recognizing the most sustainable exhibition stand—building on last year’s successful debut.

Behind the Czech success is a unique collaboration between the state, cities, and their ecosystems. This model reflects the core principle of Smart Cities, which is based on well-coordinated cooperation not only across sectors but also between different levels of public administration. The role of cities is crucial: they create the conditions for the initial growth of innovators as well as their further expansion. Brno and its region set an example in supporting innovation in the Czech Republic. The result is an innovation-friendly environment capable of connecting the strengths of both the public and private sectors.

The final press release on the Czech participation in Barcelona was prepared by colleagues from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and can be read here: https://cosedeje.brno.cz/w/dve-ucasti-dva-rekordy-dva-tituly-cesko-se-ve-svete-smart-cities-stava-pojmem.

You can also watch a highlights reel of interesting moments at the Czech stand here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ministry-of-industry-and-trade-of-the-czech-republic.

Video reports and interviews with participants of the Czech national exhibition in Barcelona, filmed in cooperation with the company Zdroje, are available here: