Invitation
The Future of Cities: EU Initiatives and Smart Solutions
Tuesday | 3 February 2026 | 09:30 – 12:30
Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the EU
Rue Joseph II 14, 1000 Brussels
We are pleased to invite you to the conference “The Future of Cities: EU Initiatives and Smart Solutions”, which will take place on 3 February 2026, from 09:30 to 12:30, at the Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the European Union in Brussels.
Discover how cities can transform into smarter, more sustainable, and connected communities at this interactive conference on urban innovation. Through presentations, platform demonstrations, and expert discussions, including upcoming European Commission initiatives, the event will explore key achievements in smart city development, the role of data and technology in urban transformation, and the opportunities and challenges cities face in creating intelligent, citizen-centered environments. Participants will gain practical insights, learn from real-world projects such as the UrbanMind initiative – a successful example of fostering sustainable and innovative urban practices – and engage in a dynamic discussion on the future of urban communities, providing inspiration and actionable strategies for building the cities of tomorrow.
The programme will feature opening remarks by Draško Veselinovič, Director and Member of the Management Board of the Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA), and Biljana Prinčič, Project Manager of UrbanMind at Riko d.o.o.- UrbanMind implementation partner. City-level perspectives will be shared by Matjaž Rakovec, Mayor of the City Municipality of Kranj (Slovenia), and Peđa Grbin, Mayor of the City Municipality of Pula (Croatia), followed by an overview of EU funding opportunities presented by Radka Konstantinova from the European Commission (DG REGIO).
Participants will also learn about European city policy priorities from André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities (TBC), and gain insights into the UrbanMind project, presented by Tomaž Lanišek and Dražen Stepanov, including a live platform demonstration by Andraž Logar, Director of 3Fs d.o.o. - UrbanMind technological partner. Perspectives on data-driven urban development will be provided by Thimo Thoeye from the Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities initiative.
The conference will conclude with a high-level roundtable discussion, moderated by Draško Veselinovič, featuring Radka Konstantinova, André Sobczak, Matjaž Rakovec, Peđa Grbin, Janez Škrabec, Andraž Logar, Thimo Thoeye and Flavio Fuart.
We would be honoured by your participation and look forward to welcoming you to an engaging discussion on the future of European cities.
The event will conclude with a networking luncheon offering participants the chance to engage in informal discussion and exchange.
Discover the full programme here and register here to ensure your place at the event!
