by InTrieste
As cities worldwide face mounting challenges from climate change to urban congestion, leaders are gathering in Barcelona this week for the 2024 Smart City Expo World Congress, an influential summit on urban innovation running from November 5 to 7. Hosted annually in Barcelona, the event has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and strategies to transform urban spaces into greener, more efficient, and more livable communities.
The City of Trieste, Italy, has sent a delegation to this year’s congress, aiming to showcase its latest projects in sustainability and digital transformation. Joining them are representatives from Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of Italy’s regions at the forefront of smart city initiatives, which has a dedicated presence at the expo. In attendance from Trieste are key figures like Lorenzo Bandelli, Director of the Department of Innovation and Citizen Services, and Giannina Ceschin, Director of the Digital Transformation Service.
“This congress allows us to share our successes in urban innovation and learn from cities that are leading the way in sustainable development,” said Bandelli in an interview from the expo floor. “Trieste is proud to represent Italy as part of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s pavilion, alongside other forward-thinking cities from our region.”
One of Trieste’s centerpiece projects showcased at the expo is a public lighting overhaul that has embraced a new financing model focused on energy efficiency. Under the leadership of Councillor Everest Bertoli, the city has redesigned its lighting systems to include intelligent technologies that adapt to real-time urban needs, cutting down energy consumption and pollution levels.
Equally central to Trieste’s showcase is its Porto Vecchio-Porto Vivo project, which aims to revitalize the city’s historic waterfront district with a modern, sustainable touch. By incorporating renewable energy resources and green architecture, the project seeks to breathe new life into a historic area of the city, catering to both residents and visitors.
Among the highlights is an innovative AI-powered consultation that Trieste launched this past summer to gather citizen feedback on the future of its iconic Barcola shoreline. Citizens’ responses were analyzed with AI, revealing community priorities and setting a model for participatory urban design that other cities might adopt.
The congress in Barcelona provides the Trieste delegation a valuable opportunity to explore similar projects from cities worldwide. Attracting urban planners, technologists, government officials, and sustainability experts, the expo offers a platform for cities to exchange ideas and showcase transformative projects in fields such as mobility, urban governance, green infrastructure, and data-driven solutions.
Key themes at the 2024 congress include enabling technologies, sustainable energy and environment, mobility, livability and inclusion, safety, and infrastructure. A special focus is given to smart mobility initiatives, which have seen a surge in global interest due to increasing pollution concerns. From AI-driven transit solutions to car-sharing systems, cities are embracing technologies that can reshape urban transit while reducing emissions.
As Bandelli pointed out, the expo isn’t just a place to promote Trieste’s achievements but also an ideal setting to absorb innovations from around the globe. “We’re keen to learn from other cities’ experiences and bring back new ideas for Trieste’s own development.”
