Barcelona, 5th to 7th November 2024
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) is proud to announce its partnership with the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024. As the world’s largest global alliance for city climate leadership, uniting over 13,000 cities and local governments, GCoM continues to support cities worldwide in defining and implementing effective climate action plans, fostering collaboration between cities, businesses, and the global climate community.
The Smart City Expo World Congress
The Smart City Expo World Congress, hosted annually in Barcelona since 2011, is one of the most influential events for urban innovation and city development. The 2024 edition, held from the 5th to the 7th of November, will bring together more than 25,000 leaders from cities, governments, businesses, and international organizations to address the most pressing challenges facing cities today. With a focus on topics such as decarbonization, mobility, housing, and security, the Smart City Expo 2024 is committed to driving innovation and collaboration toward a sustainable urban future.
Business-to-City Matchmaking
During the Smart City Expo 2024, GCoM will host Business-to-City Matchmaking designed to accelerate the implementation of Climate Action Plans. This will connect cities with businesses that offer relevant expertise and technologies, focusing on the sectors most critical to urban sustainability. The initiative has already seen several successful matchmaking events, as well as the recent launch of the first pilot cooperation.
By fostering dialogue between city representatives and business leaders, the matchmaking event will provide cities with innovative solutions to address challenges such as waste management, circular economy, building energy efficiency, water management, flooding and coastal management, and urban mobility. These conversations will also focus on exploring financial opportunities for climate projects.
An Opportunity for Cities and Businesses
GCoM’s Business Matchmaking offers businesses and decision-makers from cities in the GCoM network to engage directly with each other. Cities participating in the event are highly active in both local and regional networks and have a proven track record of following up on and implementing climate-related projects. This is an excellent opportunity for businesses to present their solutions, gain visibility, and potentially form long-term partnerships with cities working toward a sustainable urban future.
Participating businesses will also benefit from the exposure and networking opportunities at the Smart City Expo, gaining access to GCoM’s extensive city network and future matchmaking events.
Facilitating Cities
GCoM been able to facilitate the participation of several cities in its network, spanning a wide range of geographic regions, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the European Union & Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Participating Cities:
- East Baalbek, Lebanon – Mayor and President
- Nabeul, Tunisia – General Secretary Municipality
- Mingachevir, Azerbaijan – Head of Foreign Relations and Investment Department
- Balti, Moldova – Deputy Mayor
- Sumy, Ukraine – First Deputy Mayor
- Belize City, Belize – City Planner
- San Juan, Argentina – Secretary Director General of ICT
- Cuenca, Ecuador – Commissioner of Environment and Mobility
- Shimla, India – Commissioner of Municipal Corporation
- Medan, Indonesia – Head of City Planning
- Mombasa, Kenya – Chief Sustainability Officer
- Monrovia, Liberia – Mayor
- Accra, Ghana – Metropolitan Director of Public Health
These representatives from diverse cities will engage with businesses and stakeholders to discuss technical solutions and financing for climate action.
Where to Find Us
The Business-to-City Matchmaking will take place primarily at the EU Pavilion, located at booth D 81, Hall 2 in Fira Barcelona Gran Via (Av. Joan Carles I, 64, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona). Some meetings may also be scheduled at national or regional pavilions as arranged by cities and their business counterparts.
Matchmaking sessions will be held from the 5th to the 7th of November 2024, offering ample time for productive, outcome-driven discussions between cities and businesses.
