Smart City Challenge 5th round, 2025

Workshop: Exploring Urban Challenges

Join us for the 5th round of the Smart City Challenge!

The urban challenges submitted by cities, counties and campuses are submitted. Get to know all challenges here.

During this hybrid workshop, they will introduce their challenges in more detail.

We invite researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs to join the workshop, dive into these challenges, ask questions, and connect with relevant cities to co-create proposals.

WHEN?

October 15, 2025, 10:30-16:20 (Estonian time) / 9:30–15:20 (CET), online 10:45-16:20 (Estonian time) / 9:45–15:20 (CET)

WHERE?

Tallinn University of Technology (Ehitajate tee 5, Tallinn, room NRG-422) & Online via Zoom.

You’ll receive the Zoom link with a calendar invitation after you’ve registered.

Please register by October 12.

Cities and real estate developers can review all proposed challenges and vote for up to five that are relevant to them until October 30 HERE. Only challenges supported by at least one Estonian city and one city from another country will stay in Round 5.

We’re expecting initial solution ideas from researchers, developers and companies by November 30.

Ideas should be sent to smartcity@taltech.ee on the template Proposing Solution Idea to the City Challenges

Ajakava

10.30 - 10.45

Coffee and registration

10.45 - 11.00

Introduction to the workshop and reminder of the Smart City Challenge process.

Külle Tärnov
Head of Innovation & Smart City Challenge Coordinator
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

11.00 - 12.30

Session I: Introducing City Challenges (18 * 5 min)

Climate Resilient City

•  CO2 capture from seawater – Finland, Vaasa
•  Targeting high-emitting vehicles for better health – Spain, Barcelona
•  Managing Urban Heat Islands – Poland, Warsaw
•  Balancing rapid city growth and strict climate regulations – Netherlands, Rotterdam

Safe City

•  Lost Children on the Beach – Netherlands, The Hague
•  Prevent drowning in open water – Netherlands, The Hague
•  (women’s) safety in public space – Netherlands, Amsterdam

Climate Resilient City

•  Separate collection of waste by citizens – Estonia, Harku county
•  Lack of accurate enough data about building parts and materials for circular construction – Netherlands, Rotterdam
•  Carbon-Neutral Neighborhood – Türkiye, Ataşehir
•  Infrastructure for Autonomous Mobility – Estonia, Tartu
•  Lack of Citizen Trust and Contribution for Resilient City – Italy, Sicily, Mazara del Vallo’s
•  Clean Energy from Small Hydropower Plants – Ukraine, Vinnytsa
•  Common reed to biogas – Finland, Vaasa
•  Solar-powered public bicycle system – Columbia, Chia, Cundinamarca
•  Smart Marine Pollution Detection and Response – Türkiye, Isbak
•  Flooded Roads – Estonia, Pärnu
•  Flood Management – Italy, Castenaso

12.30 - 13.10

Lunch and networking

13.10 - 13.30

Inspirational case: Affordable, democratic, resilient, and creative housing in Belgium 

See more

Adrien Basiliades and Martina Serangeli
Communa ASBL

13.30 - 14.45

Session II: Introducing City Challenges (15 * 5 min)

Climate Resilient City

•  Flood Management- Türkiye, Isbak
•  Riverbanks resilience – Estonia, Pärnu
•  Rainwater harvesting in the city- Latvia, Jelgava
•  Detailed solutions for nature-based rainwater systems – Estonia, Hundipea, Tallinn
•  Intelligent Management of Sewer and Stormwater Networks – Estonia, Tallinn
•  Sustainable drainage systems – Estonia, Tallinn
•  Tree Pits for Challenging Urban Conditions – UK, Milton-Keynes

Safe and Climate Resilient Cities

•  City Resilience to Natural Hazards – Brazil, Porto Alegre
•  Information and Prevention as Disaster Defense – Bulgaria, Burgas
•  Safety in case of natural disasters – Estonia, Saaremaa
•  Safety in case of natural or human disasters – Latvia, Jelgava
•  Earthquake Resilience -Türkiye, Ataşehir
•  Disaster-Focused Digital Twin – Türkiye, Bağcılar
•  Disaster-Focused Digital Twin – Türkiye Istanbul

Safe City

•  Traffic Data Insights for Safe City – Latvia, Cēsis

14.45 - 15.00

Snacks and networking

15.00 - 16.20

Session III: Introducing City Challenges (16 * 5 min)

Safe City

•  Safe and attractive cycling infrastructure -Spain, Barcelona
•  Safe and attractive cycling infrastructure – Ukraine, Lviv

People Centred City

•  Clean Coastline for Citizens – Estonia, Hundipea, Tallinn
•  Campuses Fostering the Creative Economy – Estonia, TalTech
•  Managing seasonal and uneven flows of tourists – Latvia, Liepaja
•  Irresponsible dog owners – Latvia, Liepaja
•  City services do not reach right citizens at right time – Türkiye, Bağcılar
•  Multiple City Infrastructure Management Systems – Estonia, Tallinn
•  Freedom to Move in the City for All – Türkiye, Bursa
•  Empowering Citizens to Change Mobility Habits – Italy, Venice
•  Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans – Estonia, Hundipea, Tallinn
•  Cultural and Social Mobility Hubs – Türkiye, Isbak
•  Safer and Smarter School Mobility – Latvia, Cēsis

Safe City

•  Urban Freight Loading Zones – Estonia, Tallinn
•  Stable Energy System – Ukraine, Vinnytsa
•  Safety in sparsely populated areas – Estonia, Harku county

16.20

End of the day

Speakers and moderators

Külle Tärnov, MBA

Head of Innovation, Estonia
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Gaia Martina Serangeli

Communa ASBL

Adrien Basiliades

Urbanist
Communa ASBL