WeGO Launches the 2025 Champions Program on “AI for Smart and Sustainable Cities” to Empower the Next Generation of Smart City Leaders
June 23, 2025 – The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) is excited to announce the launch of the third cycle of online lectures for the WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions Program.
As WeGO’s core principle is rooted in human-centric smart city development, this program was designed with the belief that today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow and recognizes their crucial role as drivers of sustainability and innovation.
This flagship initiative aims to empower young urban leaders worldwide by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to shape the future of smart and sustainable cities. By providing these emerging changemakers with practical tools and global perspectives, the program reflects WeGO’s continued commitment not only to preparing the next generation for the challenges ahead but also to empowering them to lead the transformation of their cities.
Building on the success of previous editions, the third part will offer a unique hybrid learning experience that blends cutting-edge online courses with dynamic in-person workshops in key cities around the globe.
The 2025 edition will focus on AI for Smart and Sustainable Cities, a critical topic in the rapidly evolving field of urban development.
The online component of the program will feature three parts:
- Part 1: Accelerating, Benchmarking, and Communicating Smart and Sustainable Cities’ Transitions (since 2023)
- Part 2: Frameworks, Technologies, and Solutions for Urban Sustainable Infrastructures (since 2024)
- Part 3: AI for Smart and Sustainable Cities (New for 2025)
The third part, newly launched this year, will dive into topics such as AI-driven urban governance, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and the ethical implications of AI in urban systems. Students completing the program will receive a certificate co-signed by the WeGO Secretary General and its President City, the Mayor of Seoul.
To complement the online learning experience, the program will host seven in-person workshops in global cities that are at the forefront of smart and sustainable development. These workshops will take place in the following cities, each focusing on key themes:
- Athens, Greece – AI and Cultural Heritage in Smart & Sustainable Cities
- Geneva, Switzerland – The Role of International Organizations in Stimulating, Adopting and Regulating AI for Urban Governance
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Next-Gen Cityscapes: Innovation and AI as Tools for the Transformation of Kuala Lumpur & Sunway City
- New York, USA – (Super) AI and the City
- Milan and Brescia, Italy – Data Flows for AI in Smart & Sustainable Cities: The Data Ecosystem of MIND Milano, and The role of AI for Local Governance of Smart and Sustainable Mid-Sized Cities and Towns
- Seoul, South Korea – Seoul Smart Life Week WeGO Champions & Global Youth Award Ceremony
These events will provide participants with direct access to leading experts in urban innovation, AI, and sustainability. Participants will also have the chance to network with smart city experts and fellow young professionals, fostering a collaborative approach to solving the world’s urban challenges.
WeGO’s Champions Program has seen steady growth since the introduction of its hybrid format, combining online lectures and in-person workshops, with over 600 participants joining in 2024 alone. In 2025, the program will continue to expand its reach, offering students and young professionals under 35 the opportunity to develop their expertise in urban planning, innovation, sustainability, and governance.
Introducing the WeGO Global Youth Award
As an extension of the Champions Program, WeGO is also excited to announce in 2025 the launch of the Global Youth Award in 2025. This new initiative will recognize outstanding youth leaders excelling in areas such as smart cities, digital innovation, net-zero initiatives, advanced technologies, and leadership. Awardees will be honored during the Seoul Smart Life Week 2025, further spotlighting their achievements and contributions to urban development.
A Call to Action for Future Leaders
The WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions Program invites students, young professionals, and passionate individuals from around the world to register for the online course and express interest in the in-person workshops. Participants will gain invaluable knowledge and experience, earn a prestigious certificate, and have the opportunity to become part of a global network of change-makers.
To access the online lectures, kindly visit www.cityresiliencetraining.com to sign up for the free online course and contact the WeGO Secretariat (secretariat@we-gov.org) to learn more about the upcoming workshops.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169