WeGO Expands Smart City Collaborations Across Cities in Spain
[Spain, February 23rd–March 6th, 2026] — The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) successfully concluded a strategic mission to Spain from February 23rd to March 6th, 2026. The mission aimed to strengthen partnerships with Spanish cities, universities, and institutions, while promoting the Seoul Smart City Prize and WeGO’s vision for smart, sustainable urban development. This mission also served as a crucial moment to announce and invite city representatives to attend the 7th WeGO General Assembly in São Paulo, Brazil, this November.
Building Urban Partnerships
In Madrid, WeGO engaged with leading figures in Spain’s smart city ecosystem, including Deputy Mayor Borja Carabante Muntada and General Coordinator Inmaculada Sanz Otero, to celebrate Madrid’s new membership in WeGO and align on plans and activities for the upcoming year. The delegation also reconnected with the city of Las Rozas de Madrid, meeting with Mayor José de la Uz, who serves as President of RECI, the Smart City Network of Spain.
As part of its mission to expand partnerships with new cities, WeGO paid official visits to the cities of Zaragoza, Córdoba, and Sevilla. In Zaragoza, the delegation met with Deputy Mayor Carlos Gimeno Casado, who showcased the city’s digital strategy and potential projects for the Seoul Smart City Prize. In Córdoba, Deputy Mayor for the Environment Daniel García-Ibarrola highlighted the city’s efforts to balance heritage preservation with smart technology adoption. In Sevilla, Deputy Mayor Juan Francisco Bueno Navarro presented innovative projects conducted to support citizens and face the important tourism in the city.
In Barcelona, Deputy Mayor for International Relations Maria Eugènia Gay reaffirmed the city’s support for the organization and the Seoul Smart City Prize. WeGO extended invitations to all city representatives to participate in the 7th General Assembly, offering a platform to renew collaborations and discuss future opportunities.
Fostering Academic and Organizational Collaboration
To strengthen academic collaboration, WeGO engaged with leading Spanish universities to explore partnerships in smart city research and education through the WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions Program. At Complutense University Madrid, Vice Rector for Technology and Sustainability Jorge Jesús Gómez introduced the university’s sustainability initiatives. In Barcelona, WeGO met with Rector Joan Guàrdia and Vice-Rector for Internationalization Policy Raúl Ramos of the University of Barcelona, who expressed strong interest in the Champions Program and the Seoul Smart City Prize. Additionally, Professor Blanca Arellano of the Polytechnic University of Catalunya was recognized for her expertise in urban planning and climate change, further bridging academic innovation with WeGO’s global mission.
To further expand its network of institutional partners, WeGO engaged with Spain’s leading innovation hubs and business organizations. In Madrid, the delegation met with the Cluster of Artificial Intelligence, a network of AI-specialized companies, represented by General Manager Charo Pinilla, Secretary José Hernandez, and José Antonio Cano of the company Crowe. Additionally, the Madrid Innovation Lab (MIL), a cutting-edge training center focused on AI and deep tech education, agreed to collaborate with WeGO by leveraging its Spanish-language programs to connect WeGO members in Spain and Latin America. The mission also included meetings with Andalucía TRADE, the region’s public business agency to get to know and connect with the smart city ecosystem of the region.
In Barcelona, the WeGO team visited Fira Barcelona, where CEO Ugo Valenti discussed future collaborations, including the possibility of hosting WeGO events at the Smart City Expo World Congress and other global chapters of the event. Finally, the team also paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of Metropolis and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Seoul Smart City Prize, Jordi Vaquer.
This mission to Spain reinforced WeGO’s dedication to building international partnerships and advancing smart, sustainable urban development in the European Region. By engaging with city leaders, academic institutions, and innovation hubs, WeGO strengthened collaborations that promote the Seoul Smart City Prize and encourage participation in the 7th WeGO General Assembly in São Paulo.
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 4th 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), 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: Natália Penhalves
E-mail: natalia@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169