A big thank you to all speakers and participants who made the Digital Citymakers' Summit 2023 a great success and valuable networking experience!
As cities continue to grow and evolve, they face increasing responsibilities to provide for their residents and address global challenges. But what specific programs and policies do they need to implement to meet these responsibilities? And how can local governments effectively collaborate with national and international organizations to achieve these goals?
These were some of the key questions addressed at the Digital Citymakers' Summit #DCS2023, the use: platform’s annual online event. It took place on January 25, 2023 and brought together over 300 citymakers from countries including Iran, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Mexico, Slovenia, China, and many more.
“Cities are where global challenges show up first. And they’re the places where solutions to these problems are developed and put to the test.”
Ana-Maria Trăsnea (Permanent Secretary, Berlin Senate Chancellery)
The summit was opened by Ana-Maria Trăsnea, Permanent Secretary for Active Citizenship, Democracy Support and International Relations in the Berlin Senate Chancellery, and introduced by Paul James, Professor of Globalization and Cultural Diversity at Western Sydney University and academic advisor to the use: platform.
The keynote panel discussion featured Jordi Vaquer, Secretary General of Metropolis, and Benedek Jávor, Head of Representation of Budapest in Brussels, discussing "Urban Solutions for Global Challenges." The panel was followed by a lively Q&A session moderated by Professor James.
Following on from this, five network sessions hosted by the use: platform's institutional partners (Metropolis, UCLG Learning & Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, Eurocities, World Habitat, C40) delved deeper into the topic by showcasing practical examples of urban solutions to global challenges.
“A fantastic event: a wealth of great content, great networking opportunities, and overall, a very well-run virtual summit.”
Timothy Blatch (Green City Consultant, AIPH, DCS2023 participant)
Overall, the Digital Citymakers' Summit provided an important platform for citymakers from around the globe to share their experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities facing cities today, and to explore ways to work together to create more sustainable and liveable urban environments.
A comprehensive event report and video recordings of the #DCS2023 sessions can be found here.
Read a review of the session "Metropolitan Green Infrastructures", hosted by Metropolis, here.
The program can be downloaded here.