Solutions for cities and communitiesNews from the Smart Cities Marketplace

19. August 2025

News from the Smart Cities Marketplace

The Smart Cities Marketplace is an initiative of the European Commission and part of the Smart City-Programme. It is a major market-changing undertaking that aims to bring cities, industries, SMEs, investors, banks, researchers and many other smart city actors together. Their common aims are to improve citizens’ quality of life, increase the competitiveness of European cities and industry as well as to reach European energy and climate targets.

As a partner, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports the dissemination and communication of the activities and outcomes (website, social media activities and other promotional materials, press releases, videos, web seminars, workshops, conferences, external communication of project results to the public and interested parties). It organizes matchmaking opportunities and participation in events such as the Smart City Expo in Barcelona, the Nordic Edge in Stavanger or the European Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels.

Smart Cities Marketplace @ Smart City Expo World Congress 2023 Barcelona - Steinbeis EN

Interactive brochure has been relaunched

We invite you to explore the newly launched interactive Digital Brochure—a dynamic gateway to the Marketplace’s full spectrum of support, tools, and opportunities. It’s designed to help cities and investors navigate the path toward sustainable urban innovation with clarity and confidence.

Fully interactive and easy to explore, the brochure goes beyond a traditional PDF. Users can:

Click through visual menus to dive directly into areas of interest;
Watch embedded videos explaining key Marketplace activities and successes;
Access real-life project examples and case studies across Europe;
Follow interactive links to tools, matchmaking services, and relevant documents;
Quickly find contacts and resources tailored to their needs.

Readers will find detailed sections on:

Integrated Planning, Policy and Regulation
Energy Technology, Mobility and ICT
Action Clusters and Initiatives that drive innovation and exchange;
The Matchmaking process that connects project promoters with financing;
The Marketplace’s role within the wider EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.

Smart Cities Marketplace

Two more brochures have been published

"Renewable Energy in Cities," is a detailed solution booklet which intends to support local authorities in planning and implementing renewable energy projects. As urban areas account for over 70% of the EU’s population and a substantial share of energy consumption and emissions, the publication identifies cities as central actors in the EU’s strategy to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

New Smart Cities Marketplace Solution Booklet on Renewable Energy in Cities | Smart Cities Marketplace

The “Climate Risk in Cities Solution Booklet” aims to address the pressing issue of climate risks faced by urban areas across Europe. As Europe experiences rapid warming, cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including heat waves, floods, and droughts. The booklet provides a detailed framework for understanding and assessing climate risks, offering practical solutions for city officials to enhance urban resilience.

Solution Booklet Climate Risk in Cities | Smart Cities Marketplace

Facing the heat, how can cities hit refresh?

As extreme heat rises, cities can act with nature-based solutions, heat-resilient design, heat health policies, and community-led efforts. Discover solutions and how they are being used in cities across Europe.

The #CitiesRefresh campaign of Covenant of Mayors aims to shed light not only on the risks of extreme heat for cities, but also on the possible solutions and the actions that many are already taking. The campaign encourages cities to “hit refresh” and reinvent themselves in the face of extreme heat – restoring healthy environments, improving quality of life, and redesigning cities so they remain safe and dynamic for everyone in a warming world.

Find guidance and tools on all these solutions in the recently launched Refresh Kit.

In the face of rising heat, how can cities hit refresh? | EU Covenant of Mayors