This online event aims to bring different perspectives from the Digital Europe ecosystem together to explore how they can support the deployment of innovative solutions in cities: Test and Experimentation Facilities (TEF) like CitCom.ai, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), AI Factories, and other European projects and initiatives provide complementary capabilities ranging from testing and experimentation to local innovation support, access to AI infrastructure and expertise, and the development of deployable and secure solutions. 

Part 1 | Open webinar 

A clear, user-oriented overview of the DIGITAL ecosystem including:

• what support and capabilities are available across the ecosystem;  
• who can access them and where different users can start;  
• how organisations can navigate through different initiatives depending on their needs;  
• how TEFs, EDIHs, AI infrastructures, cybersecurity initiatives and other DIGITAL actors can complement and reinforce each other;  
• and how stronger connections can help solutions progress from development and experimentation to real-world deployment and uptake in cities and communities 

Part 2 | Interactive workshop 

A closed, hands-on session for project representatives and ecosystem actors. Participants will: 

• identify barriers to adopting and scaling smart cities solutions, 
• explore alignment opportunities across TEFs, EDIHs, and DIGITAL actions, 
• define concrete “quick wins” to improve interoperability and uptake, 
• co-create inputs for a storytelling showcasing successful pathways from pilot to scale. 

Main Speakers and Contributors 

• Thomas De Meester, imec and CitCom.ai Coordinator 
• Petra Dalunde, Research Institutes of Sweden and AI Factory MIMER Co-director 
• Oscar Valle Ballesteros, Instituto Tecnológico de Informática (ITI), Coordinator of InnDIH AI Connect 
• Savvoula Oikonomou, UBITECH and PiQASO Project Coordinator