The current global housing crisis is the outcome of decades of insufficient investment, rapid urbanization, economic instability, and displacement caused by conflict and disasters. Recent global estimates indicate that up to 3.4 billion people lack access to secure, safe, and adequate housing, including more than 1 billion people living in informal settlements and slums under conditions characterized by insecure tenure, overcrowding, exposure to environmental hazards, and limited access to basic services.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has published a report on how cities can lead inclusive growth to ensure that everyone is represented while striving for economic growth.

This article by Hans Teuben et al for Capgemini discusses the five structural shifts observed on the global smart city landscape and the trends in smart cities for 2026.

At a glance

This paper by Traboulsi Salam and Uckelmann Dieter published in 2025 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (ICE/ITMC) is about how 'the rapid digital transformation of urban environments is revolutionizing how cities manage infrastructure, governance, and citizen engagemen

The minimal interoperability mechanisms (MIMs) Plus enable a minimal but sufficient level of interoperability for data, systems, and services specifically in the context of smart city solutions.

The intended audience for this document are:

1.     Solution providers that wish to make sure their solutions are interoperable with other and allow fluid exchange of data within a Smart Cities and Communities context.