The Digitaliza Madrid Centre of the Community of Madrid hosted the presentation of the ALLIANCE FOR URBAN INNOVATION, a new initiative of the MADRID CITIES FORUM, which aims to create permanent meeting spaces between different organisations to advance the proactive debate on the construction of innovative and sustainable cities.

The Alliance for Innovation was created with the aim of being an open, cross-cutting and dynamic space that provides support to local authorities, companies and professionals involved in new urban designs. A total of 11 entities form part of the platform: the Madrid City Council; the Community of Madrid; the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI); the Higher Council of Architects' Associations of Spain (CSCAE); the Madrid Federation of Municipalities (FMM); Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI Europe); the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI); the Official Association of Telecommunications Engineers (COIT); Madrid World Capital (MWCC); Real Estate Future Institute and the European University.

During the event, a round table discussion was held on ‘Urban technological innovation at the service of well-being and efficiency’, moderated by Adrián Nogales, Director of Institutional Relations at the Official Association of Telecommunications Engineers (COIT).

It was attended by Sergio García-Gasco, Deputy Director of the CSCAE's 2030 Observatory; Michael Leitner-Hickisch, from the Department of Digitalisation and AI at Urban Innovation in Vienna; José Manuel Zarzoso, Secretary General of the Federation of Municipalities of Madrid (FMM); Pasi Rautio, Service Manager/Team Lead, Strategic Department Data and Analytics, AI and Optimisation in Helsinki; Myriam Peón, Director General of the Office of the General Urban Development Plan of Madrid (Madrid City Council); Lisa Enarsson, project manager at the Environment and Health department of Stockholm; David García Núñez, President of Madrid World Capital (MWCC), and Gianmarco Palmieri, delegate for Environment, President of the Environment Commission for Roma Capitale.

The event was closed by Miguel López-Valverde, Minister for Digitalisation of the Community of Madrid, who highlighted the value of collaboration between technology and public administration, evident in issues such as data exchange. "Technology can help optimise service delivery in all areas. Sharing data is as essential as professionals making decisions based on that data. But these decisions must be based on the needs of citizens,‘ added the councillor, who also highlighted the importance of the human factor: ’Technology is a facilitator, but we must always have a human and social perspective that tells us where we want to go; we must never lose sight of that."

The IFEMA MADRID Urban Innovation Alliance will begin its activity in July 2025 by organising events, meetings and workshops between cities and professionals in new technologies and sustainable urban development.