The Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC) has signed a strategic partnership with Fira Barcelona, the organizer of the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) and Tomorrow Mobility World Congress (TMWC), the most important international platforms dedicated to urban transformation, sustainable mobility and innovation for smart cities, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.
Following this agreement, ARSC becomes a Strategic Organization Partner for the period 2025-2027, with the mission of promoting Romania's participation in the Barcelona event and supporting the dissemination of content and good practices. The association will also contribute to expanding the global network of smart communities.
"This partnership represents more than an institutional recognition - it is the international validation of a strategic construction that we have been developing for almost a decade. ARSC becomes, through this agreement, Romania's institutional interface in the largest global platform dedicated to smart cities. It is an essential step to project our vision on urban transformation, to connect local administration with international networks of know-how and to show that Romania has not only potential, but also the real capacity for leadership in the region," stated Eduard Dumitrascu, head of ARSC.
The Barcelona event annually brings together over 25,000 participants from more than 800 cities and 140 countries, being the largest connection platform for administrations, companies, international organizations, startups and opinion leaders in the field of smart urbanism, specifies the same source.
According to the said source, the 2025 edition will take place from November 4 to 6, at Fira Gran Via Barcelona, and will address key topics such as emerging technologies, mobility, circular economy, digital governance and energy transition.
As part of the partnership, ARSC will contribute to the organization of an official Romanian delegation to participate in the event in Barcelona and will participate in the active promotion of SCEWC and TMWC in Romania through dedicated campaigns, newsletters and media presence.
At the same time, ARSC will provide institutional support for the construction of a Romanian National Pavilion at SCEWC and will contribute to the involvement of public leaders, companies and the Romanian ecosystem in the international agenda.
It will also ensure constant communication with the organizers and contribute to positioning Romania as a strategic actor in the region.
The Romanian Association for Smart Cities (ARSC) is the main organization representing, supporting and promoting the digital and sustainable transformation of communities in Romania. For almost a decade, ARSC has been acting as a national institutional hub, connecting local and central public administration with the private sector, academia and European initiatives. With an active network of over 300 partner UATs, projects carried out in all development regions of the country and proven expertise in areas such as urban mobility, digital governance, smart infrastructure, European funds and public participation, ARSC is today the reference platform for smart cities in Romania.
The organization annually coordinates strategic initiatives, public education campaigns and national and international events, including the Smart City Industry Awards (SCIA), the Congress of Mayors, the Meeting of Public Transport Operators, Producers and Authorities and the European Funds Caravan. Through its activity, ARSC supports the development of resilient, connected and efficient communities, adapted to the challenges and opportunities of the future.
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