Smart cities

Introduction

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative, supported through the ADELANTE Window, brought together an innovative partnership of sub-national public entities, coordination platforms, academic institutions, and private sector actors from Europe and Latin America to advance smart city development. The collaboration aimed to strengthen the planning capacities of local governments and support sustainable urban transformation through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

At the heart of the Initiative was the technical leadership of CIVES Solutions (Austria), a recognised reference in smart city development, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Córdoba (Argentina), whose tools and methodologies had already been implemented across 35 municipalities in the province. These providers shared their experience and solutions with beneficiary entities from Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Uruguay, fostering a collaborative and practical learning environment.

By building local capacities and promoting strategic urban planning, the Initiative empowered local entities to design, implement and evaluate their own smart city agendas. It also contributed to the establishment of a cross-regional network committed to innovation and sustainable development, aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Objectives

The Initiative enhanced the capabilities of partner entities by equipping them with the tools to design, apply, and assess strategic municipal plans under the Smart Cities model. It promoted a comprehensive planning vision driven by the motivation and commitment of local teams and sought to engage all stakeholders throughout the process.

Project activities

• Online training course covering key aspects of smart and sustainable city planning: human factor, open government, ICTs, infrastructure, mobility, energy, citizen services, and stakeholder engagement.
• Interactive best practice workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange among all partners.
• Participation in the LATAM International Smart Cities Fair, where the partnership led a panel on Triangular Cooperation in smart cities.
• Consultancy to support the application of planning tools developed by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Córdoba.
• Development of local diagnostics, roadmaps, and tailored recommendations for each beneficiary.
• Study visit to Vienna (Austria) to learn from world-class smart city experiences, including workshops and lectures by leading experts on topics such as smart mobility, food security, and urban sustainability.

Expected results

The Initiative made a significant contribution to smart city development in multiple Latin American municipalities. Beneficiaries now have access to planning tools and methodologies adapted to their specific needs, enabling more effective assessments and the implementation of sustainable strategies.

Collaborative training and consultancies allowed each municipality to develop a tailored diagnosis and roadmap. These tools are among the Initiative’s most valuable legacies and are already guiding urban transformation efforts.

The study visit to Vienna offered participants a unique opportunity to learn directly from global leaders in smart city practices. It strengthened institutional relationships and provided insights that are now being applied locally by partners. Inspired by the Initiative’s outcomes, some municipalities have begun developing Smart Tourism Destinations.

Although the formal partnership has not been maintained, bilateral collaboration among several entities continues. The knowledge generated is being applied by both participants and rhird-party institutions, and new international courses and cooperation agreements have emerged, further extending the Initiative’s impact.

Implementing partners

Beneficiaries:

• Municipio de Río Negro (Colombia)
• Fundación para la Gestión y el Desarrollo de Colombia
• Instituto de Fomento y Asesoría Municipal (Costa Rica)
• Mancomunidad de Municipios Metrópoli de Los Altos (Guatemala)
• Intendencia Departamental de Maldonado and Alcaldía de Punta del Este (Uruguay)
• Grupo Calinter (Mexico)

First Provider: Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología de Córdoba (Argentina)

Second Provider: CIVES Solutions (Austria)

Collaborating Entities: Pacific Tree Co. Inc. S.A. and Universidad Fundepos (Costa Rica)