Location
Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Equip, Evolve, Excel in a System Shift – Facilitation of an Influential Gathering of Urban Leaders

Organised by BABLE Smart Cities in collaboration with Urban Innovators Global, Drees & Sommer, and the City of Rotterdam, the Urban Innovation Leadership Forum gathered global urban leaders and innovators in Rotterdam to explore the skillsets needed to lead cities through digital transformation. The event was designed to empower participants with tools, knowledge, and networks essential for tackling urban challenges in an increasingly digital world.

Deliverables by BABLE

  • Pre-event planning and design
    - Curated the agenda and designed interactive sessions aligned with event objectives.
    - Coordinated logistics including venue, registrations, partners, and visual identity.
    - Managed speaker outreach and ensured strong, diverse representation across sessions.
     
  • Event facilitation and management
    Delivered full logistical and content management of the event.
    Facilitated four high-impact sessions on:
    • Innovating Trust: Fair & Inclusive Cities amid Digitalisation
    • Startups, Scale-ups, and the City’s Innovation Agenda
    • From Digital Twins to Digital Twinning
    • From Agile Governance to Interdisciplinary Leadership
       
  • Post-event communications
    - Shared professional photos and summaries with participants.
    - Published a dedicated newsletter Insights,  from the Urban Innovation Leadership Forum in Rotterdam, recapping session insights and announcing the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme (UILP) — a new training initiative for future-ready urban leaders.

“The Urban Innovation Leadership Forum in Rotterdam, organised with BABLE Smart Cities, was a powerful catalyst for exchanging knowledge and sparking action among cities facing common urban challenges... We’re grateful for BABLE’s partnership and their commitment to fostering impactful dialogue that drives meaningful change across Europe’s cities.”
— Roland van der Heijden, Programme Manager Digital City Rotterdam

Impact at a Glance

  • Brought together leading voices from government, academia, startups, and civic networks
  • Promoted essential leadership skills for navigating digitalisation in cities
  • Enabled peer-to-peer learning, networking, and cross-sector dialogue
  • Sparked interest and participation in the newly launched Urban Innovation Leadership Programme
  • Set the foundation for future collaboration and knowledge exchange across Europe’s urban ecosystem

Date: 20 June 2024
Focus Area: Urban Leadership, Digital Transformation, Innovation Capacity Building