The International Seminar on Learning from Urban Innovation for the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (the "Guangzhou Award") officially kicked off on September 15. From September 15 to 17, representatives of 15 shortlisted initiatives from around the world will present their initiatives, engage in discussions, and respond to questions from the Jury and online participants as part of the final evaluation process. The seminar is open to city leaders, researchers, and relevant organizations worldwide, offering a platform for sharing innovative urban practices and promoting mutual learning among cities.
The three-day seminar will feature three sessions focusing respectively on "Digital Governance and Smart City Innovation," "Social Inclusion, Community Well-being and Just Transition," and "Climate Action, Public Health and Sustainable Urban Development." The 15 shortlisted initiatives will be presented in groups, followed by Q&A sessions with Jury members and online participants. As a key stage of the final evaluation, the seminar will not only further assess the innovation, impact, sustainability, and replicability of the shortlisted initiatives, but also provide a global platform for cities to exchange experiences and explore solutions to common challenges.
The 7th Guangzhou Award received 381 submissions from 248 cities and local governments across 60 countries and regions, marking a record high in both the number of participating cities and submissions. In June this year, the Technical Committee of the Guangzhou Award convened in Tangier, Morocco, where it reviewed submissions and selected 15 shortlisted initiatives, which were announced globally during the World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Covering areas such as digital governance, urban planning, citizen engagement, public services, climate action, and sustainable development, these initiatives demonstrate how cities are exploring new approaches to urban governance through institutional innovation, technology adoption, and community participation.
Established in 2012 by the City of Guangzhou in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the Metropolis, the Guangzhou Award has focused on recognizing innovative approaches cities use to address urban challenges, improve governance, and promote sustainable development. Over the past six cycles and the current 7th cycle, the Guangzhou Award has collected more than 2,000 innovative urban practices from 815 cities across 105 countries and regions, and has been included in the UN-Habitat Urban Governance Knowledge Platform as a database of urban governance practices. Following the presentations and final evaluations, the Jury of the 7th Guangzhou Award will select five winning initiatives. The selected initiatives will be announced at the Global Mayors' Forum 2026 and the Award Ceremony of the 7th Guangzhou Award, to be held in Guangzhou this December.
Source: Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
