Cities Forum 2025 - Getting smart: Deep tech in cities

It’s all about the data

Deep tech systems either use or produce large quantities of data. Panellists talked about the challenges around data, of understanding who has it, is it structured or not, what are the privacy and security considerations. Astrid Stroobandt highlighted data identification and re-structuring as a key challenge for their flagship tech project in the city of Bruges.

Keep sight of the human side of tech

Martin Brynskov prompted as discussion about many of the issues being as much about the human side of technology... who is using it, do they have the skills and understanding. Successful implementation and use is about the people, their skills and understanding, and the framework and policy around it.

Standardisation is needed

All talked about the need for more standardised frameworks at EU and national level to make it easier for cities to get started – but as a set of minimum requirement rather than an “ideal”. These frameworks give trust.

And changing the focus of support

Deep Tech implementation needs a raft of skills and resources. Margot Roose highlighted that financing of standalone projects leads to short-term changes funded externally, rather than systematic shift and sustainability of changes. Focus on financial support programmes can overlook the need for longer term financing through other routes, as well as the other skills and resources that need to be developed alongside.

• The participants in the audience largely saw AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, so had a positive approach to it.
• Fear of technology is often not due to the tech itself but to the frameworks and policies around it - how the tech is deployed and used rather than the system itself. This gives us a hook for building greater trust.
• A major challenge for all EU public sector institutions is the use of Al beyond standalone chatbots or digital twins. We don’t really deploy deep tech solutions within the core processes of all services.
• Sometimes it’s not so much the money that is missing from the support packages, but the supportive environment to implement
• Deep tech is not only for the digital domain, but can modernize a very traditional physical infrastructure - city’s canal and waterway management for example.
• Cooperation between local and regional actors is needed – from across sectors; shared development of AI and deep tech platforms between regional city partners reduces both effort, cost and risk, and also increases trusts and willingness to experiment,
• EU is fragmented on AI and data compared to the US and China – learnings are not widespread and often remain “local” rather than being shared and scaled out.

It was suggested that clearer rules, standardization, and positive guidelines would support cities and facilitate the adoption of new technologies. The audience emphasized the importance of having a comprehensive "regulatory toolbox" to streamline these processes.

Focus on the skills to translate needs into policy and then to new innovations via deep technologies. It’s the people that make the tech happen and make it work for citizens and communities.

At city level, we need to move beyond deep tech pilots and stand-alone systems, to a more holistic approach where standards, tech and policy can be applied across sectors or areas. Build and implement with a view to cross-city deployment in the future, and re-use components and lessons wherever possible.

“We as Europeans need to decide, whether we want to stay in the game of innovation and next gen tech globally. We as European cities need to decide whether we are ready to become agile, lower the red tape and speak the language of the future citizens.” Margot Roose