EIT Community Hub Czechia took part in URBIS 2026, the Smart Cities conference and exhibition held from 2 to 4 June 2026 in Brno, Czechia. The event brought together representatives of cities, municipalities, regions, public institutions, companies and innovation actors to discuss practical solutions for more sustainable, resilient and liveable communities.
As the national entry point to the EIT Community in Czechia, EIT Community Hub Czechia used URBIS 2026 as an opportunity to connect local and regional stakeholders with European innovation expertise. The Hub created space for dialogue with municipalities, regional authorities, innovation partners and organisations interested in smart city development, climate adaptation, digital transformation and sustainable mobility.
Several EIT communities contributed to the programme and discussions during the event. Climate KIC was represented by Morten Kildahl Sørensen, who joined the session “Water in Our Communities: The Synergy of Technology and Nature in Practice” as an invited expert. Krisztián Gál represented 28DIGITAL through a keynote presentation focused on the role of artificial intelligence and data in public administration, while Marián Nic contributed on behalf of EIT Urban Mobility through his participation in the Mobility Working Group of the Czech Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Water Management and Climate Resilience at URBIS 2026
A key highlight of the EIT Community presence was the session “Water in Our Communities: The Synergy of Technology and Nature in Real Life”, held on 4 June 2026. The session focused on sustainable water management in cities and towns, combining technological solutions with blue-green infrastructure and nature-based approaches.
The discussion brought together representatives from public administration, the private sector and environmental organisations. Speakers included Morten Kildahl Sørensen from Climate KIC, Martin Ander from the Partnership Foundation / Adapterra Awards, František Mach and Petra Drexler from nextdrop and Juraj Moravčík, Director of the Slovak Environment Agency. The session was moderated by Radek Holomčík from JINAG.
The session showed how smartly designed water management solutions can help save resources, strengthen climate resilience and support local adaptation without necessarily requiring large-scale investments. Speakers presented practical examples and data demonstrating how technology, nature-based solutions and local action can work together to address water-related challenges in communities.
Climate, AI and Mobility: EIT Communities in Action
As Europe’s leading climate innovation community, Climate KIC brought insights from its work with cities and regions across the continent on building climate resilience and accelerating systemic change. Morten Kildahl Sørensen emphasised that successful adaptation goes beyond individual projects and requires coordinated action across governance, infrastructure, finance and community engagement. Through practical examples and European experience, Climate KIC demonstrated how local actors can translate climate ambitions into tangible and scalable solutions.
The participation of 28DIGITAL added an important perspective on the role of artificial intelligence and data in public administration. Through his keynote presentation, Krisztián Gál explored how digital tools and AI can support more effective, responsive and future-oriented municipalities and cities, highlighting the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation in the public sector.
EIT Urban Mobility contributed to the broader mobility-related discussions through the participation of Marián Nic in the Mobility Working Group of the Czech Business Council for Sustainable Development. This brought attention to sustainable urban transport, mobility innovation and the role of cooperation between business, cities and innovation ecosystems in supporting more climate-friendly and accessible mobility solutions.
Building Connections for Sustainable Urban Futures
Throughout URBIS 2026, EIT Community Hub Czechia engaged with stakeholders interested in European innovation opportunities and practical cooperation. The event helped identify local challenges, potential areas for collaboration and opportunities for developing projects that support more resilient, sustainable and digitally enabled cities and regions in Czechia and beyond.
The EIT Community presence at URBIS 2026 demonstrated the value of bringing different EIT communities together around shared urban and regional challenges. With contributions from Climate KIC, 28digital and EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Community Hub Czechia was able to present a broader European innovation perspective covering climate adaptation, digital transformation and sustainable urban mobility.
URBIS 2026 confirmed that Czech cities and regions are actively looking for practical, scalable and collaborative solutions. EIT Community Hub Czechia will continue supporting these connections and helping local actors access relevant EIT knowledge, networks and opportunities.
