As cities across Europe explore new ways to make decisions rooted in data, Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) are becoming a powerful tool. They offer the ability to simulate, test and evaluate policies before implementing them in the real world.
However, the road from idea to implementation is complex, and many city administrations are still unsure how to proceed.
The Eurocities Academy training on Urban Digital Twins is designed to help cities move beyond the hype. Co-developed with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, this hands-on training supports public sector professionals in assessing whether, when, and how UDTs can bring real value to urban governance.
This in-person training will take place in Barcelona on 6-7 November, alongside the Smart City Expo World Congress.
Before this, three online sessions will be organised in June, September and October to get participants acquainted with digital twins and the training programme.
Please note, the Eurocities Academy is holding an online public information webinar to provide guidance and answer any questions about the Urban Digital Twins training, on Friday 16 May 2025, at 12:00. Register for the information webinar here.
Why this training?
Urban Digital Twins promise a more transparent, data-informed approach to city governance. But for many local governments, they still raise more questions than answers.
What exactly is a digital twin? Is it necessary for every city? How can such a complex tool be integrated into strategic planning and decision-making?
This training is not designed for cities that already have all the answers, but for those asking the right questions. The goal is to support city professionals in:
- Understanding the practical uses of digital twins.
- Assessing when and how to invest in them.
- Overcoming internal barriers like fragmented data or limited political buy-in.
- Designing digital twin projects that are technically feasible and policy-relevant.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, the training helps cities shape a UDT approach that aligns with their institutional capacities, data maturity, and urban priorities.
What will you learn?
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of Urban Digital Twins and how to make them work in practice. Over the course of the training, you will:
- Grasp the core concepts, benefits, and limitations of UDTs.
- Identify how digital twins can support planning, governance and urban innovation.
- Understand infrastructure and data needs, and navigate legal considerations including GDPR.
- Develop a use case and an Action Plan tailored to your city.
- Gain practical tools to manage procurement and work with tech providers.
- Learn to apply digital twin insights within your city’s governance and service delivery frameworks.
- Participants will also take part in hands-on activities, peer exchanges and receive feedback on their draft Action Plans.
What makes this training unique?
This training goes beyond theory. It has been carefully designed with and for cities, drawing on the experience of local governments across Europe. Key features include:
- Dual learning tracks: Choose between a policy track (focused on governance and strategic integration) or a technical track (focused on data architecture and procurement).
- Real-world case studies: Learn from cities that are already working with Urban Digital Twins and gain insight into their challenges and achievements.
- Peer learning at its core: Benefit from structured and informal exchanges with fellow participants throughout the training.
- Tangible outcome: Develop a city-specific Action Plan that provides a clear roadmap for initiating or advancing a UDT use case.
- Exclusive access to SCEWC: All participants receive a full congress pass to the Smart City Expo World Congress (valued at €1,250), the world’s leading event for urban innovation.
- Track record of success: The training builds on the success of the 2024 edition, which received high satisfaction from participating cities.
Who should attend?
This training is ideal for a broad range of urban professionals, including:
- City officials working on mobility, housing, climate, planning, innovation or data.
- Public sector staff at regional or national levels involved in digital governance.
- Private sector experts collaborating with cities on smart urban services.
- Researchers and analysts interested in digital urban transformation.
- NGO or civil society representatives focused on digital participation or urban innovation.
Whether your city is just beginning its UDT journey or looking to scale up a pilot, this programme offers relevant content and a space to learn from peers across Europe.
What’s the format?
The programme follows a blended learning format, combining three online sessions with a two-day in-person workshop in Barcelona and a final online follow-up:
Online sessions:
- 26 June 2025: Programme onboarding and introductions.
- 25 September 2025: Peer-learning and early Action Plan development.
- 16 October 2025: Preparation for the in-person training.
In-person training in Barcelona, 6–7 November 2025, hosted by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. This component includes:
- Expert-led deep dives into core UDT topics (data, legal, governance, procurement).
- Case studies from leading cities.
- Breakout sessions by learning track.
- Group work to develop and peer-review your Action Plan.
- Networking opportunities and access to SCEWC.
Online follow-up (December 2025): A final session to present your Action Plan, share lessons learned, and explore future collaboration opportunities.
Registration and fees
Participation fees (excluding 21% Spanish VAT):
- Eurocities member cities: €1,000
- Other public sector professionals: €1,750
- Private sector and other professionals: €2,500
The fee includes all online and in-person sessions, training materials, lunches and coffee breaks in Barcelona, and a complimentary Smart City Expo World Congress pass. Travel and accommodation costs are not included.
- Registration opens: 5 May 2025
- Deadline: 10 June 2025 (or earlier if places fill up)
- To register, complete the registration form.
Applicants will be selected on a rolling basis. Once accepted, participants must confirm and pay within 10 days to secure their place.
Interested?
The Eurocities Academy is the network’s dedicated training programme, providing capacity-building to city leaders and experts. To date, it has trained over 200 officials from more than 110 cities.
For questions about the training or the registration process, contact Guillem Ramírez Chico, Eurocities Academy Coordinator, at [email protected]
