Urban Technology Alliance (UTA) is an international non-profit alliance that connects cities, companies, research institutions, universities, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders involved in smart cities. UTA promotes technology demonstrations, evaluation, and knowledge sharing in real urban environments. Before smart city solutions are scaled up, UTA places strong emphasis on testing them in real-world settings from technical, economic, and social perspectives, thereby supporting sustainable digital transformation in cities.
Since its establishment in 2018, the landscape surrounding smart cities has changed significantly. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted cities to redesign urban functions and public services; the response to climate change has become increasingly urgent; emerging technologies, including generative AI, have advanced rapidly; and the international situation has become more unstable. As a result, the challenges facing cities are becoming more complex and cross-cutting. In this context, international collaboration is more important than ever for sharing urban challenges and advancing demonstration, implementation, and policymaking across countries and regions.
From January 2026, Japanese institutions will be able to apply to Horizon Europe calls, greatly expanding opportunities to lead and participate in joint research and innovation projects with European partners. Japan’s participation in Horizon Europe is expected to focus particularly on Pillar II multi-country collaborative projects addressing societal challenges, including digital transformation, climate-neutral energy, and food security.
Against this backdrop of renewed momentum for collaboration, UTA will host the UTA-Japan Webinar Series as a three-part online program to connect smart city stakeholders in Europe and Japan.
This webinar series will introduce UTA’s mission and latest initiatives, the latest trends in smart city policies and projects in Europe, and the specific activities of European and Japanese members participating in UTA. For cities, research institutions, companies, startups, public-sector organizations, and others interested in smart city implementation, international joint research, urban data use, digital twins, AI, and climate action, the series will provide a valuable opportunity to explore future collaboration.
Event Overview
Session 1:
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 9:00-10:30 CEST | 16:00-17:30 JST (Details for the online venue will be sent at a later date.)
Speakers for the Session 1
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 9:00-10:30 CEST | 16:00-17:30 JST
In the first session, UTA leadership members, together with speakers from European cities and companies as well as Japanese companies and research institutions, will introduce UTA’s initiatives, the current state of European smart city practice, and opportunities for collaboration with Japan.
Dr. Levent Gürgen
Urban Technology Alliance, President
Dr. Levent Gürgen
Urban Technology Alliance, President
Dr. Rodger Lea
Urban Technology Alliance, Technical Director
Dr. Rodger Lea
Urban Technology Alliance, Technical Director
Laurent Deslattes
Grenoble City, Smart City Project Manager
Laurent Deslattes
Grenoble City, Smart City Project Manager
Gaetano Volpe
Latitudo 40, CEO
Gaetano Volpe
Latitudo 40, CEO
Dr. Takuro Yonezawa
Nagoya University, Associate Professor
Dr. Takuro Yonezawa
Nagoya University, Associate Professor
Dr. Masahiro Mochizuki
Institute for Social Systems Research, Principal Researcher
Agenda
Session 1
09:00–09:05 CEST | 16:00–16:05 JST
Dr. Levent Gürgen
President, Urban Technology Alliance
Opening Remarks & Introduction to UTA
Welcome participants and introduce the UTA Café series. Brief introduction to the Urban Technology Alliance (UTA).
09:05–09:15 CEST | 16:05–16:15 JST
The UTA Ecosystem: From Innovation to Deployment
Dr. Rodger Lea
Technical Director, Urban Technology Alliance
The UTA Ecosystem: From Innovation to Deployment
UTA’s vision, mission and international ecosystem, highlighting the importance of collaboration between cities, academia and industry in addressing urban challenges.
09:15–09:25 CEST | 16:15–16:25 JST
Laurent Deslattes
Smart City Project Manager, Grenoble Alpes Métropole
Urban Heat Islands (UHI): Emerging Challenge in Grenoble
Emerging global environmental challenge: Urban Heat Islands, why it became a priority for Grenoble.
09:25–09:35 CEST | 16:25–16:35 JST
Dr. Levent Gürgen
CEO, Kentyou
UTA Solution to the UHI Challenge: Digital Twin for Evidence-Based Decision Making
UTA members’ jointly built solution for the Grenoble challenge: a digital twin for the measurement, analysis, understanding, monitoring and visualisation of the impact of urban planning and construction projects on the Urban Heat Island phenomenon.
09:35–09:45 CEST | 16:35–16:45 JST
Mr. Gaetano Volpe
CEO, Latitudo 40
Satellite Imagery and Earth Observation for Climate Challenges
How Earth Observation and satellite imagery can support urban climate analysis, environmental monitoring and Urban Heat Island assessment, providing cities with valuable data for climate adaptation and urban planning.
09:45–10:00 CEST | 16:45–17:00 JST
Dr. Takuro Yonezawa
Associate Professor, Nagoya University
10:00–10:15 CEST | 17:00–17:15 JST
Dr. Masahiro Mochizuki
Principal Researcher, Institute for Social Systems Research
10:15–10:30 CEST | 17:15–17:30 JST
Discussion, Audience Q&A and Closing Remarks
Main Topics of UTA Café | EU–Japan Webinar Series
This series will cover topics such as:
Introduction to UTA and its latest initiatives
Latest trends in European smart city policies and projects
New opportunities for collaboration with Europe, including Horizon Europe
Activities of UTA members in Europe and Japan
Demonstration cases using urban data, AI, digital twins, climate change response, and solutions to social challenges
Future collaboration opportunities among municipalities, companies, and research institutions in Japan and Europe
Recommended for
Those interested in smart cities, urban digital transformation (DX), digital twins, AI, and urban data utilization
Those interested in European smart city policies and Horizon Europe
Municipal, research, university, corporate, and startup professionals working to solve urban challenges
Those interested in international joint research and demonstration projects between Japan and Europe
Those interested in UTA's activities and international network
Message from the UTA President
The challenges facing cities can no longer be solved by a single city or a single country alone. Climate change, aging populations and declining birthrates, social isolation, disaster response, energy, mobility, data governance, and the use of AI are interconnected urban issues that require international knowledge and implementation capacity. The UTA-Japan Webinar Series will serve as a forum for smart city stakeholders in Europe and Japan to share their experiences and connect demonstration to implementation and research to social deployment. We look forward to your participation.
Levent Gürgen