Berlin Science Week 2025: Smart City Track is organised by the Falling Walls Foundation, a Berlin-based organisation dedicated to celebrating breakthroughs in science and society. The smart city track runs as part of the broader Berlin Science Week from 1 to 10 November 2025, offering a focused programme of sessions at the intersection of urban science, technology, and governance.
The Falling Walls Foundation, named after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, organises events that bring together researchers, policymakers, and the public to discuss the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time. Berlin Science Week, its flagship annual event, attracts thousands of participants to hundreds of sessions across the city. The smart city track curates a dedicated programme within this larger festival, highlighting how scientific research and technological innovation are shaping the future of urban life.
Key topics include the application of artificial intelligence in urban planning, from optimising land use to predicting infrastructure maintenance needs. Sessions also cover citizen science initiatives that engage residents in collecting and analysing urban environmental data, ethical technology governance frameworks that ensure smart city deployments respect civil liberties and democratic values, and interdisciplinary research approaches that combine data science, social science, and urban studies to address complex city challenges.
The programme features public lectures, interactive workshops, poster sessions, and debates that bring together academics, city officials, technology developers, and engaged citizens. The emphasis on accessibility and public engagement distinguishes this track from purely industry-focused events. For researchers, students, policymakers, and curious citizens interested in understanding the science behind smarter cities, this track offers a stimulating and intellectually rigorous programme within one of Europe's most exciting science festivals.