Seoul drives digital transformation of cities worldwide through Smart City Prize competition PHOTO

The Seoul Smart City Prize, organized by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is reshaping urban innovation by spotlighting technology-driven, human-centred solutions for sustainable city development.

Applications are now open for the 2025 Seoul Smart City Prize, which honours cities, corporations, institutions, and individuals developing forward-looking urban solutions. According to an article by Foreign Policy shining light on this initiative, the winners will be recognized at Seoul Smart Life Week, reinforcing the Korean capital's position as a hub for digital and urban innovation.

WeGO, a long-standing global network supporting smart city collaboration through public-private partnerships, operates globally with its Secretariat in Seoul and regional offices in six cities across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. In 2024 the organization was a main partner for the World Cities Summit 2024 in Singapore, which was attended by the Mayor of Baku Eldar Azizov, where government leaders and industry experts gather to address challenges related to creating liveable and sustainable cities, share integrated urban solutions, and forge new partnerships.

Now in its third year, the Seoul Smart City Prize distinguishes itself by valuing innovation over infrastructure. It does not reward only the most advanced technological implementations but celebrates creative adaptations of existing technologies to solve local problems. The Prize especially emphasizes digital inclusion, human-focused development, and equitable growth—highlighting efforts that benefit marginalized or vulnerable populations.

The award includes four main categories: Tech-InnovaCity, Human-CentriCity, Leadership, and Special Mention. In 2024, over 200 submissions from 123 cities across 58 countries were evaluated, spanning regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and Latin America, and Oceania.

Key 2024 winners include:

-Baguio, Philippines, which received the Human-CentriCity Gold Prize for its BIAG project, tackling inefficiencies in the local healthcare system. By introducing accessible digital health records and telemedicine, the project connected hospitals and ensured inclusive, quality care throughout residents’ lives.

-Reykjavik, Iceland, was awarded the Tech-InnovaCity Gold Prize for its “Better City For Children – School Services” initiative. The project transformed school services using a centralized digital system that improved application processes, data sharing, and early intervention through collaborative "solution teams," significantly increasing service efficiency.

-Adanech Abiebie, Mayor of Addis Ababa, won the Leadership Prize for her leadership in transforming the Ethiopian capital into a smart urban leader focused on citizen well-being.

-Under the Corporation Prize, LG Electronics, a new WeGO member, was recognized alongside the City of Tampere and Nokia Arena for their collaborative efforts in human-centric digital innovation.

In addition to the awards, WeGO offers ongoing support through programs like the Seoul Smart City International Cooperation Program. In 2024, the program partnered with São Paulo, Brazil, a previous Prize winner, to enhance its Accessible Service Network Map for people with disabilities. The $150,000 project, modelled on Seoul’s Smart Map (S-Map), was implemented by the Seoul Urban Solutions Agency (SUSA) and São Paulo’s Secretariat for People with Disabilities. The initiative aims to improve access to public facilities for disabled residents by providing accurate and user-friendly data.

Through these efforts, the Seoul Smart City Prize continues to champion global collaboration, innovative urban governance, and inclusive digital transformation, laying the foundation for smarter, fairer cities worldwide.

By Nazrin Sadigova