☀️ Summer School: Digital Transformation

Summer is slowly coming to an end, but the Eurocities Summer School is still going strong. As people return from their holidays this September, it’s a great time to discover practical resources from our network.

Over the past weeks, we’ve been sharing tools, guides, and examples from different themes.

This week is all about digital transformation, with resources to help cities use technology to become smarter, more inclusive, and more innovative.

#1 Guidelines for developing Digital Twins

Cities are turning to digital twins to improve planning, services and decision-making. But building and using these tools responsibly requires more than just technology. That’s why the Eurocities Digital Forum Lab has co-created new Guidelines for developing digital twins, offering cities practical steps to move from experimentation to real impact.

The guidelines highlight the importance of starting with clear goals, involving diverse stakeholders, ensuring transparency, and investing in skills and governance. They also stress the need for high-quality data, interoperable systems, and sustainable models that build trust with citizens.

Examples from across the network (from Rotterdam’s climate resilience modelling to Dublin’s mobility twin and Rennes’ planning tool) show how cities are putting these principles into action.

Find them here 👉 Guidelines for developing digital twins

#2 White Paper: 'Public sensors, public trust'

As cities deploy more public sensors to manage traffic, air quality or public lighting, issues of trust and transparency become crucial. The Eurocities Digital Forum Lab has developed a new White Paper 'Public sensors, public trust', giving cities practical guidance on ethics, governance, and responsible use.

The paper calls for clear purposes, minimal data collection, and open communication with residents. Examples from Leipzig, Eindhoven, Lisbon and Porto show how cities are already building trust with sensor registers, open data infrastructures and citizen engagement.

Find it here 👉 White Paper: Public sensors, public trust

#3 Guidance on Dealing with Ethics and Innovation

Putting ethics at the heart of digital innovation is essential for trust in new technologies. The Eurocities Digital Forum Lab’s new Guidance on Dealing with Ethics and Innovation offers cities practical tools to make values like transparency, fairness and accountability part of every step of the innovation process.

Examples from Eindhoven, Helsinki and Turin show how ethical committees, AI registers and structured reflection can turn principles into action. The guidance also points to concrete tools such as the Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA) and Fundamental Rights Impact Assessments.

Find it here 👉 Guidance: Dealing with Ethics and Innovation

#4 Playbook & Toolkit for Scoping Emerging Technologies

New technologies can promise a lot, but cities need to start with the challenges, not just the tools. The Eurocities Digital Forum Working Group Foresight has released a Playbook and Toolkit for Scoping Emerging Technologies, helping cities assess implications, test assumptions, and plan next steps before investing.

The methodology uses flexible interactive modules and practical templates to facilitate cross-department collaboration, guide workshops, spark discussion, and turn insights into concrete action, and can be tailored to each city’s specific needs and strategic priorities. By focusing on real urban challenges, cities can explore innovations like AI, digital twins, or new data spaces in a responsible and collaborative way.

Find it here 👉 Playbook and Toolkit for Scoping Emerging Technologies (Eurocities members only)

#5 AI Procurement Clauses

The use of AI in local government is growing fast, but many authorities still struggle to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly. To help, the EU has developed model contractual AI clauses that public organisations can use when procuring AI systems.

These templates set out clear responsibilities for suppliers and authorities, covering key principles such as transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness. They are not full contracts, but can be added to existing agreements and adapted to specific contexts. Importantly, they align with the upcoming EU AI Act and provide guidance for both high-risk and non-high-risk AI systems.

Find them here 👉 AI Procurement Templates