BAIDATA reinforces its role in the digital transformation of smart cities at the 5th RECI Congress
October 27, 2025
DESCRIPCIÓN
The 5th Congress of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) has once again positioned Bilbao as a hub for urban innovation on October 22–23, bringing together over 700 experts and institutional representatives from 160 cities and territories, alongside leading technology companies and the crucial participation of our association. Organized by RECI, the Bilbao City Council (Bilbao Udala), and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), the event focused on digital transformation, sustainability, security, and citizen-centered urban development.
During the institutional opening, key figures included Juan Mari Aburto, Mayor of Bilbao; José de la Uz, RECI President and Mayor of Las Rozas; María Ubarretxena, Minister for Governance and Digital Administration of the Basque Government; and Ager Izagirre, Deputy for Public Administration and Institutional Relations of the Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia / Provincial Council of Bizkaia. Izagirre highlighted BAIDATA as a reference initiative for its commitment to the development of the data economy and interoperability, underscoring its role in strengthening both the Basque and national digital ecosystems.
Over two days, the congress addressed key topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, intelligent urban mobility, and data spaces as foundations for digital governance. In the panel “Data Space and Interoperability”, Óscar Lázaro, secretary of BAIDATA, spoke alongside representatives from Gaia-X Hub Spain, Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC), FIWARE, and the City of Santander, in a session moderated by Clara Pezuela (ITI). Lázaro presented the agreement signed with IDTA and highlighted BAIDATA’s collaboration with the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) to promote a common framework of trust, sovereignty, and interoperability for data exchange between cities and sectors.
The congress featured national and international speakers of high caliber, including Dr. Christina Yan Zhang (The Metaverse Institute), and representatives from Red.es, GAIA-X Spain, the Basque Artificial Intelligence Center (BAIC), and the global OASC network. The program also included roundtables, technology demonstrations, exhibition zones, and networking spaces to foster public-private collaboration and co-creation of innovative solutions.
The event was sponsored by several BAIDATA partner organizations, including Fundación BiscayTIK Fundazioa, Libelium, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, ERHARDT Serikat, LKS NEXT, and NTT DATA Europe & Latam, highlighting BAIDATA’s active role in promoting more digital, sustainable, and connected cities.
Through initiatives like BAIDATA, Bilbao and Bizkaia continue to establish themselves as European benchmarks in the data economy and urban innovation, advancing the creation of interoperable data spaces that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and cross-territory collaboration.