Cities everywhere are being asked to do more with less. They are expected to cut emissions, adapt to climate risks and make urban life more liveable, often with limited resources. At the same time, digital technologies like AI are reshaping how cities function, from mobility and waste management to energy, public services and civic engagement.

These two shifts, the green and the digital, cannot happen in isolation. Cities that manage to bring them together will be better placed to meet today’s challenges and shape what comes next.

But this transformation takes more than technology. It calls for a shared vision and new ways for city administrations, entrepreneurs and innovators to collaborate to design, test and scale solutions that deliver real impact.

This was the focus of UNDP’s session at KosICT25, where the City Experiment Fund brought together Luftar Braha, Digitalisation Expert at the Municipality of Pristina, Fidan Hallaqi, founder of eTaxi and eCharge, and Alexander Zanner, head of Sales Lead from PI Labs, to discuss how collaboration between the public and private sectors can speed up urban transformation. 

Technology as an enabler of long-term vision

Technology is already changing how cities work, from cleaner mobility and smarter energy systems to better digital services and planning tools. But technology alone doesn’t create transformation. It’s the people, partnerships and shared direction behind it that make real change possible.

The discussion at KosICT25 reflected this. Rather than focusing on specific tools, it explored what creates the conditions for meaningful and joint innovation.

Cities need to move from short-term project thinking to long-term systems thinking. Many urban initiatives still run on short cycles, with cities procuring specific products and services based on a lowest-cost model. Cities that set a clear vision make it easier for partners to align and contribute.

Entrepreneurs want to be part of the problem-solving, not just procurement. Startups and tech providers bring creativity and agility, but only if they’re invited in early. Cities that share their challenges openly attract stronger, more relevant solutions.

Data is still one of the most powerful untapped resources. Municipalities, companies and residents collect data across sectors and geographies every day. When shared and stored responsibly, it helps both cities and innovators make better decisions and build solutions that truly respond to people’s needs.