About the Alliance

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As the world urbanizes, sustainable development and economic growth depend increasingly on the successful management of urban growth. With the right technology — and the know-how to govern it — cities can lead the way in solving problems in energy, transportation, healthcare, education and natural disaster response, while making their communities more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

Established in June 2019, the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance unites municipal, regional and national governments, private-sector partners and cities’ residents around a shared set of principles for the responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies. The Alliance establishes and advances global policy norms to help accelerate best practices, mitigate potential risks, and foster greater openness and public trust. The World Economic Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, serves as secretariat for the Alliance.

Our institutional partners

The Alliance partners with leading international organizations and city networks to source tried-and-tested policy approaches to govern the use of smart city technologies. Our institutional partners represent more than 200,000 cities and local governments, leading companies, startups, research institutions, and civil society communities. In collaboration with these public and private-sector partners, the Alliance also helps co-design, pilot and advance new innovative policy approaches to address unresolved governance gaps.

Special thanks

This effort was made possible by founding contributions from C4IR Japan partners including Eisai Co., Hitachi, Mori Building, NEC Corporation, NTT Corporation and Salesforce.com.

We would also like to thank World Economic Forum’s partners for their contributions to this effort, including but not limited to: Accenture, Alphabet Inc., Arup, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Honeywell International, Infosys, Johnson Controls, Microsoft Corporation, MUFG, Nokia, Quantela Inc, Reliance Industries, Signify, Tata Consultancy Services.

Frequently asked questions

1. How can I join the Alliance?

There are a variety of ways to participate in the Alliance’s work. These range from pledging support for shared principles to piloting policies. To learn more and apply, go to our ‘Get Involved’ page.

2. Is there a cost to join the Alliance?

No. There is no cost to join the Alliance.

3. Is the Alliance open to non-G20 countries?

Yes. The Alliance was established in partnership with the G20, however, stakeholders from all countries are welcome to join and contribute to this effort.

4. How can I learn about your upcoming events?

The Alliance’s events are carefully curated to maximize the diversity and calibre of participants. If you would like to nominate yourself or a colleague to join one of our events, go to our ‘Get Involved’ page.

5. What is the World Economic Forum’s role in the Alliance?

The World Economic Forum serves as the secretariat for the Alliance, and as such, manages all day-to-day activities.

6. What is the role of the Alliance’s institutional partners?

Institutional partners help source model policies, best practices and lessons learned to shape the Alliance’s work.

7. How can my organization become an institutional partner?

If you are interested in becoming an institutional partner, please send us an email at: info@globalsmartcitiesalliance.org.

8. How is the Alliance funded?

The Alliance is currently funded by partner contributions to the World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Japan. Additional resources are provided by World Economic Forum partners and Alliance institutional partners.