Are We Smart, but Not Wise? From Smart Cities to Wise Towns
On 11/06/2026 the MCE Community (formerly called Major Cities of Europe) hosted the webinar From Smart Cities to Wise Towns, in collaboration with the Handong Global University in South Korea, held by Professor Kwanphil (Handong Global University).
The aim of the webinar was to explore the Wise Town concept as a forward-looking evolution of the Smart City paradigm. As cities and regions become increasingly shaped by technology, it is time to ask a bigger question: how can innovation truly serve people, places, and communities?
From climate change and fragile supply chains to demographic change, territorial imbalance, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, today’s challenges demand new ways of thinking about resilience, governance, and quality of life.
The Wise Town perspective offers a compelling alternative: one that combines technological progress with human-centred development, local autonomy, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
In his presentation, Professor Kwanphil Cho has introduced several crucial issues, namely the shift from Smart Cities to Wise Towns, the role of technology as a tool for stronger and more inclusive communities, the evolving role of data, leadership, and governance, new approaches to territorial resilience and adaptability, how artificial intelligence is reshaping urban governance and quality of life.
Agenda:
- Welcome and introduction by Giorgio Prister, MCE Community
- Featured presentation by Prof. Kwanphil Cho, Handong Global University
- Interactive discussion moderated by Alessandra de Seneen, MCE Community
Download the Wise Town Manifesto
Link to the webinar registration
For more information, please refer to
- Wise Town Podcast with FFI
- Wise Town Website
- Wise Town Promotional Video