The International Conference on Smart Cities and Spatial Development Projects (Smart SDP 2027) is organised within the STICS – Smart Transformation and Innovation Consortium Slovakia project. The conference invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers, city representatives, students, and innovation ecosystem actors to submit contributions addressing smart cities, spatial development, and the project-based delivery of urban transformation.

Smart cities and spatial development projects increasingly require integrated governance, digital tools, responsible data use, cross-sector cooperation, and strong project management capacities. Smart SDP 2027 aims to create a platform for academic exchange, practical reflection, and international cooperation on how cities, universities, public institutions, industry, and civil society can design, manage, and scale smart urban and spatial development initiatives.

The conference will be organised in a hybrid format, combining on-site participation in Bratislava with online participation opportunities for international contributors.Conference Topic

Smart Cities and Spatial Development Projects — with a focus on project management, digital transformation, urban governance, data-driven decision-making, sustainability, and spatial development.

Key Thematic Areas

Smart cities and urban digital transformation
Spatial development projects and territorial governance
Project, programme, and portfolio management in urban development
Project management standards and delivery approaches: PMI, PM², PRINCE2, Agile, and hybrid methods
Smart city governance, interoperability, and data governance
AI, data analytics, KPIs, dashboards, and decision-support systems
Scenario analysis and digital tools for urban and regional planning
Stakeholder engagement, participatory governance, and change management
Risk management, compliance, audit-ready governance, and public accountability
Capacity building and competence development for smart cities and public administration
Higher education, project management education, and digital transformation curricula
Cross-sector cooperation between universities, municipalities, industry, NGOs, and public authorities
Climate-neutrality, energy transition, and sustainability-oriented urban projects
Crisis response, resilience, reconstruction, and post-war recovery perspectives
Smart urban transformation and reconstruction of Ukraine
Gender, leadership, inclusion, and life–work balance in project management

Conference Tracks and Sessions

1. Project Management in the Age of AI

This track explores how artificial intelligence, data analytics, and decision-support tools are reshaping project management practices in municipalities, universities, and businesses. Contributions may address AI-supported forecasting, risk management, portfolio optimisation, project monitoring, dashboards, ethical use of AI, and responsible automation.

2. Project Management for EU Urban Transformation in the Context of Climate Change and Energy Transition

This track focuses on frameworks, methods, and case studies related to managing complex climate-neutrality, energy transition, and sustainability projects in European cities and regions. Contributions may address governance, EU funding instruments, multi-stakeholder cooperation, urban resilience, and implementation challenges.

3. Advanced Project Management Education and Capacity Building

This track welcomes contributions on innovative curricula, teaching methods, training formats, and competence development in project management. Special attention will be given to AI-enhanced learning tools, international cooperation, and educational approaches for universities, public administration, and industry.

4. Crisis and Reconstruction Project Management in Times of Uncertainty and High Risk

This track addresses project management in post-war reconstruction, disaster response, critical infrastructure recovery, and high-risk environments. Contributions may include lessons from Ukraine, resilience-oriented project governance, international cooperation, donor-funded projects, and risk-informed decision-making.

5. Roundtable. Women in Management: Leadership, Life Balance and Pathways Forward

This special session invites women project managers from academia, municipalities, business, NGOs, and public institutions to discuss leadership journeys, hidden barriers, support mechanisms, and strategies for maintaining a healthy life–work balance. Practice-based reflections and short position contributions are welcome.

Types of Contributions

Research papers
Extended abstracts
Practice-oriented case studies
Policy and governance papers
Educational and methodological papers
PhD and early-career researcher contributions
Practitioner reflections

Target Participants

Academic researchers and PhD students
University teachers and education developers
Municipal and regional authorities
Public administration representatives
City representatives and policymakers
Project, programme, and portfolio managers
Industry representatives and innovation ecosystem stakeholders
NGOs and civil society organisations
Students in project management, urban planning, public policy, data analytics, and AI

Submission Guidelines

To be confirmed

Publication Opportunities

Accepted contributions will be included in the digital conference materials and/or book of abstracts.

Selected contributions may be considered for publication in special proceedings, subject to editorial selection and publisher requirements.

Extended versions of selected papers may be invited for submission to special issues of partner journals, subject to peer review and journal policies.

Important Dates

Call for Papers announcement

To be confirmed

Abstract submission deadline

To be confirmed

Notification of acceptance

To be confirmed

Full paper / final abstract submission deadline

To be confirmed

Registration deadline

To be confirmed

Conference dates

15–16 April 2026

Submission

To be confirmed

Conference Chair

Nataliia Yehorchenkova, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
Vladimír Ondrejička, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
Ľubomír Jamečný, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava

Steering Committee

Oleksii Yehorchenkov, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
Maroš Finka, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
Natalia Kryvinska, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
Peter Starchon, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava

Contact

For questions related to submissions, participation, or partnership opportunities, please contact: nataliia.yehorchenkova@fm.uniba.sk

About Smart SDP 2027

Smart SDP 2027 aims to strengthen dialogue between research and practice and to support the development of responsible, accountable, and scalable smart cities and spatial development projects. The conference will provide opportunities for scientific exchange, practitioner case discussion, networking, and the development of future research and project cooperation.