Davos, Switzerland | January 2026
As the world gathers for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, the Smart Cities Council (SCC) will officially launch its 2026 Global Strategy and announce the opening of its new global enablement base in Switzerland at an exclusive Welcome Reception on Sunday, January 18, at the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport | The Circle.
The invite-only gathering will convene global city leaders, technologists, investors, health experts, and delegation sponsors for a powerful afternoon of strategic framing, program announcements, and dialogue on urban transformation, AI adoption, and healthspan futures.
“This Welcome Reception marks the moment we shift from vision to velocity,” said Corey Gray, Chair and President of Smart Cities Council. “We are honoured to welcome our global delegation, partners, and collaborators as we unveil a strategy that prioritizes real outcomes for cities, communities, and citizens.”
An Agenda Built Around Action
Themed “Enabling Cities and Communities to Transform and Aim Toward Smart Outcomes,” the reception will serve as the launchpad for SCC’s WEF 2026 programming, with the following highlights:
🔹 Strategic Announcements:
- SCC Global Strategy 2026 unveiled by Corey Gray
- Launch of SCC Switzerland as the new global HQ
- Governance and leadership updates from Mark Messow, Chair of the SCC Global Advisory Board
🔹 Four Expert Panels on Urban Transformation:
- The Transformation Imperative: Why cities must accelerate readiness for change
- Healthspan as a Smart City Outcome: Rethinking wellness targets and incentives
- Blended Finance for Regenerative Cities: Unlocking investment models for transformation
- Scalable Adoption of Transformative Tech: The governance, capacity, and trust required to adopt AI and Web3 solutions
🔹 Program & Partnership Spotlights:
- New MoUs with partners in India, the Middle East, and Europe
- Strategic collaborations with Human Longevity Institute, and others
- Introduction of new SCC Global Thought Leaders, including Dr. Melissa Petersen, Vincent Peter, Shaik Hamdan, and Lucas Root
A Delegation That Delivers
The event brings together the SCC “Members & Friends” Delegation, a high-impact network of city enablers including urban planners, startup founders, academics, health leaders, and technologists — supported by sponsors Vantiq and Deep Tech Week.
“We’re not just welcoming attendees — we’re welcoming co-creators of the future,” added Gray. “This delegation is full of people who are already enabling smarter, more resilient, and more equitable cities. This event is their catalyst.”
Reception Overview
Location: Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport | The Circle
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 5:00pm
Invite-Only | Media access by request
The event will close with a Technology & Use Case Spotlight, highlighting real-world applications of AI in support of urban ageing, resilience, and wellbeing — followed by an Executive Networking Social to foster new relationships ahead of the full WEF week.
Media Access & Coverage
Selected moments from the Welcome Reception — including keynote announcements, delegate interviews, and panel highlights — will be captured and shared through SCC’s channels across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media interested in attending or scheduling interviews should contact:
Karen Norden karen.norden@smartcitiescouncil.com
About Smart Cities Council
Smart Cities Council is a global network of cities, governments, technology leaders, investors, and solution providers dedicated to enabling city and community transformation through governance, finance, technology, and partnerships that deliver measurable outcomes.
For more information on Smart Cities Council programs:
