Davos, Switzerland | January 2026
At the official Welcome Reception of Smart Cities Council’s inaugural program at WEF Davos 2026, SCC Chair and President, Mr. Corey Gray. delivered a powerful reminder that cut through the noise of economics:
“We have more people, money, data, and technology than ever, but less trust than ever. Trust is the new oil.”
Speaking to the World Economic Forum’s theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” Mr. Gray framed SCC’s presence at Davos around the challenges of dialogue, referencing the Sufi poet and philosopher Rumi’s observation, “Beyond wrong and right there is a garden, I will meet you there”, as an archetype for breaking down barriers and recommitting to the critical process of dialogue.
Values, Trust, Truth, Beauty: A Human Approach
Mr. Gray’s remarks returned repeatedly to the idea of trust, a resource he described as increasingly scarce in a world that has an abundance of data, technology, and wealth. Drawing on philosophy and lived experience, he emphasised that truth, beauty, dignity, and wellbeing must sit at the centre of how communities are designed and governed. At the heart of his message was a simple but confronting question: What are we really building cities for? The answer, he argued, must always begin and end with people, and the level of success will depend upon the level of trust.
The Role of Smart Cities Council
Mr. Gray explained that Smart Cities Council is a convenor an enablement platform that exists to help cities move from aspiration to measurable outcomes.
SCC’s role is to connect cities with the right partners, frameworks, capital and pathways across governance, finance, data, and delivery. Mr. Gray emphasised SCC’s critical positioning at the intersection of public, private, academic, and civic sectors to help communities implement solutions that are scalable, investable, and grounded in real human benefit.
This includes:
- Translating innovation into deployable city solutions
- Aligning technology with policy, finance, and governance
- Supporting cities to define success through outcomes such as healthspan, resilience, productivity, and trust
- Creating pathways from pilot projects to adoption and scale
In this context, SCC’s presence at WEF Davos is not about showcasing concepts — but about enabling execution.
From Promise to Proof
A central theme of the address was SCC’s commitment to moving beyond conversation into delivery. Mr. Gray reinforced that technology only has value when it improves lived experience, and that healthspan, the ability for people to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives, must become a core measure of city success.
SCC’s focus, he explained, is on helping cities convert ambition into action by aligning innovation with outcomes that matter to communities, not just metrics that look good on paper.
Trust & People: The Engine of Transformation
In closing, Mr. Gray returned to the central idea that SCC’s greatest strength is not its frameworks or platforms, but its role as a “Garden of Trust” where people, members, partners, city leaders, and communities working convene across regions and disciplines.
“We are not just building smart cities,” he said. “We are enabling places where people can thrive.”
As SCC’s WEF Davos program unfolds, this people-first message sets the tone for the week ahead — one grounded in trust, accountability, and real-world impact.
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.
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