Málaga promotes the urban future: Casa Valonia 2025 and the transformation toward smart cities
Innovation and international cooperation in the heart of Andalusia
Malaga has established itself as an epicenter of technological innovation and sustainable urban development in Europe. From March 26 to 28, 2025, the city hosted Casa Wallonia 2025, an event that brought together more than 200 participants from Belgium and Spain with the aim of fostering cooperation in key sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and smart cities. The event served as a meeting point for local governments, research institutions, technology startups, and large corporations that share a common vision: transforming urban environments into more sustainable, connected, and people-centered spaces.
Artificial intelligence at the service of cities
During the event, the fundamental role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the evolution of cities toward more efficient and sustainable environments was highlighted. Companies and research centers presented innovative solutions that integrate AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and renewable energy to improve the quality of urban life. These solutions range from smart traffic and energy management to citizen participation platforms and climate prediction tools. Thanks to these advances, public services can anticipate citizens’ needs, reduce resource consumption, and respond quickly to emergencies.
Florence Vanholsbeeck, Economic and Commercial Advisor at the Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment (AWEX), underscored the importance of digitalization and interconnection in the development of smart cities, highlighting that events such as Casa Wallonia are key platforms for promoting new collaborative projects between Belgium and Spain. She also emphasized the need to establish common regulatory frameworks and experimental spaces where technological solutions can be safely developed and evaluated.
Malaga as a model of a smart city
Málaga was chosen as the host city for Casa Valonia 2025 due to its growing reputation as an innovative city and its commitment to developing digital and creative technologies. The city is home to the Andalusian Technology Park, the National Digital Content Hub, and a vibrant community of startups and research centers working on solutions for urban mobility, sustainability, and the digitalization of public services. Furthermore, its municipal administration has implemented pioneering projects such as the use of urban sensors to measure air quality, smart traffic lights, and electric transport networks coordinated using real-time optimization algorithms.
During the event, visits were made to key institutions such as the OXO Video Game Museum, the Andalusian Technology Park, and the Vodafone R&D Center, where participants explored the latest innovations in urban technology and discussed opportunities for future collaboration. These visits also highlighted the role of digital education and training as key drivers for a just and inclusive transition to smart cities.
Conclusion: Towards a collaborative and sustainable urban future
Casa Wallonia 2025 in Malaga represented a significant step toward building smarter, more sustainable, and livable cities. The combination of technological innovation, international cooperation, and commitment to sustainability positions Malaga and Wallonia as leaders in European urban transformation. The experience shared during the event lays the foundation for future collaborations that will benefit urban communities on both sides of the continent. This synergy, strengthened by a shared vision of inclusive development, sets a precedent that could inspire many other regions to follow suit. In a world where urbanization is growing at an accelerated pace, initiatives like this are key to ensuring that the cities of tomorrow are not only more technologically advanced, but also more humane.