Urban Transitions Mission
Global Innovation Summit 2025
6 November 2025 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Join the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) in the run-up to COP30 for a high-level global convening to explore how innovative finance is unlocking sustainable, inclusive, and net-zero urban futures.
UTM is hosting its annual Global Innovation Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 6, 2025.
This year, the summit will focus on “Unlocking investment for cities: blended finance for urban transitions.”
UTM Global Innovation Summit 2025:
Unlocking investment for cities: blended finance for urban transitions
Supported by the European Commission and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), the Summit will gather cities, investors, policymakers, development banks, impact investors, and innovators shaping the future of sustainable urban finance.
By 2050, over two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. Meeting this urban future demands more than $90 trillion in new infrastructure investments – especially in transport, energy, housing, and digital systems. Yet, investment levels remain critically low, particularly in the Global South.
Traditional public finance alone won’t suffice. What will help? Blended finance.
Unlocking transformational urban investment calls for blended finance models that combine public and private capital while managing risk and delivering impact.
At the same time, high upfront costs, coupled with limited technical capacity, continue to be a major barrier to mobilize investment at scale with many cities lacking the expertise to design bankable projects that attract both public and private investors.
SUMMIT AGENDA
The UTM Global Innovation Summit took place during two dynamic days of interactive sessions, workshops, and presentations. Participants engaged with urban planners, policymakers, and global leaders who are at the forefront of urban transformation.
7th October
SUMMIT DAY 1
Morning plenary sessions, followed by three parallel afternoon workshops on resource-efficient design, smart cities, and digital interconnectedness. A mayoral panel will come together for a reality-check on current and future urban transitions. The day will conclude with an evening reception for all in-person attendees.
For a detailed schedule, download the full agenda here.
DEEP-DIVE SESSIONS
7th October
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS
During the afternoon, three parallel workshops were held, giving participants the opportunity to dive deeper into specific areas of urban sustainability. These workshops were designed to provide practical insights and foster collaborative problem-solving
- Workshop 1: Resource-Efficient Urban Design – Explore strategies to optimize resource use while ensuring sustainable city growth.
- Workshop 2: Digital Technologies for Interconnected Cities – Discover how digital innovations are creating smarter, more resilient urban ecosystems.
- Workshop 3: Financing Sustainable Urban Transitions – Learn about innovative financing models that can drive the urban transition to a net-zero future.
For a detailed schedule, download the full agenda here.
For selected cities only:
8th-9th October
STUDY TOUR TO THE TO SIGNIFY’S OUTDOOR LIGHTING APPLICATION CENTER (OLAC)
As part of the Summit, participating cities also had the opportunity to join the Study Tour at Signify’s Outdoor Lighting Application Center (OLAC) which provided them with a practical exploration of how innovative outdoor lighting solutions can support cities’ decarbonization efforts, while enhancing safety and well-being and safeguarding circularity and biodiversity needs.
The Study Tour at Signify’s Outdoor Lighting Application Center (OLAC) provides participants with a practical exploration of how innovative outdoor lighting solutions can support cities’ decarbonization efforts. During the workshop, facilitated by Signify experts, attendees will focus on identifying key topics of interest, sharing best practices and solutions already implemented or planned, and collaboratively drafting a high-level plan to address these challenges.
For a detailed schedule, download the full agenda here.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This summit will explore how innovative financing can accelerate sustainable urban transitions: expect bold ideas, real-world case studies and actionable pathways to accelerate urban transition.
Together, we will dive into financing strategies that blend public and private capital to
- De-risk urban investments
- Mobilize investment for climate smart infrastructure
- Strengthen resilience through nature-based solutions
- Accelerate implementation of net-zero transitions
- Prioritize people-centered, inclusive developments
Highlights will include:
- Scaling investment in sustainable urban futures
- Financing Urban Resilience – Nature, Risk, and Returns
- Investing in resource-efficient and clean energy systems in cities
- Investing in people-centered cities
- Brokering solutions and connecting innovation leaders & providers
- Data & digital solutions to Accelerate Impact Finance and De-risk Investments in Cities
- Stocktaking & way forward
- Interactive workshops and partnership matchmaking
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Urban policymakers and planners
- Institutional investors, banks, and insurers
- Development finance institutions
- Tech companies and digital solution providers
- Researchers, think tanks, and academics
- Civil society and philanthropic organizations
Whether you are leading a city, deploying capital, or innovating solutions, this summit is your chance to collaborate, learn, and act to help create human-centred cities.
SESSIONS
Interactive formats include:
- Mayors’ roundtables and policymaker panel
- Technical deep dives on blended finance and digital risk tools
- Regional and thematic breakout sessions
- Networking opportunities and knowledge exchanges
Agenda highlights and speakers updates coming soon.
WHY JOIN
The transition to climate-smart, inclusive cities will not happen without you. The UTM Innovation Summit is where vision meets capital, where policy meets practice, and where global ideas become local solutions.
Come for innovative ideas and leave with potential partners for new initiatives.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach us out to our email address: utm@globalcovenantofmayors.org
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Participation in the UTM Global Innovation Summit is free of charge, and you can join either in person or virtually, but previous registration is mandatory. The event will take place in English, with no interpretation services provided, so proficiency in English is required to fully engage in the sessions.
To attend, all participants must complete the registration form, where you will be asked to indicate whether you will join in person or online. For in-person attendees, additional information will be required to gain access to the venue, including your preferences for the afternoon workshops and whether you wish to join the evening reception on 7th October.
Due to venue capacity, early registration is encouraged. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this transformative event!
Deadline to register for in-person attendance is Wednesday 2nd October.
Information for in-site participants:
The UTM Global Innovation Summit will be held in Brussels, Belgium. Below is a list of important logistical details to help plan your attendances:
VENUE & LOCATION:
Albert Borschette Congress Center
Rue Froissart 36 – Etterbeek, Belgium
DATES & TIMES:
7-8 October, 2024
09:00 – 18:00 CEST
* Details of the Study Tour and UTMC Workshop will be sent to selected cities.
* Details of the Study Tour will be sent to selected cities.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach us out to our email address: utm@globalcovenantofmayors.org
CO-ORGANIZERS
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNER
