A view of the net-zero themed pavilion at the Smart City Summit and Expo 2026 held in Taipei, Taiwan, March 17. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun

TAIPEI — The Smart City Summit and Expo 2026 showcased Taiwan's cutting-edge technologies while positioning the city to pursue new opportunities with global partners in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. The event also highlighted a dual-track urban innovation strategy centered on green transformation and digitalization.

Organized by the Taipei Computer Association and the Taiwan Smart City Solutions Alliance (TSSA), the four-day event ran from March 17 to 20 and drew heads of state and representatives from 174 cities across 53 countries and regions, along with more than 3,000 international professionals and over 250 startups.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Poland set up theme pavilions for the first time, underscoring Taiwan’s efforts to partner with global cities and capture new business opportunities in the AI era.

One of the key highlights of this year’s event was the debut of the world’s first “AI City Pavilion.”

“Smart cities have officially entered the fourth generation — where AI is no longer just a tool but the ‘brain’ of city governance,” TSSA chairperson Samson Hu said. “Taiwan’s cities are using real-world demonstration scenarios to showcase how AI can be applied in urban governance.”

Hu mentioned that the full range of AI city solutions will continue to evolve annually and be promoted globally under the brand “AI City powered by Taiwan.”

Representatives from participating delegations at the 2026 Smart City Summit and Expo 2026 pose after the opening ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, March 17. Courtesy of Taipei Computer Association

The exhibition also highlighted service robots, autonomous mobile robots and inspection and firefighting applications. Demonstrations based on real-world pilot projects showed how robots are increasingly being integrated into urban public services and routine maintenance.

Alongside its focus on technological innovation, the event also underscored the city’s net-zero vision. The Net Zero Vision Pavilion showcased areas such as green energy, natural carbon sinks, sustainable living and resource circulation, in line with the government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Source: Korea Times News