FUTURE CITIES

Digital Twins: Building the Operating System for Future Cities

PANEL SESSION: SMARTER INFRASTRUCTURE – DATA, AI & THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SERVICES

As cities and regions race to modernise, infrastructure is no longer just concrete and steel — it’s increasingly digital, intelligent, and connected. This session explores how data and AI are transforming the way public services are planned, delivered, and sustained. From smart grids and predictive maintenance to responsive utilities and citizen-centric services, panellists will share practical insights on how governments, solution providers, and communities can work together to build resilient, efficient, and inclusive infrastructure that adapts in real time to people’s needs — all while balancing security, privacy, and sustainability goals

CASE SPOTLIGHTS: URBAN INNOVATION PILOTS ACROSS MALAYSIA & ASEAN

SYNOPSIS: While smart city blueprints often stay at the strategy level, real impact happens when ideas become practical pilots on the ground. This session invites leading cities and local governments from Malaysia and ASEAN to showcase real-world urban innovation projects that use data, AI, and digital platforms to solve everyday challenges — from waste management and energy efficiency to climate adaptation, mobility, and citizen engagement. Each spotlight talk will share what was tried, what worked, and what’s next — offering practical inspiration for other cities ready to move from plans to action. These pilots prove that no city is too big or small to test, learn, and scale smarter solutions that put people and sustainability first.

HEALING THE FUTURE CITY: BUILDING HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT THINK, ADAPT & CARE

PANEL SESSION : GREENER CITIES BY DESIGN: FROM CIRCULAR SYSTEMS TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE

SYNOPSIS: Cities sit at the front line of the climate crisis — but they’re also powerful test beds for circular economy principles, nature-based solutions, and resilient design. This panel explores how urban leaders, planners, and innovators are moving beyond single sustainability projects to embed circularity and climate adaptation into how cities are designed, built, and governed. From rethinking waste and resource flows to deploying AI and data for early warning systems and urban cooling, the discussion will unpack what it really takes to build greener cities by design — and how these strategies can scale in diverse local contexts across ASEAN.

CITY TRANSFORMATION: CONNECTING HIGHER ED, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PRECINCTS

SYNOPSIS: Cities drive regional and national economic growth. Advances in digital technology, urban innovation, and AI are making cities more competitive globally. Knowledge networks and skilled workers are essential for success. Clusters of higher education, innovation hubs, and advanced manufacturing are forming new Urban Precincts that link science to the economy. This session will outline strategies for developing Innovation Precincts and attracting investment.

WELCOME ADDRESS

RESILIENCE BY DESIGN: BUILDING AI-READY NATIONS & COMMUNITIES

PANEL SESSION : SMART CITIES, SMARTER COMMUNITIES – SCALING RESILIENCE BEYOND URBAN BORDERS

As smart city solutions mature, the next frontier is ensuring their benefits reach not just urban centres but smaller towns, rural districts, and underserved communities. This session explores how local governments, urban innovators, and regional partners are bridging the urban-rural divide — designing infrastructure, digital services, and community initiatives that strengthen resilience everywhere. Panellists will share practical stories of how data, AI, and citizen engagement can transform not just city cores but entire regions — and what governance, investment, and partnerships are needed to scale these successes sustainably across Sarawak and ASEAN.

PANEL SESSION : NEXT-GEN DIGITAL POLICY, AI ETHICS & CIVIC INTERFACES

SYNOPSIS: As cities and regions adopt more AI and data-driven systems, public trust and governance become critical. This session dives into what next-generation digital policy looks like for communities that want to scale smart solutions responsibly. From building AI oversight and ethical frameworks to creating digital platforms that keep citizens engaged, panellists will explore how local governments can design civic interfaces that protect privacy, enable participation, and keep humans in the loop. Real use cases will highlight how forward-thinking cities in Malaysia and ASEAN are operationalising trust and accountability — and what other regions can learn as they mature their digital ecosystems.

PANEL SESSION: THE ETHICAL FIREWALL: SAFEGUARDING TRUST IN THE AGE OF AI THREATS

SYNOPSIS: As AI systems increasingly shape public infrastructure, finance, and everyday life, the boundaries between ethics and cybersecurity are blurring. This session explores how we can build “ethical firewalls” — governance, security, and design frameworks that uphold human values while defending against AI-driven attacks. Experts will discuss responsible AI deployment, digital sovereignty, and how ethical alignment can strengthen cyber resilience across public and private sectors.

EXECUTIVE MASTERCLASS