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ACSUS > ACSUS Events > Smart Cities Lab 2025: Re-imagining Smart African Cities: Concepts, Practices, and Implementation
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Smart Cities Lab 2025: Re-imagining Smart African Cities: Concepts, Practices, and Implementation

Smart Cities Lab 2025: Re-imagining Smart African Cities: Concepts, Practices, and Implementation, 1-3 October 2025

Dates: 1-3 October 2025
Hosted by the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS), University of the Witwatersrand

đź“Ť 36 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa

📧 hluma.ralane@wits.ac.za
📧 acsus.research@wits.ac.za

About ACSUS

Established in March 2018, the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) is a multi- and interdisciplinary research and engagement centre at Wits University. Our vision is to serve as the leading African research and engagement hub, shaping intellectual discourse and deepening Africa’s understanding of the United States as a nation, society, and global power.

Through our mission of innovating and sustaining new ways of understanding the US relevant to Africa and Africans, we engage in research, teaching, outreach, exchanges, public engagement, and publishing.

About the Africa-US Smart Cities Lab

As part of the Africa-US Cities Project, ACSUS is excited to launch the Africa-US Smart Cities Lab, connecting African and US perspectives to foster the development of smart cities rooted in African realities while leveraging global frameworks and technology.

The Lab aims to:

  • Facilitate collaboration between universities, think tanks, governments, international organisations, private sector players, and civil society.
  • Advance knowledge on smart city concepts, focusing on human security, digital technology applications, urban facility security, healthcare and education linkages, and sustainable urban planning.
  • Connect policymakers, practitioners, and funding agencies interested in advancing smart cities in Africa.

Learning Outcomes

By participating in the Lab, you will:

  • Analyse smart city concepts from an Africa-US perspective.
  • Review the policy contexts under which smart cities are established and managed.
  • Explore innovative alternatives for funding and financing smart cities.
  • Learn how to set up and manage digital technologies in city management.
  • Incorporate sustainable environmental management into new and existing cities.

The Lab will also host an Urban20 session aligned with South Africa’s G20 Summit in November 2025.

Frameworks Guiding the Lab

The Lab will draw from:

  • The South African Smart Cities Framework (Department of Cooperative Governance)
  • The South African Local Government Association Smart Cities Development Majority Framework
  • UN-Habitat Smart Cities Guidelines

Partners

The Africa-US Smart Cities Lab will be hosted in partnership with:

  • Rand Water
  • South African Cities Network
  • Itana Smart City
  • Wits School of Governance
  • Waterfall City Management Company
  • G20

Who Should Attend?

We expect 120 participants including policymakers, urban planners, researchers, practitioners, private sector leaders, funders, and civil society actors who are interested in advancing smart, sustainable African cities.

Tickets

You can purchase tickets for R1000 from Quicket

https://qkt.io/uHT63Q/

Sponsorship Packages

Platinum: R200,000

  • Using your organisation as a case study showcasing the excellent work that you do or intend to do in promoting inclusive, liveable, sustainable smart cities.
  • Hosting up to three panels aligned with the work that your organisation does relative to the lab themes.
  • An opportunity to use the lab as a springboard for the promotion of your corporate social responsibility and smart city investment projects.
  • Serve as a key sponsor and therefore, a partner for all pre-event, event and post event activities. • The inclusion of your organisation’s logo and other promotional materials on the conference website, all media platforms, and all branding and communications platforms and outlets.
  • An exhibition table to share your information packages and display your organisations banners during the three-day lab programme.
  • A maximum of twelve participants will be exempted from the lab registration fee.

Gold: R150,000

  • The inclusion of your organisation’s logos, and other promotional materials on the conference website, all media platforms, and all branding and communications platforms and outlets.
  • An opportunity to share aspects of your work with an audience of 100 + guests who will be attending the lab via a speaking slot in the programme.
  • Hosting up to two panels aligned with the work that your organisation does during the lab.
  • Be an acknowledged partner in the knowledge production outputs in the post-lab period.
  • An opportunity to use the lab as a springboard for the promotion of your corporate social responsibility and smart city investment projects.
  • An exhibition table to share your information packages and display your organisations banners during the three-day lab programme.
  • A maximum of eight participants will be exempted from the lab registration fee.

 Silver: R100,000

  • The inclusion of your organisation’s logos and other promotional materials on the Centres website, all media platforms, and all branding and communications platforms and outlets.
  • An opportunity to share aspects of your work with an audience of 100+ guests who will be attending the Conference via a speaking slot in the programme.
  • Hosting up to one panel aligned with the work that your organisation does relative to the lab themes during the lab.
  • An opportunity to use the conference as a springboard for the promotion of your corporate social responsibility and smart city investment projects.
  • An exhibition table to share your information packages and display your organisations banners during the three-day lab programme.
  • A maximum of six participants will be exempted from the lab registration fee. 4

Bronze: R50,000

  • The inclusion of your organisation’s logos and other promotional materials on the Centres website, all media platforms, and all branding and communications platforms and outlets.
  • An opportunity to share aspects of your work with an audience of 100 +guests who will be attending the lab via a speaking slot in the programme.
  • Hosting up to one panel aligned with the work that your organisation does relative to the lab themes during the lab.
  • A maximum of four participants will be exempted from the lab registration fee.

Get Involved

Be part of shaping Africa’s smart city future through this unique platform for learning, networking, and practical engagement.

🔗 Learn more and stay updated by visiting our website
📩 For partnership and participation enquiries, please contact hluma.ralane@wits.ac.za

Together, let’s build smart, sustainable, and inclusive African cities.

 

Smart Cities Lab, Concept Note