SmartCitiesWorld Podcast

In this episode of Cities Thriving on Lighting, produced in partnership with Paradox Engineering, host Luke Antoniou moves from theory to practice, exploring how cities actually make smart lighting work on the ground – and keep it working for decades.

Luke is joined by Julia Arneri Borghese, CEO at Paradox Engineering, and Matteo Semmoloni, Head of Solution Design, to unpack what it really takes to turn existing streetlight infrastructure into a flexible, future-ready urban platform.

Together, they discuss how cities can:

Start with street lighting as a first step on their smart city journey

Build in simplicity by design so teams don’t get overwhelmed by complex technology

Rely on open standards and interoperability to avoid vendor lock-in and keep options open

Lay the groundwork for new services and applications that may not even exist yet.

The conversation also touches on cybersecurity and resilience – how to protect devices, data and networks from day one – plus the often-overlooked implementation challenges around skills, integration, procurement, and onboarding multiple stakeholders.

Rather than a technical deep dive, this episode offers a clear, practical perspective on how cities can de-risk smart lighting investments, stay agile as needs evolve, and ensure technology remains an enabler, not a burden.

Listen in to hear how standards, simplicity, and security come together to help cities build lighting networks that are ready for whatever the future brings.

To find out more, take a look at SmartCitiesWorld's latest smart lighting report – The next generation of lighting for smart cities.

In the first episode of the Cities Thriving on Lighting mini-series, SmartCitiesWorld’s Luke Antoniou is joined by Julia Arneri-Borghese, CEO at Paradox Engineering, and Carlo Bernocco, who leads product portfolio, customer success, and business development at the company. Together, they unpack how city lighting has evolved from a basic utility into a strategic platform for smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban environments.

The conversation begins with the shift from traditional streetlighting to LED, exploring why that transition marked a key moment in the digital transformation of public lighting. Carlo then broadens the lens, explaining how public lighting is one of the most visible and widely distributed infrastructures in any city.

A major theme is interoperability and open standards. The guests explain why decisions made today must withstand several decades of technological change, and how standards-based, open solutions help cities avoid vendor lock-in, reduce long-term costs, and stay flexible as needs evolve.

Real-world examples from Gijón (Spain), Las Condes (Chile), and Chiasso (Switzerland) illustrate how cities are already using smart lighting networks as a backbone for additional services and dynamic, citizen-centric experiences.

This episode sets the foundation for the series, offering city leaders and practitioners a clear understanding of where smart lighting has come from, what it enables today, and why it remains one of the most powerful entry points into the smart city journey.

In this episode of the SmartCitiesWorld podcast, SmartCitiesWorld's Luke Antoniou is joined once again by Youssef Nadiri from PNY Technologies to explore what sovereign AI really means for cities – and why it’s becoming such a critical topic for urban leaders.

Building on their earlier conversation about edge AI, this episode looks at sovereign AI foundations: how cities can develop, deploy, and govern AI systems while keeping control of their data, models, and infrastructure choices. Nadiri explains why this matters when city authorities are dealing with sensitive citizen information, video feeds, and traffic data, and how maintaining trust, transparency, and regulatory compliance is central to any AI strategy.

Nadiri also unpacks insights from a closed‑door workshop at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, where cities at very different stages of their AI journey shared their concerns and ambitions. The discussion highlights the tension between innovation and risk, and how sovereign AI can help cities move forward without handing over all control to external cloud providers.

The episode also touches on practical directions for cities: choosing between on‑prem, cloud, and hybrid/edge architectures; involving legal and governance experts from day one; and assembling small, cross‑disciplinary teams that can start experimenting with AI in a responsible way.

Finally, Nadiri sets out the economic opportunity of Sovereign AI – from supporting startups and SMEs with shared infrastructure to positioning cities as AI testbeds that attract talent and investment.

If you’re a city leader, technologist, or policymaker wondering how to embrace AI without losing control of your data, this episode offers a clear, practical starting point – and a vision of what’s possible when cities take ownership of their AI future.

Join SmartCitiesWorld's Luke Antoniou as he welcomes Ralf-Peter Schäfer, VP of Product Management, Traffic and Travel Information at TomTom, to share insights from his two decades at in mobility. Listeners will hear about TomTom’s strategic pivots – from consumer electronics to B2B services, industry partnerships, and the bold step into open mapping consortia – all while maintaining the company’s core focus on navigation and innovation.

The conversation delves into the central role that data now plays in the world of mobility, highlighting how real-time traffic information not only reveals congestion bottlenecks but also unlocks new ways for cities to analyse travel behaviour, promote social equity, and achieve environmental goals. Ralf-Peter explores the challenges cities face in making use of these data-driven insights – especially given the complexities of political will, policy cycles, and the balancing act between long-term strategy and short-term needs. The episode sheds light on how some cities have achieved lasting progress through steadfast commitment or decisive top-down strategies, using data as a foundation for change.

Trust and collaboration emerge as crucial themes, with Ralf-Peter describing how public-private partnerships have evolved over time, the need to bridge the gap between government authorities, technology providers, and the public, and the innovative integration of urban infrastructure with digital navigation ecosystems.

Looking ahead, the discussion turns to the transformational impact of AI and automation on mobility and urban life. Ralf-Peter offers perspectives on the opportunities and risks for cities as they embrace technologies like autonomous vehicles and real-time mapping.

Ralf-Peter and TomTom will be participating at the ITS Australia Summit 19-21 November 2025 – stop by Stand 40 of the exhibition to see what they're up to.

To find out more about Ralf-Peter's work with TomTom, take a look at his recent op-ed for SmartCitiesWorld.

Join senior editor Luke Antoniou for a special SmartCitiesWorld podcast episode, recorded live at the Bentley Systems' Year in Infrastructure (YII) Conference 2025 in Amsterdam. In this thought-provoking instalment, we welcome two expert guests from Bentley: Zubran Solaimon, Director for Industry Strategy, and Dorothea Manou, Solution Manager for Cities and Urban Infrastructure. Together, they reflect on headline-making keynote announcements, cutting-edge trends, and what it takes to build resilient, people-centric urban environments in our rapidly evolving world.

The discussion takes listeners to the heart of one of the industry’s most dynamic gatherings, exploring how trustworthy AI and digital twin technologies are quickly moving from theoretical concepts to real-world tools that empower cities to address complex challenges – like capacity constraints, climate risks, infrastructure resilience, and the ongoing skills gap. Zubran and Dorothea offer insights into how Bentley’s innovative solutions are helping cities of all sizes harness data, foster collaboration, and make more informed decisions with the help of open, interoperable platforms.

The episode also highlights the importance of nurturing talent for the next generation of urban professionals, spotlighting STEM programmes and community-driven innovation that encourage greater participation and knowledge sharing across sectors. There's also discussion on the sense of energy and inspiration found at events like Bentley's Urban Tech Challenge, hosted in Dublin earlier in 2025, and the Going Digital Awards, part of YII.

Listen now for a behind-the-scenes look at how Bentley and its partners are shaping the future of urban living – prioritising not only technology, but also people and communities. Tune in for a glimpse into the possibilities ahead, and discover why collaboration and innovation remain at the heart of the smart cities movement.

Find out more about the key announcements from YII here, and the winners of this year's Going Digital Awards here.