+Colonia, Latin America's First Smart City, Positions Itself at Future Cities Global 2025

Uruguay was represented by +Colonia at the international smart cities summit in Saudi Arabia, participating in Future Cities Global 2025, an international event organized by the Fraunhofer Institute IAO.

The Uruguayan project, designed by Gómez Platero, will serve as a laboratory city as it is the first of its kind in LATAM. The initiative generated great interest as the only consolidated Smart City project in the region, standing out at a gathering that brought together government leaders, urban planners, technologists, and innovative companies from around the world. 

During the event, +Colonia representatives established networks with other smart cities, strategic partners, and investors, positioning Uruguay as a benchmark in urban innovation and sustainable development. 

+Colonia's participation in Future Cities Global 2025 is made possible through a collaboration agreement with the Fraunhofer Institute, one of the world's most prestigious research organizations in sustainable and smart urbanism. 

This agreement establishes a strategic alliance for the development of solutions in mobility, business models, and urban innovation. According to Mike Letzgus, a director at Fraunhofer, the flexibility of the Uruguayan project, still in its early stages, allows for the design and implementation of innovative solutions from the outset. 

+Colonia anticipates gradual and progressive population growth, estimating it will reach 30,000 inhabitants within the next 15 to 20 years. 

+Colonia: An Urban Laboratory for the Future 

The developers of +Colonia and Fraunhofer IAO team have called for joint development with municipal and national stakeholders in Uruguay. The goal is to transform this first smart urbanization in Latin America into an innovative territory where new sustainable urban development technologies will be tested in key areas such as energy, connectivity, mobility, and sanitation. 

This approach makes +Colonia a pioneering model in the region, a hub for innovation and talent attraction, aligned with global trends in smart and sustainable urbanization, and equipped with technologies that redefine the living experience. 

The collaboration with Fraunhofer will allow the project to incorporate the latest innovations in urban infrastructure, establishing itself as a benchmark in the region. 

Fraunhofer IAO: Innovation for a Sustainable Future 

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO (Fraunhofer IAO) is a German research institute that is part of the Fraunhofer Society, one of Europe’s largest applied research organizations, with over 90 years of history. 

Its primary focus is the development of technological and organizational innovations to enhance business competitiveness and improve the efficiency of public institutions. By integrating technology, digitalization, and organizational design, the institute seeks to optimize processes, products, and services across various sectors. 

Key research areas include digital transformation and automation, artificial intelligence and data analytics, and the development of smart cities and urban mobility. Additionally, Fraunhofer IAO explores workplace innovation and the offices of the future, as well as sustainability and energy efficiency solutions for industry. The institute collaborates with businesses, governments, and other organizations to develop real-world solutions, driving technological and organizational advancements across multiple fields.