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This session built on the previous day’s insights, connecting global urban research with actionable policy, design, and data-driven innovation. Speakers revisited key themes from governance and sustainability to the human dimensions of urban life. The focus then shifted to the Future Cities Laboratory’s Engagement Platform, highlighting its role in fostering collaboration, tracking research impact, and evolving toward an Urban Data Hub that integrates tools, models, and knowledge across Singapore and Zurich.

This session examines how urban design and architecture can respond to the twin crises of climate change and mental health. Drawing from Vietnam’s dense, polluted cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the speaker highlights the urgent need for greener, more livable environments through passive design, rooftop farming, and biophilic architecture. Showcasing projects that merge sustainability with human-centered design, the talk explores how thoughtful spaces can improve both environmental and emotional well-being.

This session explores the evolution of urban governance and planning through the lens of Seoul’s transformation—from centralized planning to citizen-led urban innovation. Speakers discuss the emergence of micro cities and neighborhood-scale initiatives that prioritize local governance, community engagement, and human-centered design. Drawing lessons from Seoul’s decades of urban transitions, the discussion highlights the importance of participatory planning, data ethics, and preserving community identity amidst rapid change.

This session brings together experts in governance, regulation, and urban policy to explore how cities can radically reframe institutional incentives and frameworks to enable sustainable transitions. Through panel discussions, keynote insights, and case studies, the focus is on designing regulatory tools, experimentation platforms, and incentive structures that support cross-sector collaboration and systems change.

The Opening Session of the Future Cities Symposium 2025 set the stage for two days of discussions on science, design, and policy for urban transitions. The session introduced the symposium’s core themes and the call for a new urban paradigm. Part of Singapore Urban Science Week 2025, the event explored systemic, net-zero urban change through the Future Cities Laboratory Global’s settlement systems approach.