Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona

The International Relations and Digital Metropolis Area of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), in collaboration with the Metropolis Institute, has launched a call for papers for the publication of the monograph Digital Metropolis, a volume that will explore the impact of digital transformation on metropolitan environments and its implications for areas such as governance, urban planning, mobility, housing, public services, and the labour market.

The initiative includes both a general call for papers and a specific call aimed at young researchers up to 30 years of age, with the goal of encouraging the participation of a new generation of experts in the debate on the digital future of metropolitan areas.

Through this dual call, AMB seeks to combine the expertise of established professionals and academics with the innovative capacity and fresh perspectives of young authors, thereby contributing to a more diverse and plural publication.

The initiative aims at generating strategic and forward-looking knowledge that can help identify international trends, anticipate future scenarios, and provide useful tools for decision-making by metropolitan administrations.

The book, which will be published by AMB, will contribute to the debate on how new technologies are transforming metropolitan areas and which public policies are needed to harness their potential while addressing the associated risks and challenges.

Seven Areas of Reflection on the Digital Metropolis

The call is addressed to experts, researchers, and professionals interested in contributing analyses and proposals on different dimensions of metropolitan digitalisation. Articles may focus on one of the seven thematic areas defined for the publication:

1. Planning the digital metropolis.
2. Digital infrastructures.
3. Metropolitan innovation ecosystems.
4. Digitalisation of mobility and transport.
5. Digitalisation of waste collection and treatment services.
6. Digitalisation of housing policies.
7. Digitalisation of active employment and training policies.

Among other issues, articles may examine the governance of digital transformation, the deployment of infrastructures such as data centres and smart networks, public-private collaboration, data integration in mobility systems, the application of advanced technologies in waste management, and the role of digitalisation in access to housing, employment, and training.

Particular consideration will be given to evidence-based contributions with a rigorous and forward-looking approach, as well as papers incorporating innovative experiences and practical case studies that may serve as references for other metropolitan areas.

Deadlines and Participation Requirements

Interested authors must submit an extended abstract of approximately 500 words by 15 July 2026 to info@institutmetropoli.cat. 

The proposal must include:

Title
Author(s)
Description of the topic
Proposed methodology
Main expected conclusions
A selection of bibliographic references

Proposals will be assessed by the publication’s coordination team. Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit the full article, with an approximate length of 6,000 words, by 15 October 2026.

For more information, please see the attached documents.