The CitiVerse represents a bold and collaborative European initiative to build interconnected digital environments where cities can simulate, plan, and make informed decisions with greater precision and citizen involvement. This goes far beyond a simple digital twin or isolated smart city project — it’s about creating a shared, interoperable ecosystem that empowers urban communities across Europe to face today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in a coordinated, innovative way.
Backed by the European Union, the CitiVerse ecosystem is built on the foundations laid by four complementary projects, each bringing a unique expertise and focus to the table:
Sense: interoperable digital twins for smarter, sustainable cities
Sense focuses on creating digital versions of cities that can bring together information in real time — like traffic data, energy use, or environmental conditions — and turn it into useful insights. These city models help local governments plan better, simulate different scenarios, and make decisions that improve things like transportation, sustainability, and quality of life. And because they’re built on open and flexible technology, they can be shared, reused, and adapted by different cities.
CU Project: inclusive virtual public spaces for citizen dialogue
The CU Project is all about giving people a voice in the digital transformation of their cities. By creating virtual public spaces, it gives residents new ways to join discussions, share their ideas, and help shape the future of their communities. The project is being tested in Gothenburg, Sweden, and aims to make sure technology brings people together rather than leaving anyone behind.
3DxVERSE: AI and XR for sustainable mobility and urban living
3DxVERSE harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies to promote sustainable urban lifestyles. By developing open-source tools, the project enables cities to simulate eco-friendly transport systems, energy-efficient buildings, and enhanced public services. This empowers both planners and citizens to co-create greener and more livable urban environments through immersive, interactive experiences.
x-CITE: making urban planning accessible through immersive technology
The x-CITE project uses XR and AI to transform complex urban planning data into accessible, immersive experiences. Instead of navigating dense reports, citizens can explore future developments in their neighborhoods virtually, providing direct feedback to planners. Pilots in Tampere (Finland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Flanders (Belgium) demonstrate how technology can enhance transparency, participation, and trust in urban development.
Working together for a better digital future
Together, these four projects form the CitiVerse: a united effort to build digital tools that not only help cities run better but also include everyone in the process. The goal is to make urban innovation more open, more inclusive, and more useful — for governments, for communities, and for all of us.
Sense and its partners are committed to making this vision a reality by developing practical, flexible solutions that help each city face its own challenges, while also connecting to a larger European digital community.