This panel explores how municipalities can transform from passive test sites into powerful lead customers, shaping a robotics and AI industry that serves their strategic interests and national priorities.

Moving beyond the familiar terrain of one-off pilot programs, this discussion tackles the financial realities faced by cash-strapped municipalities. It will draw on real-world examples in last-mile delivery, logistics, and housing development construction. Panelists will share their insights on designing and implementing programs that not only test new technologies but also create a path to long-term adoption and a demonstrable return on investment.

The conversation will cover how cities can leverage public-private partnerships (PPPs) and regulatory authority to drive innovation that addresses critical needs, such as affordable housing, infrastructure inspection and maintenance, and efficient urban logistics. Acknowledging the lessons learned from past urban tech initiatives, this panel will offer a candid look at how municipalities can shift from bearing a broad array of financial burdens — from the initial cost of pilots and infrastructure overhauls to the long-term expenses of maintenance, regulation, and workforce training— to actively shape a market that serves their strategic interests and supports broader national priorities.

This will include a discussion on the essential role of federal and provincial alignment and support, using a major industrial cluster strategy as a model for how municipal, private sector, and government interests can converge. The aim is to explore how municipalities can be empowered to become proactive partners and drivers of a thriving, locally-focused robotics ecosystem.