World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization

What World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization does

World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) is a Seoul-headquartered, membership-based international association founded in 2010 by 50 cities to advance smart sustainable urban development through public-private partnerships. It serves a three-sided constituency of local governments, smart technology solution providers (corporates), and institutions (academic, governmental agencies, NGOs), with 200+ members across Africa, Europe, MENA, Central Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean as of 2026. WeGO delivers value through flagship programs including the Smart City Driver framework (Activator, Solution Finder, Project Implementer), the annual Seoul Smart City Prize, the Champions youth program, regional training programs (notably the Seoul Training Program with SHRDC since 2011), and diagnostic tools such as the CeDS Toolkit co-developed with the World Bank and the open-source WeGO eGovFrame. Distribution is delivered via the Seoul Secretariat and seven regional offices, supplemented by participation in international events such as the World Cities Summit, Smart City Expo World Congress, CES, and ASEAN/Africa/Latin America regional networks.

WeGO's business model is a non-profit membership subscription structure with annual fees tiered by member type and size: local government full memberships range USD 2,000-15,000 based on population and host-country GDP per capita; corporate memberships range USD 2,000-20,000 based on employee count; institutional fees vary by GDP per capita. Incremental revenue is generated through training programs, conference sponsorship and exhibition fees, matchmaking services, and flagship awards. The organization's governance is anchored by the Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government serving as President, with an Executive Committee of member cities and an Advisory Board of ministers, academics, and corporate executives. WeGO rebranded in 2017 from the World e-Governments Organization to its current name to reflect the broadening mandate from e-government to smart sustainable cities, and appointed Jeong-kee Kim as Secretary General effective October 1, 2024.

Name

World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization

Legal name

World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization

Website

https://we-gov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) is a Seoul-based non-profit membership association founded in 2010 that connects 200+ local governments, technology providers, and institutions across seven regions to advance smart sustainable urban development through training, matchmaking, awards, and policy partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart City Association and Municipal Networking Services

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI), Infrastructure, Transport & Telecommunications IGOs (BPADAAAM)

Keywords

• Smart city association
• Membership services
• Urban governance consulting
• E-government advisory
• Sustainable city networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WeGO generates revenue through annual membership fees from local governments (based on population and GDP per capita), corporations (based on number of employees), and institutions (based on GDP per capita). Fees vary by membership category (Full, Associate, Friendship, Corporate).
2. Training and Capacity Building Programs: Revenue generated from organizing and hosting training programs, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives for member cities and partners.
3. Conference and Event Services: Revenue from organizing conferences, expos, and matchmaking events including exhibition space, sponsorship, and speakership opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WeGO is an international membership-based association that connects local governments, smart technology solution providers, and institutions to advance smart sustainable city transformation. It provides member cities with diagnostic tools (CeDS Toolkit, Smart City Driver framework), capacity-building training programs, matchmaking with technology vendors, and access to a global network of 200+ member organizations across 7 regions.

Product overview

WeGO (World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization) is an international membership-based association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to smart sustainable city transformation. The organization offers a platform of interconnected programs including the WeGO Smart City Driver framework (with Activator, Solution Finder, and Project Implementer components), the Seoul Smart City Prize, WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions youth program, and various capacity-building initiatives including the Seoul Training Program and Joint Workshops. WeGO also facilitates regional cooperation through dedicated networks (AfSCN, ASCN, CJK, LASCN) and provides tools like the CeDS Toolkit and WeGO eGovFrame to support member cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seoul Smart City Prize: An international award promoting innovative and inclusive smart city models that address underprivileged groups in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era
• WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions
• WeGO Smart City Driver
• Regional Networks

Products and services

• WeGO Smart City Driver An overarching framework for cities to help plan, finance, and deploy their smart city projects through customized solution packages and matchmaking with strategic partners. It consists of three components: WeGO Activator (diagnostic survey), WeGO Solution Finder (matchmaking), and WeGO Project Implementer (project partnership opportunities). Targeted at member cities and technology vendors.
• Seoul Smart City Prize An international award recognizing innovation and excellence in smart city development, promoting inclusive smart city models that address underprivileged groups. Features two categories: Tech-InnovaCity and Human-CentriCity. Targeted at cities, technology providers, and institutions worldwide.
• WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions A youth capacity-building program open to students and young leaders worldwide, enhancing skills in smart city development. Combines online lectures with in-person workshops in global cities, focusing on themes like 'Shaping the Future of Housing'. Targeted at students and young professionals interested in smart cities.
• Seoul Training Program Annual e-government training program organized in partnership with Seoul Human Resource Development Center (SHRDC) in Seoul, Korea. Features lectures on best practices, interactive sessions, site visits, and cultural excursions. Targeted at WeGO member city officials.
• Joint Workshop for Smart Sustainable Cities & e-Government Annual workshop co-organized with National Information Society Agency (NIA) and World Bank/African Development Bank, covering topics such as Smart City Vision, cybersecurity, financing, and best practices. Targeted at member city officials and policy makers.
• Regional Office Programs Training programs and seminars organized by WeGO's regional offices in Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and Middle East & North Africa to support smart city development and e-governance capacity building. Targeted at regional member cities and institutions.
• City e-Government Diagnostic and Solution (CeDS) Toolkit A cost-efficient and user-friendly diagnostic framework developed in partnership with the World Bank to help member cities assess their e-government status and develop strategies. Targeted at member local governments.
• WeGO e-Government Framework (WeGO eGovFrame) An open-source e-government framework including common modules and standard templates for developing e-government applications, reducing dependency on specific IT vendors. Targeted at member local governments seeking to digitize public services.
• Regional Networks WeGO facilitates regional cooperation through networks including Africa Smart City Network (AfSCN), ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), China-Japan-Korea (CJK) Network, and Latin America Smart Cities Network (LASCN). Targeted at cities and institutions across each region.
• Seoul Smart City International Cooperation Program Follow-up initiative supporting implementation of smart city projects connected to Seoul Smart City Prize winners, helping scale winning initiatives and enhance public services. Targeted at past Prize winners and member cities seeking implementation support.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Smart City Expo World CongressflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Strategic partnership for promoting smart city initiatives globally. WeGO participates as a key partner at the annual Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, engaging with city leaders and industry experts worldwide.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing the City e-Government Diagnostic and Solution (CeDS) Toolkit and joint workshops on smart sustainable cities and e-government. Collaborated on online courses and capacity building programs.
• National Information Society Agency (NIA) KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for e-Government Framework development, technical support, and annual Joint Workshop programs. NIA provides comprehensive technical support and training on the e-Government Framework.
• Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint webinars on CJK Smart Cities and sessions at Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity focusing on trilateral cooperation between China, Japan, and Korea.
• African Development Bank (AfDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for co-organizing online courses and capacity building programs for African cities on smart sustainable development.
• Seoul Human Resource Development Center (SHRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Seoul Training Program partnership since 2011, providing e-government and smart city training for WeGO member officials in Seoul, Korea.
• Smart Africa AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for advancing smart city development across Africa, promoting digital transformation and sustainable urban development in the region.
• UN-HabitatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration exploring areas of cooperation during World Cities Summit and other international events for sustainable urban development.
• United Nations (UNPAN)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing WeGO members access to UNPAN online resources, training courses, and networking opportunities.
• ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive collaboration with 26 pilot cities from 10 ASEAN member states for smart city action plan implementation, mayoral conferences, and knowledge sharing.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in ITU events and working groups on smart cities and IoT standards.
• Korea TimesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for promoting smart city development news and WeGO activities through news coverage.
• Yonhap News AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for news dissemination and public awareness of smart city initiatives.
• Seoul National University Graduate School of Public AdministrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research, knowledge sharing, and expert engagement in public administration and smart city governance.
• University of GenevamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Champions Program, Global Youth Award, and academic collaboration on smart city research and education.
• Catholic University of MilanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Champions Program and Global Youth Award collaboration.
• IMDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for publishing case study books with Seoul Smart City Prize winners.
• SmartCitiesWorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for smart city news and industry coverage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Long-standing global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainability. Closely comparable to WeGO in member-driven model, global regional office structure, and capacity-building programs, though with stronger sustainability/resilience orientation.
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Global network of city mayors focused on climate and urban sustainability. Directly comparable to WeGO as a city-focused international membership network addressing smart sustainable urban development, though C40 skews toward climate action while WeGO emphasizes e-government and smart city tech.
• CityNet: Asia-Pacific local government network for economic and social development. Highly comparable to WeGO in regional focus and membership model; WeGO's new Secretary General was previously CEO of CityNet, making it a particularly close peer in mission and operations.
• Smart Cities Council: Global coalition of companies, governments, and research organizations advancing smart city adoption. Directly comparable to WeGO in bringing together city governments and technology providers, but with a more private-sector-led, vendor-friendly orientation.
• United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG): Worldwide network of cities and local governments advocating for urban interests at the global level. Comparable to WeGO as a global municipal membership organization, though UCLG is broader in scope (governance, culture, social inclusion) and less tech-focused.
• ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN): ASEAN-led collaborative platform of 26 pilot cities across 10 ASEAN member states for smart city development. Comparable to WeGO as a regional city network promoting smart city initiatives, and an active WeGO partner via joint programming.

Emerging players

• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy: International alliance of city leaders committed to climate and energy goals. Comparable to WeGO as a transnational city network, though narrower in thematic focus (climate/energy only) and overlapping heavily with the same municipal members.
• Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC): Network of cities and communities implementing open and interoperable smart city solutions using Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs). Comparable to WeGO on digital standards and city interoperability, though smaller and more technically focused.

Regional players

• Eurocities: Network of major European cities influencing EU policy and exchanging best practices on urban services. Comparable to WeGO in member-driven city networking model, but geographically limited to Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities): Global city network focused on urban resilience, hosted by Arup and partner organizations. Comparable to WeGO as a city membership network addressing urban challenges, though concentrated on disaster resilience rather than digital transformation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WeGovOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wego-secretariat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wegovorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/wego_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeGovOrg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization