World Economic Forum expands Yes/Cities urban innovation programme to Delhi
New Delhi, July 9
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Deloitte, has expanded its global Yes/Cities urban innovation programme to Delhi, with the initiative set to launch the Yes/Delhi Urban Innovation Challenge in August 2026 to identify and scale solutions for the capital's urban challenges.
The expansion began with a Design Thinking and Collaborator Ecosystem Workshop, bringing together public institutions, private sector leaders, innovators, community organisations and knowledge partners to co-create solutions for a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive Delhi, according to the media release.
"The most effective urban solutions emerge when diverse perspectives come together around a shared purpose. As cities navigate growing demands on infrastructure, sustainability and collaboration will be critical to turning challenges into opportunities," said Romal Shetty, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte South Asia.
"Through WEF's Yes/Cities initiative, Delhi has an opportunity to create a strong innovation ecosystem that can identify, test and scale solutions with lasting impact. We are proud to be associated with this effort and to support the development of ideas that can help shape the future of urban living," Shetty added.
According to the release, insights from the workshop will help shape the upcoming Yes/Delhi Urban Innovation Challenge, which will invite startups and innovators to develop practical and scalable solutions for the city.
Following a competitive selection process, selected innovators will receive mentorship, technical support and ecosystem connections to pilot, implement and scale their solutions in Delhi, with the aim of turning promising ideas into measurable on-ground impact.
The launch marks the expansion of the global place-based innovation programme after its introduction in Bengaluru in 2025.
According to the release, the Yes/Cities programme aims to support more than 1,000 innovators and create an impact across more than 50 cities by 2030.
The Yes/Cities initiative is led by the World Economic Forum, Deloitte and other partners. The programme brings together governments, innovators, investors and businesses to strengthen local innovation ecosystems, improve urban quality of life and support solutions to pressing global challenges, the release added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see WEF coming to Delhi after Bengaluru. But is Delhi's civic body even ready for this? With the constant political bickering between the LG and the CM, coordination will be a challenge. The Design Thinking workshop sounds good on paper, but let's see if they can work with our local municipal corporations and RWAs. 🤔
As someone who's visited Delhi for work, I've seen the potential and the problems. The Yes/Cities programme has a solid track record in other countries. Let's hope the mentorship and technical support they promise actually trickles down to local startups. The 50 cities by 2030 target is ambitious but achievable if executed properly.
Yaar, why does it always have to be Delhi-first? We need such programmes in tier-2 and tier-3 cities too! Ludhiana, Patna, Indore—they face equally big challenges. But I appreciate the intent. Let's hope Delhi's startups come up with something that makes our lives easier, especially for women commuters and waste management. 🙏
Important step, but I'm wary of private sector and global forums dictating urban policy in India. Delhi's problems are unique—wall-to-wall encroachments, illegal constructions, and a broken drainage system. Will these innovations be affordable and scalable for our context? Or just fancy solutions that benefit only the elite neighbourhoods?
'1,000 innovators and 50 cities by 2030'—that's a bold vision. But we need to see some quick wins first. Maybe focus on one specific issue like
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