The City of Dubrovnik has been awarded the title of Best City in the Smart City category, with the recognition presented to Mayor Mato Franković during a ceremony in Šibenik attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

For the third time, Dubrovnik has been recognized as a national leader in Smart City technologies and acknowledged internationally as a trailblazer in implementing advanced systems. Many of its projects have become benchmarks for other cities. These technologies are aimed at enhancing all aspects of life in Dubrovnik. Among them is the "VOX POPULI system", the first online participatory budgeting model in Croatia, accessible through the e-Citizens system. It enables residents to participate in selecting and voting on project proposals for their local district or community, fostering greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes.

To reduce traffic in the vicinity of the historic city center, the city has introduced technical and traffic-management solutions. Equipment, including video surveillance for regulating tourist bus and private car parking and stopping, has been installed (8+1 zones). The city also launched the "BUS WEB SHOP" application for reserving vehicle stops in protected zones. This system streamlines on-the-ground processes, reduces congestion, and eases entry points into the city, contributing to sustainable traffic management.

Another standout Smart City tool is the "Dubrovnik Pass", which serves as a combined ticket for major attractions, promoting cultural heritage while dispersing visitors to alleviate pressure on the most popular sites. Since its introduction, the pass has achieved excellent results, with September 2024 recording its highest monthly revenue.

Additional Smart City tools implemented include the "Dubrovnik Visitors app", which tracks the number of visitors within the historic center and predicts visitor numbers, and "Dubrovačko oko", an interactive platform for communication between the city administration and citizens, enabling quicker information flow and faster resolution of minor municipal issues. Dubrovnik has also introduced "Smart Parking" and a "Car Sharing service" with 100% electric vehicles.

The awards ceremony was part of the annual conference Days of Regional Development and EU Funds, held in Šibenik from December 4–6, organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. This year's conference focused on opportunities offered by EU funds, including further investments in regional development, sustainable growth, and fostering collaboration between regional and local stakeholders. A special program for entrepreneurs was also introduced.

Mayor Franković was joined at the conference by Martina Skopljaković, Head of the Department for EU Funds and Economy.