Madrid City Council has selected the first 20 urban innovation projects to participate in its “Sandbox Madrid” programme, allowing companies to test technological solutions in real-world urban environments. The selection follows a three-month technical and legal evaluation of 71 applications submitted to the municipality.

The projects, which are scheduled to begin development in the coming weeks, involve both established corporations and start-ups. The initiative is designed to validate technological developments under controlled conditions before they are implemented on a larger scale across the city.

The selected initiatives include the use of smart sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor environmental quality and health risks. Other projects focus on digital platforms for mobility and waste management, drones for infrastructure monitoring, and artificial intelligence-driven robots for park maintenance and street cleaning. Predictive analytics and computer vision tools will also be tested to manage public spaces.

More than half of the trials will take place in the Villaverde district, which the council has designated as the primary location for the sandbox. Additional tests are planned for Villa de Vallecas, Puente de Vallecas, San Blas-Canillejas, Chamartín, and Fuencarral-El Pardo, utilising municipal parks, roads, and public facilities.

The evaluation process involved nine municipal departments and agencies, including the Municipal Police, Fire Department, and the public transport company EMT Madrid. The council also coordinated with the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) to ensure safety compliance.

“The procedure aims to ensure that each project is carried out with full guarantees for the public and the environment, while also fostering innovation and attracting investment,” the Madrid City Council said in a statement. Developers must demonstrate compliance with insurance, fee, and legal requirements before trials commence.