Now in its fourth edition, the Summit has evolved alongside the sector itself. What began as a forum to explore digital transformation in student living has grown into a broader platform for operators, investors, tech leaders to engage in honest, practical conversations about what smart really means in practice, how it should be applied and where it genuinely delivers value. This evolution is what makes this year’s focus on Artificial Intelligence both timely and necessary.

AI is no longer entirely experimental. AI is already influencing how student housing is operated: from energy optimisation and predictive maintenance (how assets are operated, how buildings are monitored), to behavioural insights and wellbeing monitoring (how residents interact with services).

Yet despite its growing presence, its impact remains uneven; separating tools that look promising from solutions that actually improve outcomes for students, operators, and investors remains a challenge.  

This year, we are introducing the Smart Living Community Awards for the first time, recognising collaboration, leadership, and demonstrable ESG impact across the student living ecosystem.

The awards span four categories: Smart Cross-Sector Collaboration, Smart Sustainability Initiatives, Smart Social Impact Initiatives, and Smart Leader of the Year.

The programme will conclude with the Smart Living Celebration, featuring live presentations from shortlisted nominees and a real-time voting process with participation from investors and operators, who will select the initiatives that best demonstrate meaningful impact and sector leadership.

Interested in taking part and being recognised by industry leaders at the event? Apply via the link below.