The lab, part of the City Science Network led by Kent Larson at the MIT Media Lab City Science group, is unique within the network. As the southernmost of its ten laboratories worldwide, it is funded by both public and private stakeholders at Gobierno Regional del Biobío and Cámara Chilena de la Construcción. The lab is operated by Corporación Ciudades, a nonprofit organization dedicated to urban and city research.

Established in 2022 in Greater Concepción, Chile, City Science Lab @ Biobío has become a platform for exploring how emerging technologies can improve the understanding and planning of cities. During the City Science Expo, held on June 15, researchers and members of the team showcased a range of technologies and innovations designed to transform how cities are analyzed, planned, and experienced through data analysis, community engagement, and a strong commitment to making urban knowledge accessible to everyone who lives in and interacts with cities.

This year marks the completion of the lab's first four-year cycle. Fernando Pérez, Principal Director of the lab, stated that the next objective is to expand its reach to more cities across Chile, extending "our knowledge, experience, technologies, and everything we have learned over the years to involve more people and decision-makers in the City Science experience."

Our mission is to transform complex urban data into accessible knowledge, enabling better urban planning and more informed decisions for the future of our cities.

Under the collaboration agreement with the MIT Media Lab and the City Science group, City Science Lab @ Biobío has hosted multiple events featuring researchers presenting their latest work and findings. Last year, the City Science Summit was held at Teatro Biobío, designed by Smiljan Radić, who was recently awarded the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize. During this year's event, Naroa Coretti, Research Scientist in the City Science group, presented emerging research frontiers for the network, highlighting the role of its laboratories across in shaping a shared vision for the future of cities, where local challenges become opportunities for global learning and innovation.