Megacities are entering a period of overlapping transitions driven by climate risk and digital transformation, intensifying the demand for sustained, evidence-based international cooperation on urban policy. This study develops an operational roadmap to reposition the Megacity Think Tank Alliance (MeTTA) from an annual forum-centered network toward a research-driven cooperation platform that delivers tangible outputs.
Drawing on a review of MeTTA’s organizational structure and recent activities, the report assesses the outcomes of the 9th MeTTA General Assembly and Forum, including membership expansion and the endorsement of joint activities. The General Assembly approved four new member institutions and confirmed the next host city, while also authorizing a joint research agenda on “AI and Megacity Planning” and coordinated international workshops/side events linked to major global platforms such as the World Urban Forum (WUF) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).
Building on 2025 bilateral engagements formalized through MoUs and follow-up project design, the study proposes a Multi-Track operational model that integrates top-down, MoU-based collaboration (Track 1) with bottom-up, policy-demand-driven research (Track 2). A flagship pathway is suggested through a “Data and Housing” series, centering on comparable housing indicators across megacities and dissemination through WUF/COP-linked sessions.
To scale impact, the roadmap recommends institutionalizing implementation guidelines and working-level coordination, advancing joint messaging at WUF/COP, and pursuing longer-term triangular cooperation with multilateral development banks while sharpening MeTTA’s identity around specialized themes such as transit-oriented development (TOD).