energy distribution systems and data connectivity sectors. These sectors are playing a key role in smart and sustainable urban development solutions. The main challenges faced by the GBA while advancing urban solutions is growing environmental and air pollution, improvements in cross-border mobility of people and goods, as well as capital flow, information, and data. In terms of environmental problems, a study by Wang et al. projected that urbanization and climate change will lead to an 8.87% increase in the exposure duration of dangerous discomfort (Humidex equal to/above 45) for GBA residents by 2030. Industrial traditions in GBA GBA is a core platform for prototyping and fast engineering, with both cost and timelines for prototyping being the lowest in the world. GBA's industrial traditions have been long anchored in Guangzhou and modernized in Shenzhen. These industrial traditions in the GBA are the foundation upon which its future development is built. Its current GDP is primarily generated in traditional industries and based on tried and tested business models. The spectrum ranges from wood and plastics processing to new textiles and materials to manufacturing state-of-the-art electronic components. It also includes companies in the food and construction sectors, the automotive and aircraft industries, manufacturers of high-end medical products, as well as IT companies and software and hardware producers. Building upon the years-long manufacturing traditions in the region, the Outline Development Plan sets the goals of creating clusters for advanced equipment manufacturing in Zhuhai and Foshan, and high-end manufacturing industries in Shenzhen and Dongguan. The industrial tradition of the GBA is what is considered to make it a crucial future location by experts. Since the GBA is building on a modern industrial infrastructure grown over decades, its future importance for developments in high-tech and digitalization are seen to be increasing. According to one expert, metro lines, high-speed lines, 5G internet, and intelligent and autonomous systems will be present in the GBA by 2022. Education and research GBA is home to numerous universities with hospitals and academic centres. Among them are the “University Town” located on the Xiaoguwei Island in Guangzhou is considered as one of the “ten cores” of the “Science and Technology Innovation Corridor (STIC)”-blueprint for “China's Silicon Valley”. The most prominent among 12 universities of the “University Town” is Sun Yat-sen University which ranks 38th in Asia and among 251–300th globally by Time Higher Education magazine. Numerous highly rated medical schools operate in