Science centres and museums are becoming instrumental in the economic, cultural and social development of cities. This broad impact of science communication institutions will be discussed based on three presentations. First, a look at the role of science centres in smart specialisation in both the process and the product of regional strategies. A second study captures the perspectives of different European actors on Cities of Scientific Culture: main drivers, possible funding schemes, promotion of the concept to elicit public participation, and future challenges facing these cities. Thirdly, concrete examples will be presented on the cooperative relationships that science communication institutions are establishing with local policymakers and other stakeholders to develop long-term science communication policies.