Focus Sessions

Live today from 11h (CEST)

A series of hyper-focused events turning the biggest urban challenges into real opportunities to build better cities. A full-day program (engaging, we promise) featuring implemented solutions by world-renowned experts from all corners of the globe.

Broadcasting today: Focus Sessions #2.

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FOCUS SESSIONS #2 – Data changes everything: Smart(er) infrastructure rules our world

You’ve heard it before: cities represent 2% of the earth’s surface, but are responsible for 60%+ of CO2 emissions. And global population will increase by 2.5 BILLION PEOPLE (!!) in the next 25 years. Little more needs to be said to accelerate a complete rethinking of how cities should operate – it is either this or… well, or no future for cities at all.

So the race for smarter infrastructures is booming as it should. Lowering its carbon footprint is on top of every public administration agenda, with the added challenge of becoming resource-efficient and providing better services to citizens. While we all run against the clock, we’re still figuring out how to address the most critical spots of an improved infrastructure system: energy production and storage, transformation of current transport, a higher waste and water efficiency…

Join 70,000+ smart city professionals from around the globe for this hyper-focused, solution-oriented live event. Discover the state-of-the-art projects and real, specific use cases. Dig into the KPIs of measures already implemented in cities from five continents. Connect and discuss with worldwide experts to untap new business opportunities. All in one day, right from your own screen.

👇💬Take a look at the tentative program & speakers. NEW! At the end of every session, the moderator will invite the audience to an audio-chat room, so you can keep the debate going around the key topics of the previous session.

COFFEE TALK

11:00 - 11:05 - Let's kick off with a short chat with Ugo Valenti, director of the Smart City Expo World Congress, the world's leading event for cities.

EXPERT PANEL #1

11:05 - 11:45 – Welcome to the era of smart infrastructures

Cities and large infrastructures can work even more efficiently without polluting: utopia or reality? There can only be one answer to this, and fortunately there are some on-going, successful projects and plans that give us reasons for hope: smart buildings, new energy & transport models, efficient waste & water management… Listen first-hand to insights and impact KPIs from experts leading great efforts to achieve thriving and resilient areas.

PARTICIPANTS

INTERVIEW

12:05 - 12:20 – Accelerating Cities' Digital Transformation with Technologies

PARTICIPANTS

SIDE EVENT #1

12:35 - 13:20 – Barcelona Zero Carbon

Organized by: Smart Ports: Piers of the Future

With its decarbonization, the Port of Barcelona aims to achieve emissionneutrality by 2050. The challenge is to achieve a balance betweensustainability, competitiveness, and growth. The decarbonization of the port activity will also allow influencing the logistics chains used by the port and itsagents. The electrification of docks to allow ships to connect, energy transitionplans based on the generation of renewable energies and the promotion ofsustainable mobility, ... are just a few examples of the ambitious projects beingcarried out by the Port to achieve its goals.

With the participation of:

  • Peter De Langen, Owner & Principal Consultant, Ports & Logistics Advisory, Spain
  • Antonis Michail, Technical Director, WPSP and IAPH
  • Salvador Samitier, Head of the Catalan Office of Climate Change, Government of Catalonia
  • Ares Gabàs, Head of the Urban Resilience Department, Barcelona City Council
  • Jordi Torrent, Strategy Director, Port of Barcelona

HOPE OR HYPE

13:30 - 14:05 – Tactical Urbanism: Opportunity or fiasco?

Pros and cons of a widely extended practice that allows live prototyping while awakening controversy and loud detractors. Two experts will try to convince the audience to support or to dismiss this mushrooming urbanistic trend that has been already implemented in cities like Barcelona, Paris or Medellin.

PARTICIPANTS

EXPERT PANEL #2

15:00 - 15:45 – Take note: Efficient & agile management for resilient cities – and in budget!

As countries around the world set goals to become climate neutral in the coming years, cities got down to work yet. The roadmap towards more resilient cities and greenhouse gas neutrality is on, but it implies many cross-sector approaches: city-wide energy and water efficiency, territorial strategic plans, district-focused circularity… How can communities, territories and entire nations talk to each other to jointly reach global climate targets? It’s indeed through coordinated action that we set the tone for the resilient and sustainable cities to come.

PARTICIPANTS

SIDE EVENT #2

16:00 - 16:45 – Solutions made in South America to challenges in global cities

Organized by Bright Cities.

This side event seeks to highlight the opportunities and success stories about real solutions in Latin-American cities, while providing better urban services to their citizens.

With the participation of:

  • Raquel Cardamone, CEO and Founder, Bright Cities
  • Fernanda Delgado, Professor and Researcher, FGV Energia, Fundação Getulio Vargas
  • Bruno Braga Batista, Active Mobility Analyst, WRI Brasil

Partners

SMART PORTS: PIERS OF THE FUTURE

The Smart Ports: Piers of the Future is an annual congress linked with the Smart City Expo World Congress, the main international summit on smart cities and urban solutions. For the first time in 2019, six leading ports in the world, Antwerp, Barcelona, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Montreal and Rotterdam, got together to link both concepts: Smart Cities and Smart Ports. In 2020, the Busan Port Authority joined the cause as one of the leading ports in Asia. It is a congress on innovation, sustainability and digital transformation. Some of the most innovative ports of the world share their innovative projects on Drones, Digital Twins, Green Smart Ports and Smart Port Cities among many others, while painting a picture of how our future should be. More sustainable, efficient and connected.

More info
SMART PORTS: PIERS OF THE FUTURE
SMART PORTS: PIERS OF THE FUTURE
 
HUAWEI 2021

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of ICT (information and communications) infrastructure and smart terminals. Our 207,000 employees work in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 3 billion people worldwide. We are committed to bringing the digital world to every person, home, and organization, and building an intelligent world where everything is connected.

Huawei emphasizes research and innovation, adheres to the path of open innovation, and is willing to work with academia and industry to explore the frontiers of science and technology, promote innovation and upgrading, continuously create value for the entire industry and society, and work hand in hand to build a better smart world.

More info
HUAWEI 2021
HUAWEI 2021
 
GERMANY TRADE & INVEST

Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany.

More info
GERMANY TRADE & INVEST
GERMANY TRADE & INVEST
 
C40 Cities

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities.

More info
C40 Cities
C40 Cities
 
Fab Lab Barcelona

The Fab Lab is an innovation centre rethinking the way we live, work and play in cities.

More info
Fab Lab Barcelona
Fab Lab Barcelona
 
The Better Block Foundation

The Better Block Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that educates, equips, and empowers communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.

More info
The Better Block Foundation
The Better Block Foundation
 
Estudio Miralles Tagliabue

Estudio Miralles Tagliabue is an incorporated architecture, landscape, planning, interior and design studio based in Barcelona, Shanghai and Paris.

More info
Estudio Miralles Tagliabue
Estudio Miralles Tagliabue
 
BRIGHT CITIES

Bright Cities delivers tailor-made diagnosis and solutions roadmap to smart cities. It’s a disruptive platform that connects cities and public administrators to a new administration and development concept. It diagnosis cities and builds a roadmap so they can become better, more efficient and smarter every day, improving the lives of those who live and work there. It is passionate about public management and believes that any city can become intelligent through solutions that generate great impact on the daily lives of managers and citizens.

More info
BRIGHT CITIES
BRIGHT CITIES
 
Shanghai Smart City Development Institute

Shanghai Smart City Development Institute is a professional research institution in the field of smart city in China, guided by Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization. Since its establishment in 2012, the Institute has been committed to providing the industry with high-quality services, such as smart city top-level design, programming project, standard assessment, industrial researches, cooperation and exchange, and professional training.

Shanghai Smart City Development Institute
Shanghai Smart City Development Institute
 

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