A high-level conference which will present the latest trends in urban area planning in Europe, provide information on how advanced technologies can transform cities into catalysts of smart and sustainable growth and lead the way for Intelligent Cities in the 21st century.
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Cities host 72% of the EU population and are Europe’s economic engine, contributing to two thirds of its GDP. As centres of economic activity, employment and innovation, cities have a vital role to play when it comes to promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and tackling economic, environmental and social challenges.
The revolutionary potential of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, Internet of Things, blockchain offers to cities unprecedented opportunities for innovative business models, new market creation and addressing societal challenges, climate change, resource efficiency and a circular economy.
The European Commission with the Digital Cities Challenge initiative is helping over 40 European cities to reap the benefits of advanced technologies, develop comprehensive strategies and thriving ecosystems and achieve smart and sustainable growth. Launched in October 2017, the initiative offers policy advisory services, mentoring and coaching opportunities, while the cities share a network of collaboration, knowledge sharing and peer learning.
The technological, social, and economic effects of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, Internet of Things, blockchain are rapidly changing the world around us. Nowhere is this more evident than in cities – where the density and diversity of human settlement creates innovation-friendly ecosystems that promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. City leadership must be aware and empowered to direct such transformation for the long term benefit of citizens. The European Commission’s Digital Cities Challenge initiative drives urban and industrial transformation in 40 European cities and helps them achieve smart and sustainable growth, through four pillars: demonstrating visionary leadership, building thriving local innovation ecosystems, creating new markets based on smart infrastructures, advanced technologies and data and upskilling the city. The initiative offers policy advisory services and coaching opportunities and provides cities with tools and best practices both for assessing current city readiness and moving forward their vision for the future. The cities share a network of collaboration, knowledge sharing and peer learning.
Objectives of the conference:
The high-level conference will showcase the effects of technological transformation in European cities and will seek to agree on policy priorities and pave the way for the future strategy for Intelligent Cities in the 21st century.
It will discuss the following thematic priorities:
- Setting ambitious vision and creating modern, sustainable city-ecosystems for transformation of their territories
- Shaping the cities of the future, by promoting innovation in policy, decisions that are made on sound EU values as well as robust data, by investing in high-tech infrastructure, technology and open data and piloting the next generation of technological solutions
- Upskilling the cities through disruptive education and training, as an essential condition for the industrial modernisation and digital transformation of a territory.
Over 400 participants are expected including high level speakers, such as:
- Policy makers
- Industry and business leaders, clusters and associations
- Representatives of international organisations (UN, WEF, OECD, etc)
- Academics, digital transformation and smart city experts, representatives of think tanks, training experts